Any info on Soviet 122mm tank gun (used on IS-III)

Would like to have even basic info on the 122mm high velocity gun used in the IS series heavy tanks- like muzzle velocity, weight, calibre. Any armor penetration data would be appreciated also. The gun was supplanted by a 100mm armament, which apparantly had superior performance.

says...

The source I have has the following data:

- barrel length 43 calibres - initial velocity 790 m/s - penetration (90/30 degrees): 140/46 mm (500 metres), 100/36 mm (2000

Wouldn't that make it a tad longer than 17 feet, and if so just a little awkward to use?

Judging from the pictures, the 122mm L 43 cannon is almost as long as the tank it is attached to (IS-2, IS-3, ISU-122). For example, the length of IS-3 tank is about 6,6 m (9,9 with gun).

Yes, and yes. All the high velocity guns had long, awkward barrels.

The Panther's high velocity 75mm gun was 70 calibers long. That's 5.25 meters (17' 3'. The 'super 88' on the Tiger II was 71 calibers long - 6.25 meters (20' 6'.

The 'flak 88' used by Germans in the anti-tank gun role was 'only' 56 calibers (16' 2'; but try imagining handling such a piece 'by hand'.

If you want velocity and accuracy, you have to have a long barrel. And such guns are hard to use. But boy are they effective!

The Russians converted the 122mm tube to artillery-because of the confusion of comparable calibre shells- the artillery and tank shells were not interchangeable. Zhuhov talks about this in his memoirs.