100 mm air defense gun KS-19


100 mm air defense gun KS-19 was a Soviet anti-aircraft gun. Initially deployed aboard ships as the B-34 during the Second World War, a ground-mounted version was introduced into service after the war as the KS-19.
The KS-19 is a heavy towed anti aircraft gun that has largely disappeared from front line arsenals due to increased use of more effective surface-to-air missiles. Being a towed weapon an external form of mobility was required, usually an AT-S Medium or AT-T Heavy tracked artillery tractor. The 15 man crew were carried on the tractor along with ready use ammunition for the gun. Ammunition was loaded as a single round into the loading tray and a well trained crew could fire 15 rounds maximum per minute.
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Anti Aircraft ammunition includes high explosive, high explosive fragmentation and fragmentation types. The KS-19's onboard sights can be used to engage air targets; however increased accuracy was achieved if used in conjunction with a fire control radar such as the SON 9 and PUAZO-6/19 director.
As the KS-19 is a heavy calibre Anti-Aircraft gun it also has some utility in the ground role especially against armored targets. As a result of this two armor piecing rounds were produced: the AP-T and APC-T with the AP-T round reportedly able to penetrate 185 mm of armor at 1000 m.
The KS-19 was used in action by communist forces in both Korea and Vietnam.
Recently Iran has built an upgraded automatic version of KS-19 named Sa'ir.

Operators

Current operators
Former operators