Vickers Model 1931
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Vickers Model 1931
| image = VickersModel1931.JPG
| image_size = 350
| caption = Romanian-produced 75mm Vickers anti-aircraft gun model 1936/39 displayed in "King Ferdinand" National Military Museum, Bucharest
| type = Anti-aircraft gun
| origin = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| is_ranged = yes
| is_explosive = yes
| is_artillery = yes
| is_vehicle =
| is_UK = yes
| service = 1937 – 1950s
| used_by = {{Collapsible list
| bullets = yes
| title = List of operators
| {{BEL}}
| {{flag|Republic of China|name=China}}
| {{DEN}}
| {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| {{LIT}}
| {{NED}}
| {{POR}}
| {{flag|Kingdom of Romania|name=Romania}}
| {{flag|Soviet Union}}
| {{SWI}}
| {{TUR}}
| {{UK}}
}}
| wars = World War II
| designer = Vickers
| design_date = ~ 1931
| manufacturer = Vickers
Reșița
| developed_into = 75 mm Reșița Model 1943
(Using rifling and cartridge chamber)
| production_date = 1931 – 1944
| number =
| variants = See {{section link|Vickers Model 1931|Variants|nopage=yes}}
| mass = {{convert|2825|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| length =
| part_length = {{Collapsible list
| bullets = yes
| title = Depend on user
| Danish guns: {{bulleted list
| Overall:
{{convert|3.652|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
L/48.7
| Bore:
{{convert|3.375|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
L/45}}
| Dutch guns: {{bulleted list
| Overall:
{{convert|3.225|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
L/43
| Bore:
{{convert|3|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
L/40}}
| Finnish guns: {{bulleted list
| Overall:
{{convert|3.429|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
L/45
| Bore:
{{convert|2.98|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
L/39.1}}
| Romanian guns: {{bulleted list
| Overall:
{{convert|3.375|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
L/45
| Bore:
{{convert|3.225|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
L/43}}
}}
| width =
| height =
| crew =
| cartridge = {{Bulleted list
}}
| cartridge_weight = {{convert|6.5|kg|lboz|abbr=on}} (HE)
| caliber = {{convert|75|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| action = Semi-automatic
| rate = 12 rpm
| velocity = {{convert|750|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
| range = {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} slant range
| max_range ={{convert|10|km|ft|abbr=on}} ceiling
| feed =
| sights =
|breech=
|recoil=
|carriage=Cruciform
|elevation=0° to +90°
|traverse=360°
|diameter=
|filling=
|filling_weight=
|detonation=
|yield=
}}
The Vickers Model 1931 was a British anti-aircraft gun used during the Second World War. The design was rejected by the British and Vickers exported the gun worldwide during the 1930s.
Design
The cruciform carriage had two pneumatic or solid rubber wheels that were removable. Two legs locked together for transport and the barrel was secured to them. The other two legs folded in half and were elevated almost vertically into the air.See the Romanian reference to see exactly how it looked.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwar2.ro/arme/?article=336|title=75mm Vickers antiaircraft gun model 1936/39|website=www.worldwar2.ro|access-date=2009-05-22}}
Operational history
= Romania =
Romania bought a license for 100 in 1936, although hundreds more were built during the war.Axworthy, p. 30 The second batch of 100 pieces was started in July 1941,Axworthy, p. 30 the production rate being of 5 pieces per month as of October 1942.Axworthy, p. 75
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= Finland =
File:Vickers 76 ItK 34 V Imatralla 1943.jpg
Finland bought a dozen to help reduce balance of payment problems with the British in 1936. The Finnish guns, designated 76mm ItK/34 V, were chambered in their standard {{convert|76.2|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} caliber.{{cite web|url=https://www.jaegerplatoon.net/AA_GUNS3.htm#76ItK34|title=76 ItK/34 V, Vickers|website=www.jaegerplatoon.net|date=23 September 2007|access-date=2009-05-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/ammotable8.html|title=75-77 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES|website=www.quarryhs.co.uk|access-date=2017-09-12|archive-date=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117003503/http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/ammotable8.html|url-status=dead}}
Updated: {{Cite web|url=https://quarryhs.co.uk/ammunition-data-table/ |title=75 mm CALIBRE CARTRIDGES|website=www.quarryhs.co.uk.|access-date=2025-04-03}}
{{clear left}}
= Others =
Denmark also bought a license, designating it as 75 mm lange luftværnskanon model 1932.{{cite web | url=https://www.dws-xip.com/encyklopedia/artpl75m32-dk | title=Armata przeciwlotnicza 75 mm 49 kaliber lange luftværnskanon Model 1932 |website=www.dws-xip.com|access-date=2025-04-02}} Belgium, the Netherlands,{{cite web | url=https://www.dws-xip.com/encyklopedia/artplot71-nl/ | title=Armata przeciwlotnicza Kanon van 7.5 tl. No. 1|website=www.dws-xip.com|access-date=2025-04-02}} Lithuania, Turkey, Switzerland and China bought numbers of guns directly from Vickers.
During World War II, those weapons captured after the German conquest of Europe were taken into Wehrmacht service as the 7.5 cm Flak M.35 (b) (Beligian guns), 7.5 cm Flak M.35 (d) (Danish guns) or 7.5 cm Flak M.35 (h) (Dutch guns). Similarly the Soviet Union used those guns it captured from Lithuania after the occupation of the Baltic states in 1940. Supposedly it saw limited British service with Home Defense "barrage units" in 1940 – 1943.Gander and Chamberlain, p. 163
Variants
See also
75 mm Reșița Model 1943 — AT gun using major elements of the: 75 mm Vickers/Reșița Model 1936 (Vickers Model 31)
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|last=Axworthy|first=Mark|author2=Scafes, Cornel |author3=Craciunoiu, Cristian |title=Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945|publisher=Arms and Armour|location=London|year=1995|isbn=1-85409-267-7}}
- {{cite book|last=Gander|first=Terry|author2=Chamberlain, Peter |title=Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945|publisher=Doubleday|location=New York|year=1979|isbn=0-385-15090-3}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://www.jaegerplatoon.net/AA_GUNS3.htm#76ItK34 The Vickers in Finnish service]
- [http://www.worldwar2.ro/arme/?article=336 The Vickers in Romanian service]
Category:Anti-aircraft guns of the United Kingdom
Category:World War II anti-aircraft guns
Category:World War II artillery of the United Kingdom