The Finnish air defense forces used in the Winter War were relatively small in number, although most of the available small-caliber anti-aircraft guns for that time were very modern. But at the same time, there were practically no new anti-aircraft guns of medium and large caliber, which made it very difficult to repel raids by Soviet bombers operating at medium altitudes.
The first medium-caliber anti-aircraft guns of the Finnish air defense were the 75 mm Kane cannon and 76 mm anti-aircraft guns mod. 1914/15 (3 ″ Lender anti-aircraft guns). By the beginning of hostilities in 1939, a little more than thirty 75 and 76 mm guns were in working order. Kane's 75 mm cannons were mounted mainly on the capital positions of coastal batteries. 75 mm guns, modified and adapted for anti-aircraft fire, also known as 75 mm Zenit-Meller.
Lender's guns were installed on railway platforms. At the end of the 30s, these artillery systems were hopelessly outdated, the range and height of the targets hit did not meet modern requirements, and most importantly, there were no fire control devices for the guns, due to which they could only conduct ineffective barrage fire with adjusting the aiming at the breakpoint. In addition, when bursting, shrapnel shells could hit an enemy aircraft in a relatively narrow sector, which generally reduced the effectiveness of firing. In total, there were about a hundred old 75 and 76 mm guns in Finland. Most of them were written off immediately after the end of World War II.
In 1927, Finland ordered 76mm Bofors M / 27 anti-aircraft guns. This anti-aircraft gun was based on the Swedish 75-mm Bofors M / 14 naval gun. The main difference was the use of a 76, 2 mm projectile from the Russian "three-inch". In total, the Finns bought 12 guns, intended exclusively for installation in stationary positions on the coast.
With an initial speed of a shrapnel grenade of 750 m / s, the range of destruction of air targets was 6000 meters. Rate of fire up to 12 rds / min. That is, in terms of its characteristics, the Swedish anti-aircraft gun practically did not differ from the 76 mm Lender cannon. In the late 30s, fragmentation shells with a remote fuse were created for 76 mm anti-aircraft guns, but the effectiveness of firing did not increase significantly, since the fire, as a rule, was actually conducted by eye, without the use of rangefinders.
A related modification, the 76mm Bofors M / 28, was towed. Four guns were purchased in 1928 and used mainly for training purposes. Shortly before the collision with the Soviet Union in Sweden, together with other guns, they acquired Bofors Ab anti-aircraft fire control devices, which significantly increased the effectiveness of anti-aircraft fire. The only anti-aircraft battery with 76mm Bofors M / 28 type guns was used in the Helsinki air defense until the summer of 1944. Also in the air defense of Finland there was a small number of towed 76mm Bofors M / 29 guns, slightly different in details from the previous model. Already after the start of Soviet air raids, the upgraded 75mm Bofors M / 30 were seen. It is believed that these guns, which defended the capital of Helsinki, were supplied from the Swedish armed forces along with the crews, and after the end of the war they returned to their homeland.
In 1936, along with the Bristol Bulldog Mk. IVA, Finland acquired 12 British 76 ITK / 34 Vickers. In the UK these guns are known as the 76.2mm Q. F. 3-in 20cwt anti-aircraft gun. Initially, shrapnel was used for firing at air targets; in the mid-30s, fragmentation shells with a remote tube were introduced into the ammunition load. The fire control of the anti-aircraft battery was carried out using PUAZO. A fragmentation grenade weighing 5.7 kg, leaving the barrel at a speed of 610 m / s, had an altitude reach of 5000 m. The rate of fire of the gun was 12 rds / min.
The anti-aircraft gun, created on the basis of the naval 76-mm universal gun of the 1916 model, was popular among the troops. Its advantages were simplicity and reliability. But by the 1939 year, despite the good service and operational characteristics, the British three-inch anti-aircraft guns no longer met modern requirements. First of all, in terms of range and altitude. In winter, the Vickers M / 34 anti-aircraft battery fire control devices often froze and refused to work. Therefore, they had to be equipped with electric heating.
