History of the KS-30 130mm Anti-aircraft Gun

In the years following the Great Patriotic War the Soviet air defense forces were looking for a more effective way to defend their airspace. The 85mm guns that they had used during the war were seen as being ineffective against the bombers used by the West. Stalin demanded larger and more effective anti-aircraft systems during the military buildup of the late 1940's. The first of these, the KS-19 100mm gun, entered service in the late 1940's. It was deemed effective for most purposes, but a still larger weapon would be needed to stop the high flying bombers (like the B-36 and later B-52) of the United States.

In the early 1950's the KS-30 130mm anti-aircraft gun was developed to fulfill this requirement. It is believed that the gun evolved from a naval 130mm gun, but whatever the origin it was soon deployed throughout the Warsaw Pact and to other allied Communist nations. Some of these countries kept the weapon in service for a very long time. In fact, the last nation to phase the KS-30 out of service was Vietnam who did so in the 1990's.

Selected Munitions
Type	APHE	HE
Designation	??	??
Weight	33.4kg	33.4kg
Explosive	??	??
Velocity	970 m/s	970 m/s
Penetration at 1000 meters	250mm	??

The KS-30 is a radar guided anti-aircraft gun that carried on a two axle eight wheeled carriage. It was usually carried from point to point by an AT-T artillery tractor. When it is emplaced, the axels are removed and the four outriggers are folded into position. It is also fitted with a powered shell rammer that allows the gun crew to load the weapon easily no matter what its elevation. It also has an automatic fuse setting system.

Its radar fire control systems are both mounted on the gun's carriage, but it is normally used in conjunction with the PUAZO-30 fire control director and the SON-30 fire control radar (also known as the Fire Wheel by NATO). The ammunition fired by the KS-30 is a fixed charge, two-part ammunition common to most artillery pieces. It is important to note that the ammunition of the KS-30 is not interchangeable with that of other 130mm guns like the SM-4-1 Coastal Gun or the M-46 field gun.

Although the KS-30 anti-aircraft gun was introduced in the early 1950's, it was a holdover from the Great Patriotic War days. They were envisioned as being able to bring down hostile bombers flying over Soviet cities. Its PUAZO-30 and SON-30 radar fire directors were seen as the latest in technology, and the natural evolution of the searchlight teams of the war.

Despite the radar targeting system, the gun was of limited utility from the moment it was introduced. It was large and difficult to move and emplace. In addition to this, the new jet powered bombers it was expected to stop were faster and higher, and further limited the effectiveness of the KS-30. In short, it was a weapon of the last war, not the next. The Soviets relegated the weapon to second echelon status when surface to air missiles came of age.

The KS-30 appeared during a time of transition and was the last of the big anti-aircraft guns. During the early 1950's most nations had moved away from the massive anti-aircraft guns of the Second World War and began focusing on new missile technology instead. In this section you can see that progression and learn what weapons the KS-30 replaced and what weapons systems replaced it. You can find out more about those artillery systems if we have them on the site by clicking on the links below.

The KS-30 Anti-Aircraft Gun replaced...	KS-30 130mm Anti-Aircraft Gun	The KS-30 Anti-Aircraft Gun was replaced by...
KS-19 100mm Anti-Aircraft Gun	KS-30 130mm Anti-Aircraft Gun	SA-2 'Guideline' / S-75 'Dvina' Surface to Air Missile

Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you. We hope you can find them as useful as we have.