CANNONS
HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY

1. 76 ItK/14 PK (Putilov)
Two of the cannons were founded at the Pasila in the year 1926. The cannons were then taken to Suomenlinna and were put to use. The first cannon firing event took place on 16th September 1927 in the west island of Mustasaari in Suomenlinna. The cannons were used also in the Finnish Winter War and the Continuation War. NH1

2. 76 ItK/02/34 OK (Obuhov)
8 cannons were remolded to be used for air defense in the year 1934. The cannons were then assigned to be used in Helsinki and Jyväskylä. After being used in the war, the cannons were discarded to the cost artillery. UA

3. 76 ItK/16 V (Vickers)
England gifted Finland in March of 1940 a total of 24 Vickers cannons (model 1940). The problem however, was that the cannons had an old fashioned reloading mechanism which caused the firing power of the cannon to be a slow 10 ls/min. The cannons were first placed in Oulu, Vaasa and Pieksämäki. UA

4. 76 ItK 27, 28 and 29 (Bofors)
Finland's first heavy artillery anti-aircraft cannons were purchased from Sweden. Between the years 1927 to 1929, a total of 16 Bofors anti-aircraft cannons were placed in Finland. As more cannons were acquired, military anti-aircraft batteries were dispatched to Viipuri. Also, the first 4 cannons (cannon year model 1928) were placed in Helsinki for defense training purposes. Throughout the 1930's the trustworthy Bofors cannons (which were purchased from Sweden) were most primarily used and were also used in the Continuation war. The museum houses three models of the Bofors cannons: stationed m/27 BK and the mobile m/28 B, m/29B. UA, NH2

5. 76 ItK/34 V (Vickers-Armstrongs)
The Vickers-Armstrong Cannons were acquired from England in the 1936. Finland recieved a total of 12 modern heavy artilery Armstrong cannons and 9 predictors. These cannons, used in conjunction with the heavy Bofors cannons, assembled the offensive lineup of heavy artillery anti-aircraft cannons which were used in the Finnish Winter War. The failsafe cannons were also used in the Continuation War. UA

6. 76 ItK 16/35 BrK (Breda)
Italy offered to discard a total of 12 Breda 76mm anti-aircraft cannons and 24,000 rounds of ammunition to Finland on 5th January 1940. During the end of the Winter War, the Breda anti-aircraft cannons were being assembled in batteries in Tampere and Helsinki. The cannons however, were in poor shape and had a slow firing rate of a few rounds per minute. UA

7. 75 ItK/37 Škoda
Finland purchased a total of 20 Škoda cannons, 5 predictors and 5600 rounds of ammunition on 10th January 1941 during a temporary peace time. The cannons were then placed in five AA batteries (4 cannos per station) across Finland. During the Continuation War, the AA batteries were used very efficiently and strategically in over 100 places across Finland. Three of the Škoda AA batteries were used in Lapland in Oulu and Kemi. The museum houses three Škoda cannons, which were all used in remembrance of General Mannerheim during his funeral in February of 1951. A total 19 rounds and 42 grenades were fired from the Hietaniemi funeral shore to the sea. NH2

8. 88 ItK/37 and 37K RMB
In the year 1943, Finland acquired the first 18 cannons of the model 88 ItK 37 RMB. Of the 18 cannons, 3 anti-aircraft batteries were created. The batteries were equiped with the best cannon predictors at the time, the Lambda, and were stationed in Santahamina, Lauttasaari and the Käpylä (which were all in the surrounding Helsinki area). In the summer of 1944, the Ribbentropp agreement was signed, which offered a variety of more military equipment and weaponry, which included a total of 72 cannons. As a result, more anti-aircraft batteries were created, three of which were then stationed in Helsinki and two in Turku, Tampere and Kotka. Helsinki's Kaivopuisto had the largest battery which included a total of 12 cannons. The 88 ItK /37 was Finland's best heavy anti-aircraft cannon and was the primary training cannon used until 1969. NH2, UA

 

LIGHT ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY CANNONS

1. 20 ItK/23 Oe
The four 20 ItK / 23 Oe cannons, which were purchased from Switzerland in 1926, where the first of the light AA cannons, which were used for the independant country of Finland. In addition to the cannons primary purpose, the cannon had the ability to destroy tanks. Before the first soldier training sessions began in 1939, about 3000 rounds of ammunition were puchased for cannons and various light anti-aircraft batteries were created. During the Winter War, the batteries were located in: Viipuri, Kaarnajoki, Kivennapa, Käkisalmi ja Enso. The light AA battery destroyed 4 and damaged 13 enemy machines during the Continuation War. NH1

2. 20 ItK/35 Br (Breda)
During the Winter War, the Breda 20 mm light artillery cannons were purchased from Italy. A total of 48 cannons arrived to Finland in February of 1940, however not all of the cannons could be put to use before the war ended. Later on, more Breda cannons were purchased and were used in the Continuation war: there was a total of 88 cannons. The Breda anti-aircraft cannons were used in batteries located in various hills and terrains during the war. NH2

3. 20 ItK/30 and 38 BSW

Just before the Winter War started, a total of 50 units 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons were purchased from Germany and were acquired in during the year 1939. During the war, the cannons were placed in the front line for anti-aircraft activity and during the Winter War a total of 100 airplanes were destroyed. Later on during the peace time period, the newer model m/38 cannons were purchased.

