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NORINCO P793 (M1939)

1979 COLD WAR MODERN VIETNAM WAR

History

The modern Chinese military is influenced by the Cold War-era partnership with the Soviet Union. Much of its equipment was originally purchased by the Empire until China developed enough industry to manufacture war supplies locally.

This sparked a local design and development movement that began to bear fruit in the 1950s and 1960s.

In the 1950s, the Chinese army adopted the Soviet M1939 (AA) anti-aircraft gun, a single-barrel 37mm air defense system that appeared before World War II (1939-1945). Due to its effectiveness on the battlefield, acquisition cost and ease of use, this weapon proved very popular as it was adopted by many Soviet allies and supported countries. The M1939 entered Chinese inventory as the "Type 55", a direct replica of the original Soviet design. This was followed by the "Type 63" in twin-barreled form, with an entirely new turret design on the T-34 medium tank chassis, resulting in the twin-barreled "Type 65".

The later "Type 76" represented a model of surface ships used by the Chinese Navy.

An improved "Type 74" appeared in the mid-1970s, featuring an increased rate of fire, and the "Type 74SD" introduced integration with the Type 800 laser heading system. Its improved counterpart became the "Type 79-III", which was equipped with an electro-optical guide and had full elevator and aileron functions.

The P793 became another in the M1939 series and incorporated an electro-optical predictive sight for increased accuracy, as well as a longer barrel assembly for increased muzzle velocity (approximately 1,000 m/s). The rate of fire has also been increased. The product requires a typical staff of five or six, and is manufactured by NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation). The modified system features dual 37mm barrel assemblies mounted side-by-side on the recoil mechanism and mounting hardware, the latter containing elevation and roll controls.

Two seats are mounted on either side of the mounting part, and the gun is fed from side-mounted cartridges. The carriage contained four wheels for moving the vehicle towing, and the four-point outriggers were raised or lowered manually depending on the transport or preparation of the gun (respectively).

The base of the weapon allows full 360 degree traversal.

Despite its Cold War origins, the P793 can still be found in limited service in some parts of the world. Its rather meager caliber (by modern standards) and limited inherent characteristics meant it was quickly replaced by more powerful anti-aircraft gun types as well as missile systems.