The 85 mm Divisional gun D-44 had to replace the 76 mm Divisional Gun M1942 (Zis-3). It was developed in 1943 with a gun barrel based on the T34-85 tanks, and construction began in 1944.
The gun fired 20 to 25 rounds a minute, reached a maximum of 16.65 km (effectively 1.150 m) and had a barrel length of 4.7 meters. It could fire Anti-Tank shells and penetrate 100 mm of armor at 1000 meters. Other specialized shells gave an even greater penetrating capability up to 180 mm. The 85 mm Divisional gun D-44 was the basis for the 85 mm D-48 Anti-Tank gun.
