Nudelman-Suranov NS-37

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	Weapon: Nudelman-Suranov NS-37 Type: Autocannon Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1943 Overall Length (mm): 3410.0 Overall Length (in): 134.25 Weight (kg): 170.00 Weight (pounds): 374.79

The Nudelman-Suranov NS-37 was a Soviet 37mm aircraft autocannon developed during World War II by designers A.E. Nudelman and A.A. Suranov. Introduced in 1943, the NS-37 was a gas-operated, belt-fed weapon intended to deliver powerful anti-aircraft and ground attack capability. Firing the 37x198mm cartridge, it was capable of destroying medium bombers and lightly armored vehicles with a single hit. Despite its heavy caliber, the NS-37 was relatively compact and was designed specifically for centerline mounting on fighters, with a synchronized version (NS-37S) allowing for firing through a propeller hub.

The cannon was most famously mounted on the Yak-9T fighter, where it replaced a standard 20mm cannon and enabled the aircraft to serve in a dual fighter/ground-attack role. Production began in 1943 and continued into 1945, with approximately 3,000 units manufactured during the war. It also saw limited use on aircraft like the Il-2 and the LaGG-3 in specialized anti-tank or bomber-interceptor configurations. While the weapon's firepower was devastating, its drawbacks included high recoil and a relatively low rate of fire (approximately 300-400 rounds per minute), which made aiming and follow-up shots more difficult, particularly in fast-paced air combat.

The NS-37 earned notoriety for its tremendous stopping power, able to destroy enemy bombers or armored vehicles with just a few hits. However, its effectiveness was often limited by its recoil and the small ammunition capacity (typically 20-30 rounds). Despite these challenges, it filled a valuable niche in Soviet air doctrine, enabling fighters to punch above their weight in both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. After the war, the NS-37 was phased out in favor of more advanced, higher-rate-of-fire weapons like the N-37 and NR-37, but it remains a notable example of Soviet emphasis on heavy-caliber aircraft armament during World War II.

The NS-37 fired a variety of 37x198mm ammunition types, tailored for different combat roles. These included high-explosive (HE) rounds for use against aircraft and soft targets, as well as armor-piercing (AP) and armor-piercing incendiary (API) rounds effective against light tanks and armored vehicles. The armor-piercing rounds were capable of penetrating up to 30 mm of armor at close range, making the cannon an effective tool in the Soviet anti-tank strategy when mounted on aircraft like the Yak-9T or Il-2. Ammunition was typically link-belt fed, and careful fire discipline was required due to the limited capacity and recoil impact on aircraft handling.

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