During the Continuation War, the BSW- anti-aircraft cannons were mainly used in light anti-aircraft batteries. NH2

4. 20 ItK/40 VKT
Just before the Winter War started, the 20 mm twin anti-aircraft cannon was planned and developed in the war-time weaponry factories. The production of the cannons at the time were very complicated and difficult due to the war-time circumstances. Finally during the years 1943 and 1944, a total of 170 cannons were available to be dispatched to army. The overall success of the cannon during the war resulted in it being one of the best 20 mm cannons. The cannon was used for training up until the mid 1970s. NH2

5. 20 ItK Madsen

The Danish model 20 mm Madsen cannon was a one of a kind multipurpose weapon. The anti-tank and accurate firing version were designed for low range firing activity. Approximately 300 of the Madsen cannons, some of different versions, were used in the Continuation War's ending stages. During the war, the Madsen cannons were primary used in the navy and coast artillery. NH2

6. 20 Itkiv/39-44 (VKT)
The State Rifle Factory manufactured about 1600 L-39 anti-tank rifles for the army during 1941-42. Because an ever-increasing threat by ground attack aircrafts (IL-2) which were armoured on their under side, anti-tank rifles began to be used as an temporary anti-aircraft weapons. NH2

7. 40 ItK/15 V (Vickers)
The British 40mm Vickers automatic anti-aircraft gun m/15 was an enlarged Maxim machine gun. Four guns had been left in Finland after the war of Independence. From these one gun in working order was assembled and tested in Suomenlinna and later at Muurila but the weapon was not taken into air defence service. NH1

8. 40 ItK/38 B (Bofors)
More guns was purhased from Sweden in spring 1939 and in 1941 the State Rifle Factory began to manufacture these guns under lisence. The factory produced in all 75 guns. In the course of Finlands wars 1939-1944 over 500 enemy aircrafts were shot down by 40mm Bofors guns. When the war ended the Finns had 288 of these weapons. NH2

9. 37 ItK/39
Soviet 37mm light automatic anti-aircraft gun from 1939 was a smaller version of the Swedish 40mm Bofors. The Finns became familiar with this weapon for the first time during the offensive phase of war 1941. A gun in working order was found on the road to Poventsa and was immediatelly taken into service. NH2

10. 37 ItK/37 RMB
Five German 37mm static automatic anti-aircraft cannons arrived in Finland at the beginning of September 1944. The weapons were out of order and there was no time to repair the guns before the end of the war. NH2

11. 30 ItK/62 HS (Hispano-Suiza)
Swiss motor-laid 30mm light anti-aircraft cannon m/62 Hispano Suiza. These guns were purchased as the weapon used by brigade anti-aircraft companies. The gun had a hydraulic aiming system with its own motor, to which also belonged the gun predictor and optical sights. NH1

12. 40 ItK 36/59 B (Galileo-Bofors)
Bofors 40mm light automatic anti-aircraft guns m/36, manufactured in Hungary, modernized in Finland in 1959-64. After modernization guns had very much same aiming system as 30mm Hispano Suiza. Training of the conscripts on the guns was ended in 1980. NH1

13. 23 ItK/61 (ZU-23)
The guns reached Finland in several batches. They were taken into use for training in all anti-aircraft units. This gun nicknamed "Sergei" in Finland, has proved extremely serviceable and reliable. Some of the guns are being modernized in Finland. NH1

 

SELF-PROPELLED ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS

14. 40 ItPsv 41 (Landsverk Anti II)
A small batch of six vehicles was manufactured in Sweden specially for Finland. Finland was the first country in the world to take self-propelled anti-aircraft guns into service. The battery served as a special unit of the Armoured Division. The anti-aircraft gun was the famous 40mm Bofors. NH2

15. 57 ItPsv SU-57-2 (ZSU-57-2)
Soviet twin-gunned 57mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun from 1955. The carriage of the 57 ItPsv is that of the T-54 tank, which has been lightened by removing one of its five pairs of truck wheels. The vehichles were allocated to the Tampere Anti-aircraft Battalion at Vatiala in 1961. NH1

 

ANTI-AIRCRAFT MACHINE GUNS

16. 7,62 Itkk/31 and 31-40
Based on the design of the Maxim machine gun it was constructed in Finland an air cooled twin anti-aircraft machine gun. The State Rifle Factory manufactured 130 guns 1933-1938. During World War II Finland produced over 350 modernized twin weapons m/31-40. After the war the weapons were used for training until 1986. NH2

17. 7,62 Itkk/09-31
During the Winter War in particular the Soviet troops used weapons constructed from four Maxim machine guns side by side. Several dozen of these anti-aircraft machine guns fell into Finnish hands as war booty. NH2

18. 7,62 Itpk DA-2
The special DA version for anti-aircraft use was developed from the celebrated Soviet Degtayrov light machine gun. Finland's army obtained the DA anti-aircraft guns as war booty 1939-1944. NH2

19. 8,00 Itkk/36
Swedish volunterers had these weapons in Turku area and also in northern Finland. One anti-aircraft machine gun was left to Finland after World War II. This weapon is seen in showroom 2. NH2

 

AUTOMATIC ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

20. 35 ItK/58 Oe + Super-Fledermaus
Swiss automatic anti-aircraft systems were purchased during 1962-64. System consists of automatic twin anti-aircraft guns and Super Flendermans fire control system. The firing data is transferred from SF to the guns by cable and the twin guns can fire without any person on the weapon. NH1

21. 57 ItK/60 + RPK-1M1
The automatic system comprised the RPK-1M1 fire control apparatus, including the fire control radar, predictor and generator: the system was mounted in a single container on the back of a URAL-375 truck. The system had four 57mm anti-aircraft cannons m/50. In 1975 first system was received to the Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Turku. NH1