Since after 1942 the stocks of British-made shells ran out, they used 76mm Bofors M / 27 ammunition for firing. In addition to the Q. F. 3-in 20cwt, the British donated two and a half dozen modernized 76-mm universal guns intended for installation in stationary positions. These guns, after the modernization of the guidance devices, could fire at the data of the gun aiming stations. Despite the obvious archaism, the 76 mm British-made cannons turned out to be long-livers: formally, they were in service with the coastal defense until the mid-80s of the last century.
In February 1940, 12 76-mm anti-aircraft guns 76 ITC / 16-35 Br. The gun was developed in 1935 by Breda specialists on the basis of the 76 mm Breda model 1916 naval gun.
An artillery system with a mass in a combat position of 2680 kg could fire at targets flying at an altitude of 5900 meters and a range of 7800 meters. A fragmentation projectile weighing 5, 65 kg, left the barrel at a speed of 690 m / s. The anti-aircraft gun of the 1935 model of the year inherited the old non-automatic shutter from the naval cannon, which was required to be locked manually after the shell was sent. For this reason, the practical rate of fire did not exceed 10 rds / min. After 1944, all guns of this type were transferred to the coastal artillery.
In general, the Finnish anti-aircraft artillery, designed to combat aviation at medium and high altitudes, did not meet modern requirements. The situation was much better with small-caliber anti-aircraft guns. After the collapse of the Russian Empire, more than 60 47 mm Hotchkiss semi-automatic guns (Finnish designation 47/40 H) and 57 mm Nordenfelt (57/48 No.) remained in Finland. These guns with a rate of fire of up to 20 rounds / min were used mainly to arm small ships and in coastal defense, but were also used to fire at enemy aircraft. However, the probability of a direct hit on the plane in the absence of special anti-aircraft sights was negligible.
The first Finnish automatic anti-aircraft guns were 40 mm Vickers submachine guns mod. 1915 Most of the guns went to the tsar's inheritance, several more were captured during the civil war in 1918. In 1934, Finland purchased 8 new guns of an improved model. In their image and likeness, all existing anti-aircraft guns of this system were remade. In Finland, they received the designation 40 ITK / 34 V.
Outwardly and structurally, the 40 mm belt-fed anti-aircraft machine gun strongly resembled the enlarged Maxim machine gun. The modernized anti-aircraft guns fired projectiles with improved ballistics weighing 760 grams, with an initial speed of 730 m / s. The practical rate of fire is about 100 rds / min. 16 40 ITK / 34 V. participated in the Winter War. Although twelve 40 mm Vickers survived until the end of World War II, this weapon was never popular among the calculations due to its great complexity, overweight, low reliability and low ballistic data.
A much more modern, reliable and effective weapon was the Swedish 40 mm Bofors L 60. An anti-aircraft gun with a mass in a combat position of 1920 - 2100 kg fired with fragmentation and armor-piercing tracer shells weighing 900 - 1000 g, with a practical rate of fire of 80-90 rds / min. The muzzle velocity of the shells is 800 - 850 m / s. The gun was loaded with clips for 4 shells, which were inserted manually. The effective firing range at fast-moving air targets is 2500 meters. Reach in height 3800 meters, with a maximum horizontal range of more than 6000 meters. A single 40 mm shrapnel projectile hitting a combat aircraft was guaranteed to result in its destruction or severe damage.
In Finland, the Swedish 40 mm anti-aircraft gun was designated 40 ITK / 35-39 Bofors. Before the start of the Winter War, 53 guns were delivered to the Finnish air defense units. From the very beginning of hostilities, even with inexperienced calculations, they showed themselves from the best side.
Most of the Finnish 40 mm anti-aircraft guns had Bofors automated guidance devices, the data for which was received via cable from optical rangefinders. This equipment could work on targets whose speed did not exceed 563 km / h. The high efficiency of anti-aircraft fire forced the crews of Soviet bombers to climb above 4000 meters, which reduced the effectiveness of bombing. After the end of hostilities in March 1940, there were already more than 100 Bofors in Finland. They were supplied from Sweden and Hungary. Moreover, the Hungarian anti-aircraft guns were distinguished by the fire control equipment created by the Johanz-Gamma company.
