Russian divisional cannon ZiS-3 COBI 2293 - World War II

You know that:

• The ZiS-3 cannon was built in 1941 under the direction of designer V. G. Grabin as a successor to the ZiS-2 type.
• The purpose was to build a lighter and more practical cannon, and above all to remove the shortcoming of the previous model, when the aiming and sight adjustment was on the opposite side of the cannon. Thus, the gunner had to circle the gun when aiming, or the sighting had to be done by two soldiers.
• The designer Grabin worked on the project secretly and so-called in a drawer if it was ever needed. For such activity he was threatened with a heavy penalty and so nobody knew about the project except a few designers.
• All was forgiven after Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The Red Army desperately needed to rebuild its decimated artillery.
• Curiously, Stalin approved the mass production of the new gun in February 1942, when several thousand units had already been produced. Finally, all those involved in the development and production could stop fearing for their lives.
• Thanks to its unique design and reliability, the gun was probably the best product in its category. 
• The reliable gun was also installed on SU-76 tank fighters.
• With the advent of the German Tiger heavy tanks, however, the gun's effectiveness declined.
• In total, more than 130,000 were produced.

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: barrel length 3 240 mm
• combat weight 1150 kg
• calibre 76, 2 mm
• maximum range 13 290 m
• muzzle velocity 680 m/s
• rate of fire 25 rounds/min.
• maximum transport speed 50 km/h
• crew of 5-6 persons

From the memoirs of Krupp's chief designer Professor Wolf:

"German guns were better than those of any other country except the Soviet Union. During the Second World War, I tested booty guns, both British and French. Those tests clearly showed that the German guns were superior and more powerful. But the Soviet ZIS-3 was the best artillery weapon in World War II. No exaggeration. I maintain that this weapon was one of the most brilliant weapons in the history of artillery."