The 100 mm field gun M1944, better known as the BS-3, is a Soviet split-trail gun designed under V. G. Grabin as a high-velocity anti-tank and field-artillery weapon. Its 100 mm L/54 barrel, semi-automatic breech, and long indirect-fire range kept the World War II design useful as reserve artillery, with documented appearances in Ukrainian service and pro-government Syrian artillery positions.
Ukrainian forces documented BS-3 guns in 2023, including State Border Guard Service footage of a BS-3 crew firing, while later open-source loss reporting recorded Ukrainian BS-3 guns destroyed or captured during the full-scale war.
Role detailsRussian defense reporting and image-based coverage identified BS-3 guns with pro-government militia or allied artillery positions in Syria, including north Hama in 2019 and an earlier Abu Kamal appearance in 2017.
Modern ammunition cataloging groups the BS-3 with other rifled 100 mm guns rather than with the later MT-12/T-12 smoothbore family.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 100 mm anti-aircraft gun | Romarm lists BS-3 field guns and KS-19 anti-aircraft guns in the same 100 mm artillery-ammunition compatibility group for OF-412 HE, APFSDS-T, and BR-412B AP-T rounds. Sources: Romarm 100 mm Artillery Ammunition |
Victory Museum's history places BS-3 development in the 1943 Soviet requirement for an anti-tank gun capable of defeating heavier German armor, with work assigned to the Central Artillery Design Bureau and Plant No. 172.
WeaponSystems.net lists 1944 service entry, 1944-1951 production, and Factory No. 7 and Factory No. 232 as producers for the BS-3.
Defense Express reported that State Border Guard Service footage in early September 2023 was the first official confirmation of BS-3 guns in active service with Ukrainian forces.
VPK.name, reposting Rossiyskaya Gazeta, reported that BS-3 guns had been seen with Muhardah and Suqaylabiyah militia positions on the Syrian government side in northern Hama.
Army Recognition's January 2025 artillery-loss summary reported one Ukrainian BS-3 destroyed and two captured during the full-scale war.
