ZIS-4 (57 mm)

The 57 mm ZIS-4 on the T-34-57 gun mantlet.

Description

The ZiS-4 is a tank version of the 57 mm anti-tank gun Model 1941 (ZiS-2), developed in 1940 and mass-produced from 1941 to 1949. The ZiS-4 was produced together with the T-34-57 in 1941 and 1943.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• SU-57B
• T-34-57

General info

The following shells are available for this gun:

• BR-271 is an armor-piercing blunt-headed chamber projectile. The stock projectile is best used to destroy well-armored vehicles at a distance of more than 600 meters.
• BR-271K is an armor-piercing pointed-head chamber projectile. This projectile has better armor penetration at a distance of up to 600 meters.
• O-271 - high-explosive fragmentation projectile. Used to destroy open self-propelled guns and self-propelled guns, as well as boats and aircraft.
• BR-271P - armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile. Present only on T-34-57 (1943)

Available ammunition

Comparison with analogues

The ZIS-4M's characteristics are identical to the following cannons:

• ZIS-2_(57_mm)
• ZIS-4M (57 mm)

Usage in battles

The main purpose is the covert destruction of heavy tanks. The gun is very powerful and can destroy almost any enemy tank at its level with one shot.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• High penetration power
• Good rate of fire
• Fast reloading
• Good accuracy of the cannon

Cons:

• Small calibre gives it poorer post-penetration damage and HE damage than 75 and 85 mm cannons
• Lack of stabilization when moving

History

The production was planned for the summer of 1941, but due to the evacuation of the KhPZ, only 21 tanks equipped with this gun were produced. Mass production began in the fall of 1941, but it was soon halted due to the excessive power of the T-34-57. Production resumed only in 1943 with the mass appearance of the Tiger and Panther tanks. The gun was modernized, receiving the designation ZiS-4M, and a new UBR-271K round was introduced. In the fall of 1943, production ceased due to the active development of the T-34-85.

The first combat use was recorded on October 14, 1941, during the offensive towards Kalinin. Over four days, 10 T-34-57s destroyed 34 German tanks, 210 vehicles, 25 anti-tank guns, and 1,000 soldiers and officers. However, on November 25, 1941, the 21st Tank Brigade, which included the T-34-57s, was destroyed. Later, the tanks were used again in 1943 during the Battle of Kursk.

Media

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See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
• references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.

External links

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