57mm Anti Tank
The 57mm anti tank, more colloquially known as the ZiS-2, is a medium AT gun developed during the Second World War.
IRL
The ZiS-2 originated as an upgrade over the weaker 45mm cannons in service. Apparently, the geniuses at the artillery bureau decided that 57mm were still relevant on the battlefield, despite the fact that Matildas and French Char 1 tanks made such an opinion wrong.
In any case, production of the weapon also had teething pains from the fact that the Commies had no experience manufacturing 57mm ammo. It was for this reason that manufacturing was dropped early into Barbarossa, because more crappy 45mm guns was better than fewer ok 57mm guns. Later in the war, they were reintroduced in order to give anti-tank crews a better fighting chance against the heavier Panzers, though the ZiS-3 was obviously preferred.
The ZiS-2 was considered for use on the T-34 and SU chassis, though these plans were abandoned due to the better performance of 76 and 85 mm cannons. Post war, it was rather quickly retired due to its obvious obsolescence, being major export post war to friendly countries. In 2013, a shipment of ZiS-2s we're found on a shipment bound for North Korea, implying that the weapon is still in service there. Jury is still out of that is hilarious, concerning, awe inspiring, or an unholy mixture of all three.
| Soviet Forces in Flames of War | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-70 - Valentine - M5/M3 Stuart - M3 Lee - T-34 - KV - Churchill - IS-2 - Captured Tank Platoon - T-28 - BT-7 - KV-2 - T-26 |
| Transports: | M3 Scout Car - Universal Carrier - SdKfz 251 |
| Infantry: | Rifles - Motor Rifles - Penal Company - Storm Group - SMG Company - Engineer Sapper Company |
| Artillery: | Katyusha - 152mm Artillery - 122mm Artillery - 76mm Artillery - 120mm Mortars - 82mm mortars |
| Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns: | 45mm Anti Tank - 57mm Anti Tank - 76mm Anti Tank - 100mm Anti Tank - SU-76 - SU-85 - SU-100 - SU-122 - SU-152 - ISU-122/ISU-152 |
| Recon: | Scout Platoon - BA-64 Platoon - Armored Reconnaissance Platoon - Reconnaissance Platoon |
| Aircraft: | Il-2 Sturmovik |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU M17 - DShK AA MG Platoon |
| Midwar Monsters: | KV-3 - KV-5 - T-43 |