Changes to the branch of Soviet tank destroyers. Self-propelled artillery installations Strengths and weaknesses of the machine

This publication attempts to analyze the anti-tank capabilities of Soviet self-propelled artillery mounts (ACS) that were available in the USSR during the Great Patriotic War. By the beginning of hostilities in June 1941, there were practically no self-propelled artillery installations in the Red Army, although work on their creation had been carried out since the first half of the 30s. The self-propelled guns brought to the stage of serial production in the USSR were created on the basis of artillery systems with low ballistics and were considered as means of supporting infantry units. The first Soviet self-propelled guns were armed with 76-mm regimental guns of the 1927 model and 122-mm howitzers of the 1910/30 model.

The first Soviet serial model of the self-propelled guns was the SU-12 on the chassis of a three-axle American truck "Moreland" (Moreland TX6) with two drive axles. On the Morland cargo platform, a pedestal installation with a 76-mm regimental gun was mounted. "Cargo self-propelled guns" entered service in 1933 and were first demonstrated at the parade in 1934. Soon after the start of mass production of GAZ-AAA trucks in the USSR, the assembly of self-propelled guns SU-1-12 began on their basis. According to archival data, a total of 99 self-propelled guns SU-12 / SU-1-12 were built. Of these, 48 are based on the Moreland truck and 51 are based on the Soviet GAZ-AAA truck.

SU-12 on parade

Initially, the SU-12 self-propelled guns did not have any armor protection at all, but soon a U-shaped armor shield was installed to protect the crew from bullets and shrapnel. The ammunition load of the gun was 36 shrapnel and fragmentation grenades, armor-piercing shells were not provided. The rate of fire was 10-12 rds / min. Mounting the gun on a truck platform made it possible to quickly and inexpensively create an impromptu self-propelled gun. The pedestal gun mount had a firing sector of 270 degrees, the fire from the gun could be fired both straight-back and on board. There was also the fundamental possibility of firing on the move, but this greatly reduced accuracy.

The mobility of the SU-12 when moving along good roads was significantly higher than that of the 76-mm horse-drawn regimental guns. However, the first Soviet self-propelled gun had a lot of shortcomings. The vulnerability of the artillery crew, partially covered by a 4-mm steel shield, during direct fire was very high. The patency of a wheeled vehicle on soft soils left much to be desired and was seriously inferior to the horse teams of regimental and divisional artillery. It was possible to pull out a wheeled self-propelled gun stuck in the mud only with a tractor. In this regard, it was decided to build self-propelled guns on tracked chassis, and the production of the SU-12 was stopped in 1935.

First Soviet self-propelled guns successfully used in combat Far East against the Japanese in the late 30s and in the Winter War with Finland. All SU-12s in the western part of the country were lost shortly after the German attack, without affecting the course of hostilities.

In the 20-30s, the creation of self-propelled guns based on trucks was a global trend, and this experience in the USSR turned out to be useful. But if the installation of anti-aircraft guns on trucks made sense, then for self-propelled guns operating in close proximity to the enemy, the use of an unprotected vehicle chassis with limited cross-country ability was, of course, a dead end solution.

In the prewar period, a number of self-propelled guns based on light tanks were created in the Soviet Union. T-37A amphibious tankettes were considered as carriers of 45-mm anti-tank guns, but the matter was limited to the construction of two prototypes. It was possible to bring the SU-5-2 self-propelled guns with a 122-mm howitzer mod. 1910/30 based on the T-26 tank. SU-5-2s were produced in a small series from 1936 to 1937, a total of 31 vehicles were built.

The ammunition load of the 122-mm self-propelled guns SU-5-2 was 4 shells and 6 charges. Pointing angles horizontally - 30 °, vertically from 0 ° to + 60 °. Maximum starting speed fragmentation projectile- 335 m/s, maximum range firing - 7680 m, rate of fire 5-6 rds / min. The thickness of the frontal armor was 15 mm, the side and stern were 10 mm, that is, the armor protection was quite adequate to withstand bullets and shrapnel, but it was available only in front and partially on the sides.

