AK-726
{{Infobox weapon
| name = AK-726
| image = AK-726.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = AK-726 on a {{sclass2|Krivak|frigate|1}}
| origin = {{flag|Soviet Union}}
| type = Naval gun
| is_ranged = yes
| is_explosive = yes
| is_artillery = yes
| service = 1964–present
| used_by =
| wars =
| designer = {{flagicon|Soviet Union}} TsKB-7 (Leningrad)
| design_date = 1958
| manufacturer =
| production_date = 1962 to {{nowrap|1987–1988}}
| number =
| variants =
| weight = about {{convert|26|t|LT ST|abbr=on|sp=us}}
| length =
| part_length = 59 calibers
| width =
| height =
| crew = 9
| cartridge =
| cartridge_weight = {{convert|5.9|kg|lb|abbr=on|sp=us}}
| caliber = {{convert|76.2|mm|in|abbr=on|sp=us|0}}
| barrels = 2
| action =
| rate = 2 × 40–45 RPM
| velocity = {{convert|980|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on|sp=us}}
| range =
| max_range = Horizontal: to {{convert|15700|m|yds|abbr=on|sp=us}}
Vertical: {{convert|11000|m|ft|abbr=on|sp=us}} to self-destruct
| feed =
| sights =
| breech = Sliding wedge
| recoil =
| carriage =
| elevation = −10° to +85°
| traverse =
}}
The AK-726 (abbr. of {{lang|ru|артиллерийский комплекс}}) is a twin {{convert|76|mm|in|adj=on|sp=us|0}} naval gun, which was developed in the Soviet Union and is still in service in various navies.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kchf.ru/arms/guns/ak726.htm|title=АК-726 - 76,2-мм спаренная корабельная артустановка|website=www.kchf.ru|access-date=2018-04-06}}
History
In 1954 the Soviet Union began development of a naval gun which could be used against both air and sea targets. The gun was developed by the development office {{nowrap|TsKB-7}} (later Arsenal Design Bureau) under the direction of Pyotr Tyurin. The first tests began in 1958. From 1960, the guns were begun to be installed on ships and tested. In 1962 the first gun was installed on the {{ship|Soviet cruiser|Groznyy||2}} cruiser. A second was installed on the {{ship|Soviet destroyer|Komsomolets Ukrainy||2}} destroyer. The system was officially launched on June 24, 1964. The guns were exported to various Eastern Bloc states over time. Due to the small caliber and lack of effectiveness they were soon replaced by the AK-100 (naval gun).{{Cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNRussian_3-60_ak726.php|title=Russia / USSR 76.2 mm/59 (3") AK-726 - NavWeaps|last=DiGiulian|first=Tony|website=www.navweaps.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-06}}
Construction
The gun has two barrels of {{convert|76.2|mm|in|abbr=on|sp=us|0}} caliber. The projectiles are hand-loaded into an elevator from the ammunition chamber to the gun. The weapon has an automatic charging system. Both barrels fire simultaneously. This would achieve a theoretical rate of fire of about 100 rounds per minute, but is unsustainable. The barrels must be cooled a few minutes after 40 to 45 rounds of continuous fire. The cooling system is connected to the vessel's main water line.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mycity-military.com/Mornaricko-naoruzanje-i-oprema/Mornaricko-naoruzanje-AK-726.html|title=Mornaričko naoružanje AK-726|website=MyCity forumi|language=en|access-date=2018-04-06}}
The fire control is carried out either automatically via a fire-control radar type {{nowrap|MR-105}} Turel ({{langx|ru|МР-105 «Турель»}}, NATO code: Hawk Screech), semi-automatically with the Prisma optical sight, or manually. The gun can be used against air, sea or land targets. There are two different types of high-explosive ammunition available; contact and proximity fuzes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontargetalignment.com/product.aspx?id=99|title=On Target Alignment - AK-726|website=www.ontargetalignment.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-06|archive-date=2018-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407115938/http://www.ontargetalignment.com/product.aspx?id=99|url-status=dead}}
Platforms
{{div col}}
- {{sclass2|Mirka|frigate|4}}
- {{sclass2|Kotlin|destroyer|4}}
- {{sclass2|Kynda|cruiser|4}}
- {{sclass2|Kashin|destroyer|4}}
- {{sclass2|Mod Kashin|destroyer|4}}
- {{sclass2|Petya|frigate|4}}
- {{sclass2|Ropucha|landing ship|4}}
- {{sclass2|Kara|cruiser|4}}
- {{sclass2|Krivak|frigate|4}}
- {{sclass2|Koni|frigate|4}}
- {{sclass|Kiev|aircraft carrier|4}}
- {{sclass|Ivan Rogov|landing ship|4}}
- {{sclass|Ivan Susanin|patrol ship|4}}
- {{sclass|Admiral Petre Bărbuneanu|corvette|4}}
- {{sclass|Kotor|frigate|4}}
- {{ship|Romanian frigate|Mărășești||2}}
{{div col end}}