The 100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3) (Russian: 100-мм полевая пушка обр. 1944 г. (БС-3)) is a Soviet 100 mm (3.9 in) anti-tank and field gun.
History
Development
The BS-3 was based on the B-34 naval gun. The development team was led by V. G. Grabin.
=== World War II === During World War II the Soviet Army employed the gun in the light artillery brigades of tank armies (20 pieces along with 48 ZiS-3) and by corps artillery. In the Second World War the BS-3 was successfully used as a powerful anti-tank gun. It was capable of defeating any contemporary tank at long range, excluding the Tiger II: to destroy that heavy tank the gun needed to shoot at less than 1,600 m (5,200 ft) from the target. The gun was capable of defeating the turret of Tiger II at a range of 800–1,000 m (2,600–3,300 ft). The gun was also used as a field gun. Though in this role it was less powerful than the 122 mm A-19, as it fired a smaller round, the BS-3 was more mobile and had a higher rate of fire.
=== Post World War II === The BS-3 remained in service into the 1950s. As of 1955 it was getting replaced in Soviet service by the T-12 antitank gun and the 85 mm antitank gun D-48. A number of BS-3 pieces are still stored in Russian Ground Forces arsenals. In 2012, at least 12 BS-3 guns were still active with the 18th Machine Gun Artillery Division, located on the Kuril Islands, used as anti-ship and anti-landing guns. The gun also saw action during the Vietnam War, the Six-Day War, and the Yom Kippur War. The BS-3s also saw extensive use with the Indian Army alongside 25-pounders in the India–Pakistan war of 1971. During the Russo-Ukrainian War (2014–present) both sides employed towed anti-tank guns. The use of the 100 mm Rapira is well known, but the Ukrainian Army also used the older BS-3. Three Ukrainian BS-3s were destroyed by Russian military forces during the initial phase of their 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In September 2023, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service released footage of a Ukrainian BS-3 crew firing on Russian positions.
== Ammunition data == The BS-3 ammunition can also be fired by the KS-19 anti-aircraft gun, T-54/T-55 tanks, and the SU-100 assault gun.
Ammunition AP: BR-412 APBC: BR-412B APCBC: BR-412D HE/Fragmentation Projectile weight AP/APBC: 15.88 kg (34.97 lbs) HE/Fragmentation: 15.6 kg (34.39 lbs) Armor penetration (BR-412B, 30° degrees) 500 m : 190 mm(547 yds : 7.48 in) 1000 m : 170 mm(1,093 yds : 6.69 in)
Operators
=== Current === Congo − 10 as of 2025 Cyprus − 6 as of 2025 Kyrgyzstan: 18 as of 2025 Mongolia − Unknown as of 2025 Mozambique − 20 as of 2025 Nicaragua − 24 as of 2025 Sudan − Unknown as of 2025 Ukraine − Reactivated during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Vietnam − Unknown as of 2025
=== Former === Afghanistan − 250 Bulgaria DR Congo East Germany − 144 Egypt − 100 Ethiopia India North Korea − 500 Mali − 6 Poland Romania Somalia − 35 Soviet Union Syria − Some were mounted on a modified T-34 chassis Timor-Leste Yemen − 20
== See also == 100 mm vz. 53 - A similar Czech anti-tank gun using the same ammunition. D-10 tank gun 8.8 cm Pak 43- A contemporary German tank gun with similar performance
Notes
== References == Shunkov V. N. - The Weapons of the Red Army, Mn. Harvest, 1999 (Шунков В. Н. - Оружие Красной Армии. — Мн.: Харвест, 1999.) ISBN 985-433-469-4 Foss, Christopher F, ed. (1990). Jane's Armour and Artillery 1990−1991 (11th ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Defence Data. ISBN 978-0-7106-0909-0. International Institute for Strategic Studies (11 February 2025). "Chapter Three: Europe". The Military Balance. 125 (1). Taylor & Francis: 52–151. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445475. ISSN 0459-7222. International Institute for Strategic Studies (11 February 2025a). "Chapter Four: Russia and Eurasia". The Military Balance. 125 (1). Taylor & Francis: 152–205. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445476. ISSN 0459-7222. International Institute for Strategic Studies (11 February 2025b). "Chapter Five: Asia". The Military Balance. 125 (1). Taylor & Francis: 206–311. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445477. ISSN 0459-7222. International Institute for Strategic Studies (11 February 2025c). "Chapter Seven: Latin America and the Caribbean". The Military Balance. 125 (1). Taylor & Francis: 380–439. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445479. ISSN 0459-7222. International Institute for Strategic Studies (11 February 2025d). "Chapter Eight: Sub-Saharan Africa". The Military Balance. 125 (1). Taylor & Francis: 440–509. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445480. ISSN 0459-7222. Isby, David C. (1988). Weapons and tactics of the Soviet Army (Fully revised ed.). London and New York: Jane's. ISBN 978-0-7106-0352-4 – via Internet Archive.
== External links == Armor penetration table