In general, the SU-5-2 for its time had good combat qualities, which was confirmed during the hostilities near Lake Khasan. The reports of the command of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade of the Red Army noted:

"122-mm self-propelled guns provided great support to tanks and infantry, destroying wire obstacles and enemy firing points."

Due to the small number of 76-mm SU-12 and 122-mm SU-5-2 did not have a noticeable impact on the course of hostilities in initial period war. The anti-tank capabilities of the 76-mm SU-12 were low, with increased vulnerability of both the self-propelled guns themselves and the calculation for bullets and shrapnel. With an initial speed of 76-mm blunt-headed armor-piercing projectile BR-350A - 370 m / s at a distance of 500 meters when meeting at an angle of 90 °, it pierced 30 mm armor, which made it possible to fight only with light German tanks and armored vehicles. Before the appearance of HEAT rounds in the ammunition load of regimental guns, their anti-tank capabilities were very modest.

Despite the fact that there were no armor-piercing shells in the ammunition load of the 122-mm howitzer, firing with high-explosive fragmentation grenades was often quite effective. So, with the weight of the 53-OF-462 projectile - 21.76 kg, it contained 3.67 kg of TNT, which in 1941, with a direct hit, made it possible to hit any German tank with a guarantee. When the projectile burst, heavy fragments were formed that could penetrate armor up to 20 mm thick within a radius of 2-3 meters. This was quite enough to destroy the armor of armored personnel carriers and light tanks, as well as to disable the undercarriage, observation devices, sights and weapons. That is, with the right tactics of use and the presence of a significant number of SU-5-2s in the troops, these self-propelled guns in the initial period of the war could fight not only with fortifications and infantry, but also with German tanks.

Before the war, self-propelled guns with a high anti-tank potential had already been created in the USSR. In 1936, the SU-6 was tested, armed with a 76-mm 3-K anti-aircraft gun on the chassis of the T-26 light tank. This vehicle was intended for anti-aircraft escort of motorized columns. She did not suit the military, since the entire calculation did not fit in the artillery mount, and the remote tube installer was forced to move in an escort vehicle.

Not very successful as an anti-aircraft gun, the SU-6 self-propelled guns could become a very effective anti-tank weapon, operating from pre-prepared positions and from ambushes. The armor-piercing projectile BR-361, fired from the 3-K gun at a distance of 1000 meters at a meeting angle of 90 °, pierced 82-mm armor. In 1941-1942, the capabilities of the 76-mm self-propelled guns SU-6 allowed it to successfully fight any German tanks at real firing distances. When using sub-caliber shells, armor penetration would be much higher. Unfortunately, the SU-6 never entered service as an anti-tank self-propelled artillery mount (PT SAU).

Many researchers attribute the KV-2 tank to heavy assault self-propelled guns. Formally, due to the presence of a rotating turret, the KV-2 is identified as a tank. But in fact, a combat vehicle armed with a unique 152-mm tank howitzer mod. 1938/40 (M-10T), in many respects it was a self-propelled gun. The M-10T howitzer was induced vertically in the range from -3 to + 18 °, with the turret stationary, it could be induced in a small sector of horizontal guidance, which was typical for self-propelled guns. The ammunition load was 36 rounds of separate-sleeve loading.

The KV-2 was created on the basis of the experience of combating Finnish bunkers on the Mannerheim Line. The thickness of the frontal and side armor was 75 mm, and the thickness of the armored mask of the gun was 110 mm, which made it less vulnerable to anti-tank guns of 37-50 mm caliber. However, the high security of the KV-2 was often devalued by the low technical reliability and poor training of the drivers.

With the power of the diesel engine V-2K - 500 hp, a 52-ton car on the highway could theoretically accelerate to 34 km / h. In reality, the speed on a good road did not exceed 25 km / h. On rough terrain, the tank moved at a walking speed of 5-7 km / h. Taking into account the fact that the KV-2's maneuverability on soft ground was not very good, and it was not easy to pull out a tank stuck in the mud, it was necessary to choose the route of movement very carefully. Due to excessive weight and dimensions, the crossing through water barriers often became an impossible task, bridges and crossings could not stand it, and quite a few KV-2s were simply abandoned during the retreat.

