History
In the early 1930s, Soviet leadership became increasingly aware of the growing threat posed by rapidly developing military aviation. Tanks, infantry, and even entire troop columns remained almost defenseless against air strikes. A mobile air-defense system was needed—one that could accompany troops on the march and provide cover from enemy aircraft.
The basis for the first Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft systems was the three-axle GAZ-AAA truck. This vehicle was a development of the well-known GAZ-AA “one-and-a-half tonner,” but with a reinforced chassis and a third driving axle, giving it better off-road capability and payload.
In 1931, designer K. N. Rudnev proposed the idea of mounting four paired 7.62 mm Maxim machine guns on a rotating turret. This became the 4M mount (“quadruple Maxim”). It had a high rate of fire—over 2,000 rounds per minute—and could create a dense wall of bullets, making it a deadly weapon against low-flying aircraft.
By 1934–1935, the 4M mount was installed in the bed of the GAZ-AAA truck. The vehicle was designated GAZ-AAA (4M) and became one of the very first Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. The crew consisted of 4–5 men: driver, commander, and machine gunners/loaders. Ammunition, spare barrels, and water tanks for cooling the guns were carried in the truck bed.
These vehicles entered Red Army AA companies and took part in combat even before the Great Patriotic War. They were seen during exercises, guarding airfields, and covering marching columns. However, by 1941 their effectiveness was limited. The 7.62 mm caliber was insufficient against modern bombers and attack aircraft with armor protection. Firing range was short, while ammunition consumption was enormous. Nevertheless, during the battles of 1941–1942, the GAZ-AAA (4M) was used actively not only against aircraft but also as powerful infantry support: the quad Maxim could literally mow down enemy troops.
Gradually, these systems were replaced by more powerful ones—DShK heavy machine guns and automatic cannons of 25 and 37 mm caliber. By mid-war, the GAZ-AAA (4M) had almost disappeared from the front, but it had played its role: it marked the beginning of Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.
Specifications
Crew: 3 men
Max speed: forward 65 km/h, reverse 8 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio: 16.7 hp/t
Engine power: 50 hp
Weight: 3 tons
Armament: 4 × 7.62 mm Maxim machine guns
Ammo load: 8,000 rounds
Magazine size: 500 rounds
Reload time: 7.8 s
Rate of fire: 2400 rounds/min
Gun elevation: -10° / +50°
Traverse speed:
Horizontal: 42°/s
Vertical: 14°/s
Interesting Facts
1.The first Soviet self-propelled AA gun
GAZ-AAA (4M) is considered one of the very first attempts in the USSR to create a mobile air-defense weapon on a truck chassis. Before it, anti-aircraft machine guns were usually mounted stationary—on tripods or on armored trains.
2.“Fiery waterfall”
Four Maxims together gave a fire rate of up to 2400 rounds per minute. Visually, this looked like a solid stream of tracer rounds—a plane caught in it had little chance of survival.
3.Deadlier to infantry than to planes
Although designed as an AA gun, in practice it was often used against infantry and light vehicles. A volley from four machine guns could wipe out a whole squad or stop an assault.
4.Rare on the front
Very few GAZ-AAA (4M) vehicles were produced—they were rarely seen in the army. Single machine guns or DShKs were much more common. Each such vehicle was considered valuable.
5.Vulnerable “death truck”
The vehicle had no armor. The crew and machine guns were exposed in the open truck bed. This made the crew extremely vulnerable to shrapnel, strafing, and even small arms fire.
6.Legacy
The experience with the GAZ-AAA (4M) showed that the army needed proper self-propelled AA guns. Later, much more powerful models appeared—such as the ZSU-37 on the SU-76 chassis, and after the war the ZSU-57-2 and the legendary ZSU-23-4 “Shilka.”
I suggest adding this SPAAG (or call it a light vehicle if you prefer) at BR 1.0–2.0.
Thank you for your attention!
guess it could work at br5 if you make it as hard to kill for tanks and at weapons as an apc