37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) vs QF 3.7-inch AA gun

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AAnti-aircraft guns

37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K)

Anti-aircraft gun Autocannon

Credit

One half 3544 · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified

BAnti-aircraft guns

QF 3.7-inch AA gun

Anti-aircraft gun

First system

Second system

Measured figures

Head to head

24 of 104 rows sourced on both sides

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8.6m

Length

All recorded figures & sources

8.6 m

QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun · Length

Single source

28 ft 3 in (8.6 m)^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

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Configuration

Details

37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) and QF 3.7-inch AA gun configuration
Specification	37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K)	QF 3.7-inch AA gun
Type	Anti-aircraft gun Autocannon^[source]	Anti-aircraft gun^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin	Soviet Union^[source]	United Kingdom^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun
In service	1939–present^[source]	1937–present (the Nepalese Army still has 45 in service)^[source]

Used by	See Users^[source]	UK & other Commonwealth countries^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Wars	List of conflicts World War II First Indochina War Korean War Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Cambodian–Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese War Portuguese Colonial War Somali Civil War South African Border War Lebanese Civil War Syrian Civil War Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Tigray War^[source]	World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Manufacturer	Podolsk Mechanical Plant^[source]	—

Produced	1939–1945 (USSR)^[source]	1937–1945^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

No. built	20,000 (USSR)^[source]	approx. 10.000^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Shell	37×252mmSR^[source]	Mk I–III: Fixed QF 94 x 675mm R Mk VI: 94 x 857mm R^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Shell weight	730 g (1.61 lb) Frag-T 770 g (1.70 lb) AP-T^[source]	28 pounds (13 kg)^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Recoil	Hydro-spring^[source]	Hydro-pneumatic^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Carriage	Four-wheeled with twin outriggers^[source]	Mobile and static versions^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Elevation	−5° to 85°^[source]	−5 to +80 degrees^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Traverse	360°^[source]	360 degrees^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Former operator · Afghanistan	Afghanistan^[source]	—

Former operator · Albania	Albania^[source]	—

Former operator · Bulgaria	Bulgaria^[source]	—

Former operator · East Germany	East Germany^[source]	—

Former operator · Finland	Finland^[source]	—

Former operator · Georgia	Georgia^[source]	—

Former operator · Indonesia	Indonesia^[source]	—

Former operator · Iraq	Iraq^[source]	—

Former operator · Islamic State	Islamic State^[source]	—

Former operator · Morocco	Morocco^[source]	—

Former operator · Mali	Mali^[source]	—

Former operator · Mongolia	Mongolia^[source]	—

Former operator · Nicaragua	Nicaragua^[source]	—

Former operator · North Yemen	North Yemen^[source]	—

Former operator · Poland	Poland^[source]	—

Former operator · Romania	Romania^[source]	—

Former operator · Soviet Union	Soviet Union^[source]	—

Former operator · Somalia	Somalia^[source]	—

Former operator · Yugoslavia	Yugoslavia^[source]	—

Former operator · Zaire	Zaire^[source]	—

Role	Soviet 37 mm calibre anti-aircraft gun^[source]	—

Source measurement	The 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) ( Russian : 37-мм автоматическая зенитная пушка образца 1939 года (61-К) ) is a Soviet 37 mm calibre anti-aircraft gun developed during the late 1930s and used during World War II . The land-based version was replaced in Soviet service by the AZP S-60 during the 1950s. Guns of this type were successfully used throughout the Eastern Front against dive bombers and other low- and medium-altitude targets. It also had some usefulness against lightly armoured ground targets.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Soviet Navy purchased a number of Bofors 25 mm Model 1933 guns in 1935, trials of the weapon were successful, and it was decided to develop a 45 mm version of the weapon designated the 49-K. The development under the guidance of leading Soviet designers M. N. Loginov , I. A. Lyamin and L. V. Lyuliev was successful, but the army thought that the 45 mm calibre was a little too large for an automatic field weapon. In January 1938 the Artillery Factory Number 8 in Sverdlovsk was ordered to develop a 37 mm weapon based on the same design. The task was fulfilled by the chief designer of the factory, Mikhail Loginov , and his assistant Lev Loktev . Firing trials of the new 61-K were conducted in October 1938.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Armour penetration of the armour-piercing (AP) rounds is reported as 37 millimetres of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) at 60°at 500 metres range and 28 millimetres of RHA at 90° at 1,500 metres range.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development / Land version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage After this an 85- calibre 100 mm (3.9 in) anti-aircraft mounts long version, the 45 mm/85, was developed and accepted into service in 1954, it was deployed in twin and quad turrets on a number of classes of vessels, including the Neustrashimy , Kildin and Kotlin-class destroyers . However, it was later replaced with the ZIF-31 twin 57 mm mounting.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development / Naval version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The 37 mm twin mounting was exported to China where it was manufactured and used extensively, as the "Type 65". A turret-based version was produced from the late 1980s called the "Type 76" or H/PJA 76.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development / Naval version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The ZSU-37 was developed late in the Second World War, it was a single 37 mm gun mounted in a large open turret on the chassis of the SU-76 self-propelled gun.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development / ZSU-37; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Recoil length: 150 to 175 mm^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Norinco (Chinese) Type 55 – towed single-barreled 37 mm, copy of the M1939 (61-K) Type 63/65 – self-propelled twin 37 mm gun based on the T-34-85 chassis. Type 65 – towed twin-barreled 37 mm, copy of the M1939 (61-K) Type 74 – towed twin-barreled 37 mm, upgrade of the towed Type 65, with a greater rate of fire. Type 74SD – Type 74 with servo system removed for operation with Type 800 laser course director system. Type 79-III – upgraded version of the Type 74 with electro-optical director, and powered traverse and elevation. Type 76 – Naval version of the twin 37 mm. P793 – Advanced twin-barrel version, with electro-optical predicting sight and higher rate of fire and lengthened barrels giving a higher muzzle velocity (1,000 m/s). Operated by a crew of 5 or 6.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	—