KV-2 captured by the enemy

On June 22, 1941, in the KV-2 ammunition load, there were only OF-530 high-explosive fragmentation grenades weighing 40 kg, containing about 6 kg of TNT. The hit of such a projectile in any German tank in 1941 inevitably turned it into a pile of flaming scrap metal. In practice, due to the impossibility of completing the ammunition load with regular ammunition, all shells of the M-10 towed howitzer were used for firing. At the same time, the required number of beams of gunpowder was removed from the sleeve. Cast iron fragmentation howitzer grenades were used, incendiary projectiles, old high-explosive grenades and even shrapnel, set to strike. When shooting at German tanks good result showed concrete-piercing shells.

The M-10T gun had a whole range of shortcomings that depreciated its effectiveness on the battlefield. Due to the imbalance of the turret, the regular electric motor could not always cope with its weight, which made the rotation of the turret very difficult. Even with a small angle of inclination of the tank, the turret was often impossible to turn. Due to excessive recoil, the gun could only be fired when the tank was at a complete stop. The recoil of the gun could simply disable both the turret traverse mechanism and the motor-transmission group, and this despite the fact that shooting at full charge was strictly prohibited from the tank M-10T. The practical rate of fire with the clarification of the aiming was - 2 rds / min, which, combined with the low turret traverse speed and the relatively short range of a direct shot, reduced anti-tank capabilities.

Due to all this, the combat effectiveness of the machine, designed for offensive combat operations and the destruction of enemy fortifications, when firing direct fire from a distance of several hundred meters, turned out to be low. However, most of The KV-2 was lost not in duels with German tanks, but as a result of fire damage. German artillery, strikes by dive bombers, engine, transmission and chassis breakdowns, lack of fuel and lubricants. Shortly after the start of the war, the production of the KV-2 was curtailed. In total, from January 1940 to July 1941, 204 vehicles were built.

In the initial period of the war, tank repair enterprises accumulated a significant number of damaged and defective T-26 light tanks of various modifications. Often the tanks had damage to the turret or armament, which prevented their further use. Double-turreted tanks with machine-gun armament also demonstrated their complete failure. Under these conditions, it seemed quite logical to convert tanks with faulty or obsolete weapons into self-propelled guns. It is known that a number of vehicles with dismantled turrets were re-equipped with 37 and 45-mm anti-tank guns with armor shields. According to archival documents, such self-propelled guns, for example, were available in October 1941 in the 124th tank brigade, but no images of the vehicles have been preserved. In terms of firepower, improvised self-propelled guns did not surpass T-26 tanks with a 45-mm gun, yielding in terms of crew protection. But the advantage of such machines was much best review battlefields, and even in the conditions of catastrophic losses in the first months of the war, any combat-ready armored vehicles were worth their weight in gold. With competent tactics of using 37 and 45-mm self-propelled guns in 1941, they could quite successfully fight enemy tanks.

In the autumn of 1941, self-propelled guns armed with 76-mm KT guns were produced at the Kirov Leningrad plant on the repaired T-26 chassis. This gun was a tank version of the 76 mm M1927 regimental gun, with similar ballistics and ammunition. In different sources, these self-propelled guns were designated differently: T-26-SU, SU-T-26, but most often SU-76P or SU-26. The SU-26 gun had a circular fire, the calculation in front was covered by an armored shield.

Destroyed SU-26

Late versions built in 1942 also had armor protection on the sides. According to archival data, 14 self-propelled guns SU-26 were built in Leningrad during the war years, some of them survived until the blockade was broken. Of course, the anti-tank potential of these self-propelled guns was very weak, and they were used mainly for artillery support of tanks and infantry.

The first Soviet specialized tank destroyer was the ZIS-30, armed with a 57-mm anti-tank gun mod. 1941 Very often this gun is called the ZIS-2, but this is not entirely correct. From the ZIS-2 anti-tank gun, the production of which was resumed in 1943, a 57-mm gun mod. 1941 differed in a number of details, although in general the design was the same. Anti-tank 57-mm guns had excellent armor penetration and at the beginning of the war they were guaranteed to penetrate the frontal armor of any German tank.

