45 mm anti-tank gun M1942 (M-42)

The M-42 was a 45-mm Soviet light semi-automatic anti-tank gun. Its full official name is 45-mm anti-tank gun model 1942 (M-42) (Russian: 45-мм противотанковая пушка образца 1942 года (М-42)). These guns were used from 1942 until the end of World War II. Old stockpiles were returned to service in January 2025 in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

45-mm anti-tank gun model 1942 года (М-42)
M-42 in Museum on Sapun Mountain, Sevastopol.
Type	Anti-tank gun
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
Used by	Soviet Union Warsaw Pact Russia North Korea[1] Romania
Wars	World War II Korean War[1] Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designer	No. 172 Plant
Manufacturer	Artillery Plant #172, at Perm
Produced	1942–1945
No. built	10,843
Specifications
Mass	combat: 625 kg (1,378 lbs) travel: 1,250 kg (2,756 lbs)
Barrel length	2.985 m (9 ft 9.5 in) 66.3 calibers overall: 3.087 m (10 ft 1.5 in) 68.6 calibers[1]
Width	1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Height	1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)[1]
Crew	6[1]
Shell	Fixed QF 45x310 mmR[1]
Caliber	45 mm/ 68 (1.77 in)
Breech	Semi-automatic vertical sliding wedge[1]
Recoil	Hydro-spring[1]
Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	-8° to 25°
Traverse	60°
Rate of fire	15-20 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	870 m/s (2,854 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	4.55 km (2.84 mi)

History

M-42 45 mm anti-tank gun in Finnish Tank Museum in Parola

The M-42 was developed by the No. 172 Plant in Motovilikha as an upgrade of the 45 mm anti-tank gun M1937 (53-K). The gun received a longer barrel (20 calibers more than the previous one, so it was a 45 mm/L66), shells with more powerful cartridges, and a thicker shield (7 mm instead of 4.5 mm), but of hinged construction as a need for reduced profile, requiring crews to kneel while serving the weapon. Some minor changes were also introduced in order to speed up production.

These guns were used from 1942 until the end of World War II. In 1943, due to its insufficient anti-armor capabilities against new German tanks such as the Tiger, Panther and Panzer IV Ausf H, the M-42 was partially replaced in mass production by the more powerful 57 mm ZiS-2 anti-tank gun. The M-42 remained in production however, as it was quite effective against lighter vehicles and could pierce the side armour of the Panther and Panzer IV Ausf H. Fragmentation shells and canister shot gave the gun some anti-personnel capability.

Mass production of the M-42 ceased in mid-1945. The total number of guns produced is 10,843.

Reintroduction into service

On the 24th of January 2025 a video appeared of an M-42 gun being destroyed by a Ukrainian drone operator in the occupied Russian territory in the province of Kursk. This indicates that some of these guns have reentered service with the Russian armed forces.^{[2][better source needed]}

Ammunition

• Ammunition types:
  • Armor-piercing
  • Fragmentation
  • Canister
  • Smoke
• Projectile weight:
  • AP: 1.43 kg (3.15 lbs)
  • APCR: 0.85 kg (1.87 lbs)
  • Fragmentation: 2.14 kg (4.71 lbs)

Performance

Penetration[3]
Type	100 m (110 yd)	500 m (550 yd)	1,000 m (1,100 yd)	1,500 m (1,600 yd)	2,000 m (2,200 yd)
APBC-HE	71 mm (2.8 in)	54 mm (2.1 in)	40 mm (1.6 in)	32 mm (1.3 in)	28 mm (1.1 in)
APCR	108 mm (4.3 in)	74 mm (2.9 in)	46 mm (1.8 in)	-	-