The Russian 76.2 mm Air Defense gun was developed in 1938. It was an upgrade from the 1931 version with a new barrel and carriage. In 1939 an 85 mm version of the Air Defense gun was developed using the same carriage. This 52-K gun was given priority over the 76 mm Air Defense Gun M1938 gun. The Germans eagerly used this gun in their own ranks if it was captured. They fired it until it ran out of ammunition and then rebored it to fire the German 88 mm shells.
The 76 mm Air Defense Gun M1938 fired 76.2 mm shells at a rate of 10 to 20 rounds a minute. It had a maximum firing range of 9.3 km.