Tank destroyer ZIS-30 was a light anti-tank installation with an open tool. The upper machine gun was attached in the middle part to the body of the T-20 Komsomolets light tractor. The vertical aiming angles ranged from -5 to +25 °, along the horizon - in the 30 ° sector. The practical rate of fire reached 20 rds / min. From bullets and fragments, the calculation, which consisted of 5 people, in battle was protected only by a gun shield. The fire from the gun could only be fired from a place. Due to the high center of gravity and strong recoil, in order to avoid capsizing, it was necessary to tilt the openers in the aft part of the self-propelled guns. For self-defense of the self-propelled unit, there was a 7.62-mm DT machine gun, inherited from the Komsomolets tractor.

Serial production of the ZIS-30 self-propelled guns began at the end of September 1941 at the Nizhny Novgorod Machine-Building Plant and lasted only about a month. During this time, 101 self-propelled guns were built. According to the official version, the production of the ZIS-30 was discontinued due to the lack of Komsomolets tractors, but even if this was the case, what prevented the installation of 57-mm guns, which were very effective in anti-tank respect, on the chassis of light tanks?

The most likely reason for curtailing the construction of 57-mm tank destroyers, most likely, was the difficulty with the production of gun barrels. The percentage of rejects in the manufacture of barrels reached completely indecent values, and it was not possible to correct this situation on the existing machine park, despite the efforts of the labor collective of the manufacturer. It is this, and not the "excess power" of 57-mm anti-tank guns, that explains their insignificant production volumes in 1941 and the subsequent rejection of serial construction. Gorky Artillery Plant No. 92, and V.G. Grabin turned out to be easier, based on the design of the 57-mm gun mod. 1941, to establish the production of a divisional 76-mm gun, which became widely known as the ZIS-3. The 76-mm divisional gun of the 1942 model (ZIS-3) at the time of its creation had quite acceptable armor penetration, while possessing a more powerful high-explosive fragmentation projectile. Subsequently, this gun became widespread and was popular among the troops. ZIS-3 was in service not only in divisional artillery, specially modified guns were used by anti-tank units and were installed on self-propelled gun mounts. Subsequently, the production of 57-mm anti-tank guns, after making some changes to the design under the name ZIS-2, was resumed in 1943. This became possible after receiving a perfect machine park from the USA, which made it possible to solve the problem with the manufacture of barrels.

As for the ZIS-30 self-propelled guns, this self-propelled gun, in the face of an acute shortage of anti-tank weapons, initially proved to be quite good. Artillerymen, who had previously dealt with 45 mm anti-tank guns, especially liked the high armor penetration and point-blank range. During combat use the self-propelled gun revealed a number of serious shortcomings: congestion of the undercarriage, insufficient power reserve, small ammunition load and a tendency to tip over. However, all this was quite predictable, since the ZIS-30 self-propelled guns were a typical ersatz - a wartime model, created in a hurry from the ones at hand, few suitable friend for another chassis and artillery unit. By the middle of 1942, almost all ZIS-30s were lost during the fighting. However, they proved to be a very useful means of dealing with German tanks. The ZIS-30 self-propelled guns were in service with the anti-tank batteries of the tank brigades of the Western and South-Western fronts and took Active participation in the defense of Moscow.

After stabilization of the situation at the front and a number of successful offensive operations The Red Army had an urgent need for self-propelled guns for artillery support. Unlike tanks, self-propelled guns were not supposed to directly participate in the attack. Moving at a distance of 500-600 meters from the advancing troops, they suppressed firing points with the fire of their guns, destroyed fortifications and destroyed enemy infantry. That is, a typical "artshurm" was required, if we use the terminology of the enemy. This made different requirements for self-propelled guns compared to tanks. The security of self-propelled guns could be less, but it was preferable to increase the caliber of the guns, and, as a result, the power of the projectiles.

late autumn In 1942, the production of the SU-76 began. This self-propelled gun was created on the basis of light tanks T-60 and T-70 using a number of automotive units and armed with a 76-mm gun ZIS-ZSh (Sh - assault) - a version of a divisional gun specially designed for self-propelled guns. The vertical aiming angles ranged from -3 to +25°, along the horizon - in the 15° sector. The elevation angle of the gun made it possible to reach the firing range of the ZIS-3 divisional gun, that is, 13 km. Ammunition was 60 shells. The thickness of the frontal armor - 26-35 mm, side and stern -10-15 mm made it possible to protect the crew (4 people) from small arms fire and fragments. The first serial modification also had an armored 7 mm roof.

