KPVT

Description

The Soviet KPV was designed during the closing stages of World War 2, yet didn’t go into full scale production until 1949.

It was originally designed as an infantry operated heavy support weapon against lightly armoured vehicles and aircraft. However, it was discontinued in this role in the mid 1960’s, due to its size and weight (including ammunition carriage), making it unsuitable for ground troops to transport.

As a result is was re-designated as an anti-aircraft gun, that would be mounted either in singular, double or quad formats to fixed firing platforms, which could be trailer or vehicle mounted.

The KPVT was a variant of the KPV which could be fitted in armoured vehicles, hence the addition of the ‘T’ for ‘Tank’. It is often associated with the BTR & BRDM series of vehicles.

The powerful 14.5×114 mm cartridge has a common effective firing range of 3 km, however the round retains is ‘killing power’ to 8 km, with a maximum drop off/loss of flight at 9 km.