Artkom GAU in 1945 sent TTT to design bureaus and factories for a new 57-mm anti-tank gun, which was supposed to replace the ZIS-2. The main difference between the new gun was less than that of the ZIS-2, the mass, while maintaining its ammunition and ballistics.
In the design bureau of plant No. 172, according to these requirements in 1946, they designed the 57-mm M16 anti-tank gun.
The barrel of the gun was a monoblock with a screw-on breech and a muzzle brake. In a high-power muzzle brake over a length of 600 millimeters, there were 20 pairs of windows, which were cut at an angle of 49 degrees to the axis of the channel. The muzzle brake for the M16 cannon was carried out at the same time with the barrel, for the M16-2 - separately, a key was used for the connection. The muzzle brake channel in both cases had rifling, which was a continuation of the rifled part of the barrel bore. The muzzle brake absorbed about 72% of the energy.
The recoil devices were installed in a cradle of tubular section, while the cradle tube was a hydraulic knurler cylinder, and a knurler rod served as a hydraulic brake cylinder.
57 mm M16-2 cannon
The anti-tank gun was equipped with a sector-type lifting mechanism, and a pusher-type rotary screw mechanism. Sliding box-type beds. Torsion bar suspension. The shield consisted of a sheet, which is installed at an angle of 45 degrees, two folding upper shields and a folding lower shield.
OP1-2 was used as a direct aiming sight.
Wheels from GAZ-A are standard with a GK tire and a lightweight hub.
Field tests of a prototype of this gun were carried out at the GAP in the period from October 28 to December 4, 1946. Tests on 544 rounds were stopped due to a significant curvature of the muzzle brake, which was made with the barrel in one piece. In addition, insufficient strength of the beds was noted, as well as a strong roll of the barrel that occurs after the shot.
After testing, the prototype was finalized and, under the M16-2 index, was submitted to the main artillery range for repeated tests, carried out from July 14 to September 2, 47, together with the 57-mm anti-tank gun 4-26.
During the field tests, 1235 shots were fired from the M16-2 anti-tank gun, of which an armor-piercing projectile - 865, a fragmentation projectile - 265 and a subcaliber - 105. During repeated field tests, insufficient strength of the lower and upper machines was revealed, the unreliable operation of the trigger and the shutter, unsatisfactory operation of the recoil device, instability of the system during firing, and so on. Modification of the M16-2 anti-tank gun, in the opinion of the commission, was inappropriate. Soon, work on the M16-2 was completely stopped.
Comparative ballistic data of the Ch-26 and M16-2, obtained at the main artillery range in July - August 1947:
The BR-271 armor-piercing projectile weighing 3, 14 kg (charge weight - 1, 425 kg) fired from the M16-2 cannon had an initial speed of 978, 2 m / s, from the Ch-26 gun - 976, 2 m / s;
The O-271U fragmentation projectile weighing 3.75 kg (charge weight - 0.913 kg) fired from the M16-2 cannon had an initial velocity of 685.5 m / s, from the Ch-26 cannon - 680 m / s;
The BR-271P sub-caliber projectile weighing 1.79 kg (charge weight - 1.655 kg) fired from the M16-2 cannon had an initial velocity of 1238 m / s, from the Ch-26 gun - 1245 m / s.
The M16-2 anti-tank gun had the greatest firing range at an angle of + 15 ° with a fragmentation projectile, 6556 meters, and the Ch-26 gun, 6520 meters.
Technical characteristics of the light anti-tank gun M16-2:
Caliber - 57 mm;
Sample - Plant 172;
Full barrel length - 4175 mm / 73, 2 clb.;
Channel length - 3358 mm / 58.9 clb.;
The length of the threaded part - 2853 mm;
The steepness of the grooves - 30 clb;
Chamber volume - 2.05 l;
The number of grooves - 24;
Cutting depth - 0.9 mm;
Rifle width - 5, 35 mm;
Field width - 2.1 mm;
Shutter weight - 20.0 kg;
Barrel weight with shutter - 333.5 kg;
Vertical guidance angle - from -5 ° 40 'to + 15 ° 40';
Vertical guidance angle - 58 °;
Recoil length is normal - 650 mm;
Recoil length limiting - 680 mm;
The height of the line of fire - 598 mm;
The length of the tool with the shifted beds - 6500 mm;
The width of the tool with the frames extended - 3860 mm;
The width of the tool with the shifted beds - 1730 mm;
Stroke width - 1520 mm;
Shield thickness - 6 mm;
Wheel diameter - 770 mm;
The weight of the retractable parts is 352 kg;
Oscillating part weight - 425, 9 kg;
Shield weight - 62 kg;
Carriage weight without shield and gun - 406 kg;
System weight in firing position - 797 kg;
Rate of fire - 10-20 rounds per minute;
Transport speed on the highway - 60 km / h.