The SU-76 power plant was a pair of two GAZ-202 automobile engines with a total power of 140 hp. As conceived by the designers, this was supposed to reduce the cost of production of self-propelled guns, but caused massive complaints from the active army. The power plant was very difficult to manage, the out-of-synchronous operation of the engines caused strong torsional vibrations, which led to a rapid failure of the transmission.

The first 25 SU-76s produced in January 1943 were sent to a training self-propelled artillery regiment. A month later, the first two self-propelled artillery regiments (SAP) formed on the SU-76 went to the Volkhov Front and took part in breaking the blockade of Leningrad. During the fighting, self-propelled guns demonstrated good mobility and maneuverability. Firepower guns made it possible to effectively destroy the lungs field fortifications and destroy accumulations of enemy manpower. But at the same time, there was a massive failure of transmission elements and engines. This led to a halt in mass production after the release of 320 cars. Refinement of the engine compartment did not lead to a fundamental change in the design. To increase reliability, it was decided to strengthen its elements in order to increase reliability and increase engine life. Subsequently, the power of the twin propulsion system was increased to 170 hp. In addition, they abandoned the armored roof of the fighting compartment, which made it possible to reduce the weight from 11.2 to 10.5 tons and improved the working conditions of the crew and visibility. In the stowed position, to protect against road dust and precipitation, the fighting compartment was covered with a tarpaulin. This version of the self-propelled guns, which received the designation SU-76M, managed to take part in the Battle of Kursk. The understanding that self-propelled guns are not a tank did not come to many commanders immediately. Attempts to use the SU-76M with bulletproof armor in frontal attacks on well-fortified enemy positions inevitably led to heavy losses. It was then that this self-propelled gun earned unflattering nicknames among the front-line soldiers: “bitch”, “bare-assed Ferdinand” and “common grave of the crew”. However, with proper use, the SU-76M performed well. In defense, they repelled infantry attacks and were used as a protected mobile anti-tank reserve. In the offensive, self-propelled guns suppressed machine-gun nests, destroyed pillboxes and bunkers, made passages in barbed wire with gun fire, and, if necessary, fought counterattacking tanks.

In the second half of the war, a 76-mm armor-piercing projectile could no longer be guaranteed to hit German medium tanks Pz. IV late modifications and heavy Pz. V "Panther" and Pz. VI "Tiger", and firing with cumulative projectiles used in regimental guns, due to the unreliable operation of the fuses and the possibility of a rupture in the barrel for divisional and tank guns, was strictly prohibited. This problem was resolved after the introduction of the 53-UBR-354P shot with the 53-BR-350P sub-caliber projectile into the ammunition load. A sub-caliber projectile at a distance of 500 meters pierced normal 90 mm armor, which made it possible to confidently hit the frontal armor of the German “fours”, as well as the sides of the “Tigers” and “Panthers”. Of course, the SU-76M was not suitable for duels with tanks and anti-tank self-propelled guns of the enemy, which, starting in 1943, were armed with long-barreled guns with high ballistics. But when acting from ambushes, various kinds of shelters and in street battles, the chances were good. Good mobility and high cross-country ability on soft soils also played a role. Proper use of camouflage, taking into account the terrain, as well as maneuvering from one cover dug into the ground to another, often made it possible to achieve victory even over enemy heavy tanks. The demand for the SU-76M as a universal means of artillery escort for infantry and tank units is confirmed by the huge circulation - 14,292 vehicles built.

At the very end of the war, the role of 76-mm self-propelled guns as a means of combating enemy armored vehicles decreased. By that time, our troops were already sufficiently saturated with specialized anti-tank guns and tank destroyers, and enemy tanks had become a rarity. During this period, the SU-76Ms were used exclusively for their intended purpose, as well as armored personnel carriers for transporting infantry, evacuating the wounded, and as vehicles for forward artillery observers.