At the beginning of 1941, licensed production of Bofors L 60 began in Finland. Before the country left the war in 1944, about 300 anti-aircraft guns were delivered to the troops. However, in addition to production at their own enterprises, significant volumes of 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, starting in 1942, came from Germany. These were guns captured from Austria, Norway, Poland and Denmark. Anti-aircraft guns received from the Germans, as a rule, did not have centralized guidance equipment and were often used individually as part of the air defense of armored trains. For installation on armored platforms and stationary coastal fortifications, anti-aircraft guns dismantled from ships were sent.
6 Landsverk II SPAAGs of Swedish manufacture were also delivered to Finland. These light anti-aircraft tanks weighing 9.5 tons, protected by 6-20 mm armor, were armed with one 40 mm Bofors L 60 gun. During the Second World War, they allegedly managed to shoot down eleven Soviet attack aircraft. These vehicles were in service until 1966.
After the Finns faced the Soviet Il-2 attack aircraft, which were hardly vulnerable to the fire of anti-aircraft machine guns and 20 mm machine guns, they began to appreciate the 40 mm Bofors even more. During the Winter and Second World Wars, 40 mm machine guns accounted for about 40% of all Soviet combat aircraft shot down by Finnish anti-aircraft guns.
In 1924, Finland became one of the first buyers of 20 mm Oerlikon L anti-aircraft guns. Oerlikons were purchased in small quantities and were intended mainly for evaluation and testing. The pillar anti-aircraft guns were designated 20 mm Oerlikon M / 23. The weight of the installation in the firing position was 243 kg. Rate of fire - 150 - 170 rds / min. Effective range - 1000 meters.
During the Winter War, four 20 mm cannons that remained in working order were brought together into one anti-aircraft battery and were actively used in December-January during defensive battles on the Karelian Isthmus. At the same time, according to Finnish data, they managed to shoot down 4 Soviet aircraft. Later, the "Erlikons" were transferred to the Air Force, and they served in the air defense system of airfields. There is a high probability that the Finns are cunning, and there were actually much more Oerlikons. According to some reports, during the Winter War, additional deliveries of 20 mm Oerlikon assault rifles were carried out.
In 1931, Finland acquired the first batch of 20 mm from six Danish Madsen anti-aircraft guns. Tests have shown that the weapon needs improvement. At the beginning of 1940, four dozen modernized 20 ITK / 39M assault rifles chambered for the 20x120 mm Madsen cartridge were transferred to the air defense units.
The weapon with a combat weight of 260 kg had better combat characteristics than the 20 mm Oerlikon M / 23. The muzzle velocity, depending on the type of projectile, was 830 - 850 m / s. Food was supplied from 40 or 60 drum charging magazines. Practical rate of fire - 200-250 rds / min. Effective fire range up to 1500 meters.
During the German occupation, the Danish Madsen factories were producing 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. Until the end of 1943, the Finns received 362 anti-aircraft guns of modifications: 20 ITK / 36M, 20 ITK / 39M, 20 ITK / 40M, 20 ITK / 42M, 20 ITK / 43M. In 1942, the production of 20x120 mm Madsen ammunition was launched at the Tikkakoski enterprise.
The most effective 20 mm anti-aircraft guns in the Finnish air defense were the German 2.0 cm Flak 30 and 2.0 cm Flak 38, designated in Suomi as 20 ITK / 30 and 20 ITK / 38. This weapon used 20x138 mm ammunition, with an initial velocity 830-900 m / s Weapons with a mass in the combat position of 463 kg (20 ITK / 30) and 420 kg (20 ITK / 38) had a combat rate of fire of 120-220 rds / min and an effective range of up to 2000 meters.
