76 mm regimental gun M1927

76 mm regimental gun M1927
76-mm regimental gun model 1927 in the Central Armed Forces Museum, Moscow, Russia
Type	Infantry support gun
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
Used by	Soviet Union  Nazi Germany  Finland
Wars	Winter War World War II
Production history
Produced	1928–1943
No. built	18,116[1]
Specifications
Mass	780 kg (1,720 lb)
Length	3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
Barrel length	1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) L/16.4
Width	1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
Height	1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)[2]
Shell	Fixed QF 76.2 x 167mm R
Shell weight	6.2 kg (13 lb 11 oz)
Caliber	76.2 mm (3 in)
Breech	interrupted screw
Carriage	Pole trail
Elevation	-6° to 25°
Traverse	6°[2]
Rate of fire	10 - 12 rpm
Muzzle velocity	387 m/s (1,270 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	4.2 km (2.6 mi)[2]

The 76 mm regimental gun M1927 (Russian: 76-мм полковая пушка обр. 1927 г.) was a Soviet infantry support gun.

The gun was developed in 1927 by the design bureau of Orudiyno-Arsenalny Trest (OAT) and entered production in 1928. A total of 18,116 pieces were built. On June 22, 1941, the Red Army had 4,708 of these guns. In 1943 the gun was replaced in production by the 76 mm regimental gun M1943, but remained in service until the end of the war. The Germans placed captured guns into service as the 7.62 cm Infanteriekanonehaubitze 290(r) (infantry gun-howitzer), while in the Finnish army they were known as 76 RK/27.

The gun was intended for destruction of light field fortifications and openly placed personnel by direct fire similarly to how 7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/27 with similar weight and ballistics was used by German troops in WWI. HEAT shell gave it limited anti-tank capabilities. It was chambered for the same shell size as 76.2mm divisional guns, but with a reduced propellant charge. Since firing higher-power divisional gun ammunition could damage the gun, the shell flange was modified so that divisional gun ammunition couldn't be loaded into the chamber of the regimental gun.^[3]

The M1927 was issued to rifle and cavalry regiments of the Red Army. Artillery battalion of rifle brigade included one battery of M1927. Some guns were used by anti-tank artillery battalions.