Source measurement

The 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) ( Russian : 37-мм автоматическая зенитная пушка образца 1939 года (61-К) ) is a Soviet 37 mm calibre anti-aircraft gun developed during the late 1930s and used during World War II . The land-based version was replaced in Soviet service by the AZP S-60 during the 1950s. Guns of this type were successfully used throughout the Eastern Front against dive bombers and other low- and medium-altitude targets. It also had some usefulness against lightly armoured ground targets.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Soviet Navy purchased a number of Bofors 25 mm Model 1933 guns in 1935, trials of the weapon were successful, and it was decided to develop a 45 mm version of the weapon designated the 49-K. The development under the guidance of leading Soviet designers M. N. Loginov , I. A. Lyamin and L. V. Lyuliev was successful, but the army thought that the 45 mm calibre was a little too large for an automatic field weapon. In January 1938 the Artillery Factory Number 8 in Sverdlovsk was ordered to develop a 37 mm weapon based on the same design. The task was fulfilled by the chief designer of the factory, Mikhail Loginov , and his assistant Lev Loktev . Firing trials of the new 61-K were conducted in October 1938.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Armour penetration of the armour-piercing (AP) rounds is reported as 37 millimetres of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) at 60°at 500 metres range and 28 millimetres of RHA at 90° at 1,500 metres range.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development / Land version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

After this an 85- calibre 100 mm (3.9 in) anti-aircraft mounts long version, the 45 mm/85, was developed and accepted into service in 1954, it was deployed in twin and quad turrets on a number of classes of vessels, including the Neustrashimy , Kildin and Kotlin-class destroyers . However, it was later replaced with the ZIF-31 twin 57 mm mounting.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development / Naval version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The 37 mm twin mounting was exported to China where it was manufactured and used extensively, as the "Type 65". A turret-based version was produced from the late 1980s called the "Type 76" or H/PJA 76.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development / Naval version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The ZSU-37 was developed late in the Second World War, it was a single 37 mm gun mounted in a large open turret on the chassis of the SU-76 self-propelled gun.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Development / ZSU-37; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Recoil length: 150 to 175 mm^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Norinco (Chinese) Type 55 – towed single-barreled 37 mm, copy of the M1939 (61-K) Type 63/65 – self-propelled twin 37 mm gun based on the T-34-85 chassis. Type 65 – towed twin-barreled 37 mm, copy of the M1939 (61-K) Type 74 – towed twin-barreled 37 mm, upgrade of the towed Type 65, with a greater rate of fire. Type 74SD – Type 74 with servo system removed for operation with Type 800 laser course director system. Type 79-III – upgraded version of the Type 74 with electro-optical director, and powered traverse and elevation. Type 76 – Naval version of the twin 37 mm. P793 – Advanced twin-barrel version, with electro-optical predicting sight and higher rate of fire and lengthened barrels giving a higher muzzle velocity (1,000 m/s). Operated by a crew of 5 or 6.^[source]37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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Origin reported by inventory	Soviet Union China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 9, row 2, cell 4; revision 1373498165; retrieved 2026-10-02 Soviet Union^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 15, row 24, cell 3; revision 1375897637; retrieved 2026-10-02 Soviet Union^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 5, cell 2; revision 1365890955; retrieved 2026-10-02 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 3, row 4, cell 3; revision 1376512630; retrieved 2026-10-01 Soviet Union^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 4, cell 2; revision 1364971517; retrieved 2026-10-01	—

Origin reported by inventory

Soviet Union China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 9, row 2, cell 4; revision 1373498165; retrieved 2026-10-02

Soviet Union^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 15, row 24, cell 3; revision 1375897637; retrieved 2026-10-02

Soviet Union^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 5, cell 2; revision 1365890955; retrieved 2026-10-02

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 3, row 4, cell 3; revision 1376512630; retrieved 2026-10-01

Soviet Union^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 4, cell 2; revision 1364971517; retrieved 2026-10-01

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Designer	—	Vickers^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Designed	—	1937^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

Breech	—	Horizontal sliding-wedge^[source]QF 3.7-in heavy anti-aircraft gun

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