The first 30 of the 134 20mm guns ordered in October 1939 arrived a few weeks before the Winter War. After the outbreak of hostilities, direct arms deliveries from Germany ceased, but they were in transit through Sweden. After the end of the conflict, all restrictions were lifted. In just two wars with the Soviet Union, 163 German MZA 2, 0 cm Flak 30 and 2, 0 cm Flak 38 were involved. Their calculations announced the defeat of 104 Soviet aircraft during the Winter War, but these figures are certainly many times overstated. Oddly enough, the Finns liked the early 2.0 cm Flak 30 with a low rate of fire better. They considered this anti-aircraft gun more accurate and stable than the 2.0 cm Flak 38. Ammunition for German-made anti-aircraft guns was supplied from Germany.
During the Winter War, the Finnish armed forces had a significant number of anti-aircraft machine gun installations. These were mainly the Maxim machine guns adapted for firing at air targets. ZPU rifle caliber ItKk 7, 62/31 VKT deserves special mention
The twin anti-aircraft gun was developed by the famous Finnish gunsmith Aimo Lahti on the basis of the M / 32-33 machine gun, which in turn had much in common with the Russian machine gun of the 1910 model. The machine guns used the same cartridge 7, 62 × 53 mm R.
Structurally, the ZPU 7, 62 ItKk / 31 VKT is a pair of Maxim machine guns with a total rate of fire of 1800 rds / min. To reduce the number of delays and increase the rate of fire, the tarpaulin cartridge tape was replaced with a metal link tape with a total capacity of two boxes of 500 rounds. Another difference was the air-cooled barrel cooling system, which significantly reduced the weight of the unit and made it easier to use in winter. It was believed that it was possible to shoot 250 rounds of rounds in long bursts on each barrel without overheating. The installation weighing 104 kg was served by a crew of 6 people. The basis for the machine guns was a massive, stable conical bollard with a height of 135 cm. The effective firing range at air targets was 600 meters.
Taking into account the combat experience gained during the Winter War, a modernized machine gun mount 7, 62 ItKk / 31-40 VKT was created with an outfitted tripod mount, a new sight, a muzzle brake and improved cooling. According to Finnish historians, the paired ZPU 7, 62 ItKk / 31-40, due to its smaller mass and dimensions, was a more effective weapon than the Soviet M4 quad mount of the 1931 model. In total, 507 ZPUs were manufactured from 1933 to 1944. In operation, it was a fairly reliable and effective means of hitting low-altitude air targets. However, in the second half of the war, the effectiveness of rifle-caliber machine-gun installations decreased. Nevertheless, ZPU 7, 62 ItKk / 31-40 VKT were in storage until 1986. At the time of decommissioning, there were 467 serviceable installations, including 41 spark 7, 62 ItKk / 31 VKT during the Winter War.
Just as in fighter aviation, the ground component of the Finnish air defense during the Winter War relied on foreign-made equipment and weapons. The large nomenclature of different models made the supply of non-interchangeable ammunition and repairs problematic. It is noteworthy that the number of 75-76 mm anti-aircraft guns was clearly insufficient, and most of them are outdated types. In the Finnish air defense system, there was a clear bias towards the ZPU and MZA, which reflected the intention to cover their troops from attack aircraft operating at low altitude, but many strategic objects were poorly defended against bombing. One of the attempts to remedy the situation was the creation of anti-aircraft batteries on railway platforms. They tried to cover transport hubs and ports.
Another weak point of the air defense was an acute shortage of acoustic detection equipment and anti-aircraft searchlights. So, in December 1939, the air defense units had only 8 acoustic stations, 8 searchlights and 20 air observation posts, equipped with communications. After the start of the armed conflict, the number of VNOS posts around important facilities increased many times over. Finland was divided into 52 air observation areas, and the number of observation posts exceeded 600. All posts had telephone or radio communications. This, of course, greatly helped in alerting the population about air raids, but could not prevent them. According to Finnish sources, the ground component of the Finnish air defense in the Winter War shot down from 300 to 400 enemy aircraft. In reality, the success of anti-aircraft gunners is 4-5 times less. However, the Finnish anti-aircraft artillery did not have much influence on the course of hostilities and could not protect the protected objects from bomb attacks.
