Nudelman N-37
The Nudelman N-37 was a 37 mm (1.46 in) aircraft autocannon used by the Soviet Union. It was designed during World War II by V. Nemenov of A.E. Nudelman's OKB-16 to replace the earlier Nudelman-Suranov NS-37 and entered service in 1946. It was 30% lighter than its predecessor at the cost of a 23% lower muzzle velocity.
Also recorded as N-37 · NL-37 · NN-37
Nudelman N-37
Max Smith · Self-photographed · Public domain
- Name
- Nudelman N-37
- Field
- autocannon
- Region
- Soviet Union
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Documentary summary
The Nudelman N-37 was a 37 mm (1.46 in) aircraft autocannon used by the Soviet Union. It was designed during World War II by V. Nemenov of A.E. Nudelman's OKB-16 to replace the earlier Nudelman-Suranov NS-37 and entered service in 1946. It was 30% lighter than its predecessor at the cost of a 23% lower muzzle velocity.
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wikidata · Q507990 · wikipedia · Nudelman N-37
In this article
Overview
Overview
The N-37 was a sizable weapon firing a massive (735 g/26 oz HEI-T, 760 g/27 oz AP-T) shell. Its muzzle velocity was still considerable, but its rate of fire was only 400 rounds per minute. The weapon's considerable recoil and waste gases were problematic for turbojet fighter aircraft, as was finding space for the gun and a useful amount of ammunition, but a single shell was often sufficient to destroy a bomber. The N-37 was used in the MiG-9, MiG-15, MiG-17, and early MiG-19 fighters, the Yakovlev Yak-25, and others. Production lasted through the late 1950s, although it remained in service for many years afterwards.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Nudelman N-37 • Origin — USSR • Type — Single-barrel autocannon • Is Ranged — y • Is Explosive — y • Service — 1946 - • Used By — Soviet armed forces and export customers • Wars — * Korean War • Vietnam War • Syrian Civil War • Middle Eastern conflicts • Designer — V. Ya. Nemenov • Design Date — 1945 • Manufacturer — OKB-16 • Production Date — 1946 – ca.1960 • Variants — *N-37 • N-37D • N-37L • NN-37 • Weight — 103 kg (227 lb) • Length — 2455 mm (N-37D) • Part Length — 1361 mm • Cartridge — 37x155mm • Cartridge Weight — 735 g/26 oz HEI-T, 760 g/27 oz AP-T • Caliber — 37 mm (1.46 in) • Barrels — 1 • Action — Short recoil • Rate — 400 rounds per minute • Velocity — 690 m/s (2,260 ft/s)
Variants
Variants
• Illustration — N-37D (front) • N-37 • Basic version without muzzle brake • N-37D • N-37 with muzzle brake • N-37L • N-37 with 1950mm long barrel (had no muzzle brake) • NN-37 • Improved N-37L developed during the late 1950s for the Yak-27 reconnaissance aircraft. The NN-37 differed from the N-37L in having a pneumatic counter-recoil accelerator, therefore achieving a rate of fire of 600–700rpm. The ammunition feed mechanism was redesigned as well on this version. • Type 37 aircraft cannon • Chinese licensed / copy production
Production
Production
The Soviet archives detail the following production numbers by year: • 1947 — 518 • 1948 — 508 • 1949 — 1,314 • 1950 — 3,043 • 1951 — 3,885 • 1952 — 4,433 • 1953 — 4,600 • 1954 — 1,700 • 1956 — 285
Comparable Weapons
Comparable Weapons
• M4 cannon
Places
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Places
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Soviet Union
Country
Nudelman N-37 is associated with Soviet Union.
Country
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Nudelman N-37”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q507990: Nudelman N-37
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Citations
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reference work
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Unverified
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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