KS-19

The KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft gun (КС-19 100мм зенитная установка) is a Soviet anti-aircraft gun that also features efficient capabilities against ground targets.

Characteristics
The KS-19 is a towed anti-aircraft gun that was specifically designed to excel in ground combat, particularly against armored targets and as artillery. Due to its towed nature, it requires an external means of mobility, typically an AT-S Medium or AT-T Heavy tracked artillery tractor. The 15-man crew is transported on the tractor, along with readily available ammunition for the gun.

This rifled gun boasts a semiautomatic horizontal sliding wedge block, a power rammer, an automatic fuze setter, and a long muzzle brake. The loading tray allows for quick and efficient ammunition loading, enabling a well-trained crew to fire a maximum of 15 rounds per minute. The fire control system comprises the PUAZO-6/19 directional system, along with a SON 9 (NATO Reporting name 'Fire Can') or SON-9A fire control radar. While the onboard sights are adequate for engaging air targets, greater accuracy is achieved when used in conjunction with the fire control radar.

The ammunition is of a fixed type and is largely interchangeable with other 100mm rifled tank and field guns. Anti-aircraft ammunition includes high explosive, high explosive fragmentation, and fragmentation types. The two types of armor-piercing rounds are the AP-T (Armor Piercing-Tracer) and the APC-T (Armor Piercing Capped-Tracer). The AP-T round is reputed to penetrate 185 mm of armor at a range of 1000 m.

History
The KS-19 gun was developed to replace the 85mm anti-aircraft guns that were used during World War II. It was widely adopted by all of the Warsaw Pact armies and saw action with communist forces in both Korea and Vietnam.

However, the KS-19 gun has largely been phased out of front line arsenals due to the increased use of more effective surface-to-air missiles. As a result, it is no longer a commonly used weapon in modern warfare.

Russo-Ukrainian War
At the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a number of KS-19 guns were stored in Balakliia. However, the city was captured by Russian forces on March 3 and it is believed that the Russians may have used some of the guns as decoys. During the Kharkiv counteroffensive in 2022, Ukraine regained control of Balakliia on September 10.

As of April 1st, 2023, it has been reported that Ukraine is using some of the KS-19 guns that were stored in Balakliia for indirect fire against ground targets, and possibly for direct fire as well. One advantage of using these guns as artillery is that they fire older ammunition that is not commonly used by other Ukrainian artillery. In fact, one of the Soviet UOF-412 rounds that was seen in use had been manufactured as far back as 1962.

Soviet Union
• KS-19 - Original production model introduced in 1948 on KZU-16 carriage.

• KS-19M - Updated model introduced in 1951. The grooves in the barrel were broadened to reduce the projectile's friction and reduce barrel wear.

• KS-19M2 - Final production model introduced in 1955. Features the heavier and more stable KZU-28 carriage, which is easier to set up as well.

China
• Type 59 - Chinese production model.

Iran
• Sa'eer - Iranian upgrade of either Soviet KS-19 or Chinese Type 59 with automatic targeting and reloading system revealed to the public in November 2011. Since then also observed in use in Iraq mounted on a truck.

Syria
Hezbollah militia has reportedly operated a KS-19 systems mounted on 2K12E Kvadrat tracked chassis, the export variant of the 2K12 Kub anti-aircraft missile system in 2016. Hezbollah also operated multiple KS-19 systems mounted on commercial trucks.

Ukraine
The 241st and 111th TDF brigades, operated multiple KS-19 systems mounted on trucks in 2023 during the Russo-Ukrainian war in indirect fire support role.

Operators
Current
 * 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan – 8
 * 🇰🇭 Cambodia – 50
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba – Unknown
 * 🇬🇳 Guinea – 4
 * 🇮🇷 Iran
 * 🇲🇷 Mauritania – 12
 * 🇰🇵 North Korea
 * 🇨🇬 - Unknown
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * Syria – Unknown
 * Transnistria
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine: The Ukrainian army started to use KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft guns in 2023.
 * Vietnam
 * 🇾🇪 Yemen

Former operators
 * 🇦🇫 Afghanistan
 * 🇦🇱 Albania
 * 🇩🇿 Algeria – 150 in 2018.
 * Artsakh − Seized by Azerbaijan after the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh
 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
 * 🇨🇳 China – Produced as Type 59
 * Czechoslovakia
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt – 300 in 2018.
 * Georgia – Used in ground role.
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * 🇮🇶 Iraq
 * 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
 * 🇵🇱 Poland – Withdrawn from service in late 1950s.
 * 🇲🇦 Morocco – 17 in 2018.
 * North Vietnam
 * 🇷🇺 – Used at least until 2008.
 * 🇸🇴 Somalia – 24 in 1989.
 * Soviet Union
 * 🇸🇩 Sudan
 * 🇸🇩 Sudan