45mm/89.1 SM-7

History

The SM-7 gun was a 1946 design for a 45mm gun. It was used in a number of experimental mountings, some of which ended up successful and entered service. The initial SM-21 gun was tested in 1949 but proved to be deficient in many areas. A new design set to new requirements was then produced which was tested in 1951. This was successful and the SM-21 single mounting entered into service in 1954.

Designs for the SM-16 stabilised twin mounting, SM-17 unstabilised twin mounting and possibly others did not enter production.

After the SM-7 design had proven itself it was also applied to the SM-20 Quad mounting. This mounting was in development since 1946 and initially would fit a different gun. The SM-20 entered service in 1957.

The mountings could be locally controlled or could be guided by a central fire control system.

The SM-20 was further developed into the ZiF-68 mounting. This mounting was nearly identical to the SM-20 except for the electrical systems. The PR.68bis-ZiF cruisers they were meant for were never build though, and the 30 mountings build were placed in storage. They remained there until at least 1991.

Used on

SM-21

• SO-1 (Pr. 201) class
• Sasha (Pr. 265) class
• base minesweepers
• other ships

SM-20

• Neustrashimyi (NATO Tallinn) (Pr. 41)
• Kotlin (Pr. 56) class
• Bravyi (NATO SAM-Kotlin) (Pr. 56K)
• Bedovyi (Pr. 56EM) DDs
• Sovetsky Soyuz (Pr. 24) class BBs (uncompleted)
• Stalingrad (Pr. 82) class BCs (uncompleted)
• Lenin (Pr. 90) Nuclear Icebreaker (never installed)

SM-68

• Pr. 68bis-ZIF cruisers (uncompleted)

Affiliated systems

• Fut-B

Part description

A right facing view is drawn of both SM-20 and SM-21 mountings.

See also

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNRussian_45mm-78_SM-7.php