Zebrano 72118 72-K Soviet AA Gun ( late )

Anti-aircraft gun wz. 1940 (72-K) is a Soviet towed 25mm automatic anti-aircraft gun from the Second World War. The initial velocity of the HE shell fired from this gun was up to 900 m / s, with a maximum vertical range of approximately 2,000 meters. The first prototypes of this weapon were made in 1939, and serial production started a year later. Approximately 4,850 guns of this type were created in its course.

The gun 72-K was developed by a team led by MN Łoginowa under a license from the Swedish company Bofors in 1933. The cannon was used to provide air defense to own troops at short and very short distances, and was also often used to combat lightly armored enemy vehicles. During World War II, in order to increase mobility, the guns were sometimes mounted on the GAZ-AA car. The weapon was generally successful, with good accuracy and a fairly good rate of fire. She took part in the fighting on the Eastern Front in almost every major battle in the period 1941-1945. It remained in service with the Soviet Army until the 1950s. After 1945, it was also exported to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe as well as to the countries of the Middle East and Africa.