Pattern Gun R
A extraordinary piece of World War II history has re-emerged from the depths. Divers from the “Captain Morgan” club have successfully recovered a rare 76 mm 1927-pattern regimental gun from the Western Dvina River, near the settlement of Ula in the Vitebsk Region, Belarus.
This remarkable artifact offers a rare, tangible link to the dramatic events of the Eastern Front in 1941.
A Rare Historic Find for Belarus
Manufactured in the Soviet Union between 1928 and 1943, around 18,000 units of the 76 mm regimental gun were produced in total. Today, however, only about 12 surviving examples are known to exist across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Until this discovery, Belarus had no such guns in any of its national museums.
“According to specialists from the Great Patriotic War Museum, the gun likely ended up at the bottom of the Western Dvina during the retreat of the Soviet Army in the summer of 1941.”
Next Steps: Restoration at the “Stalin Line”
Following its extraction from the river bed, the historic weapon was transported to the “Stalin Line” Historical and Cultural Complex for meticulous restoration.
Key Details Discovered on the Gun:
- Model: 76 mm 1927-pattern regimental gun
- Year of Manufacture: 1939 (engraved on the carriage)
- Identification: Serial and identification numbers remain legible on the carriage frame
What’s Next?
Specialists plan to send an official inquiry to the Central Archives of the Russian Ministry of Defense. By cross-referencing the carriage’s identification number, historians hope to trace the specific military unit to which this weapon was assigned and uncover the exact story behind its combat history.
Key Takeaways for History Enthusiasts:
- Location: Western Dvina River near Ula (Vitebsk Region, Belarus)
- Recovered By: “Captain Morgan” Diving Club
- Historical Context: Presumed lost during the 1941 Soviet retreat
- Future Home: Stalin Line Museum Complex (post-restoration)
