This M1939 is a 37mm Soviet-era anti-aircraft gun that is said to have been damaged on a battlefield in Cambodia before being brought to the US and placed on display in the American Armoured Foundation museum. Purchased by the current owner in 2024, the inoperative weapon is outfitted with left and right stations for gun layers, a rotating turntable, and a gun sight. Its four-wheel carriage has pivoting front wheels and coil-spring suspension. This M1939 is now offered at no reserve on dealer consignment in California with a bill of sale.
Based on the Swedish 40mm Bofors gun and developed in the late 1930s by the Soviet Union, the M1939 was an automatic anti-aircraft gun that fired 37mm rounds and was utilized during World War II. The weapon and its variants were used into the Cold War, and this example is said to have sustained damage on the battlefield in Vietnam before it was brought back to the US. The gun housing bears an inscription, which is believed to represent the location from where the weapon was confiscated.
A crew of eight operated the gun and its supporting equipment. A gunner was responsible for firing the weapon, while other crew members were tasked with loading ammunition, sighting targets, and keeping the platform stabilized and level. Gun layer stations with steel seats are positioned on the left and right and equipped with handwheels for adjusting the azimuth and elevation of the gun. One of the seatbacks has been reinforced with bamboo and baling wire.
The gunsight was reportedly struck on the battlefield, resulting in jagged holes through the front and back of the case. A scale that displays the numbers zero through 59 surrounds the base of the sight.
Five-lug 20″ steel wheels are mounted with 6.5-series black wall tires. The forward wheels are linked via control rods and can pivot laterally. The ZU-7 carriage rides on coil springs, and it is equipped with four jacks as well as two outriggers that pivot outward for setup. The carriage would typically be towed to a designated field operating position using a 6×6 truck that carried the crew and supplies. A five-round ammunition clip is included in the sale.
The turntable rotates on a central hub that is mounted to the frame. Additional chassis photos can be viewed in the gallery below.