At the beginning of 1943, on the basis of captured German tanks Pz. Kpfw III and self-propelled guns StuG III began production of self-propelled guns SU-76I. In terms of security, with almost the same characteristics of weapons, they significantly exceeded the SU-76. The thickness of the frontal armor of captured vehicles, depending on the modification, was 30-60 mm. The forehead of the conning tower and sides were protected by 30 mm armor, the thickness of the roof was 10 mm. The cabin had the shape of a truncated pyramid with rational angles of inclination of the armor plates, which increased armor resistance. Some of the vehicles intended for use as commanders were equipped with a powerful radio station and commander's turrets with an entrance hatch from Pz. Kpfw III.

Commander's SU-76I

Initially, the self-propelled guns created on the basis of trophies were planned, by analogy with the SU-76, to be armed with a 76.2-mm ZIS-3Sh cannon. But in the case of using this tool, it was not provided reliable protection gun embrasures from bullets and shrapnel, since when lifting and turning the gun, gaps invariably formed in the shield. In this case, the special self-propelled 76.2-mm S-1 gun turned out to be very useful. Previously, it was created on the basis of the tank F-34, specifically for light experimental self-propelled guns of the Gorky Automobile Plant. The vertical aiming angles of the gun are from - 5 to 15 °, along the horizon - in the sector of ± 10 °. The ammunition load was 98 rounds. On command vehicles, due to the use of a more bulky and powerful radio station, the ammunition load was reduced.

The production of the machine lasted from March to November 1943. The SU-76I, built in the amount of about 200 copies, despite the better security compared to the SU-76, was not very suitable for the role of a light tank destroyer. The practical rate of fire of the gun was no more than 5 - 6 rds / min. And according to the characteristics of armor penetration, the S-1 gun was completely identical to the tank F-34. However, several cases have been documented successful application SU-76I against medium German tanks. The first vehicles began to enter the troops in May 1943, that is, a few months later than the SU-76, but unlike the Soviet self-propelled guns, they did not cause any particular complaints. The troops loved the SU-76I, self-propelled gunners noted high reliability, ease of control and an abundance of surveillance devices compared to the SU-76. In addition, in terms of mobility on rough terrain, the self-propelled gun was practically not inferior to the T-34 tanks, surpassing them in speed on good roads. Despite the presence of an armored roof, the crews liked the relative space inside the fighting compartment compared to other Soviet self-propelled gun mounts, the commander, gunner and loader in the conning tower were not too cramped. As a significant drawback, the difficulty of starting the engine in severe frost was noted.

Baptism of fire self-propelled artillery regiments armed with SU-76I received during the Battle of Kursk, where they generally performed well. In July 1943, based on the experience of combat use, an armored reflective shield was installed on the mask of the SU-76I gun to prevent jamming of the gun by bullets and shrapnel. To increase the power reserve, the SU-76I began to be equipped with two external gas tanks mounted on easily dropped brackets along the stern.

Self-propelled guns SU-76I were actively used during the Belgorod-Kharkov operation, while many vehicles that received combat damage were restored several times. In the active army, SU-76I met until the middle of 1944, after which the vehicles that survived the battles were decommissioned due to extreme wear and lack of spare parts.

In addition to 76-mm guns, they tried to install the 122-mm M-30 howitzer on captured chassis. It is known about the construction of several machines under the name SG-122 "Artsturm" or abbreviated as SG-122A. This self-propelled gun was created on the basis of the StuG III Ausf. C or Ausf. D. It is known about the order of 10 self-propelled guns in September 1942, but information about whether this order was completed in full has not been preserved.

The 122-mm M-30 howitzer could not be installed in a standard German wheelhouse. The Soviet-made conning tower was significantly higher. The thickness of the frontal armor of the cabin is 45 mm, the sides are 35 mm, the stern is 25 mm, the roof is 20 mm. The car was not very successful, experts noted the excessive congestion of the front rollers and the high gas content of the fighting compartment when firing. The self-propelled guns on a captured chassis, after installing a Soviet-made armored tube, turned out to be cramped and had weaker armor than the German StuG III. The absence at that time of good sights and observation devices also had a negative effect on the combat characteristics of self-propelled guns. It can be noted that in addition to the alteration of trophies in the Red Army in 1942-1943, a lot of captured German armored vehicles were used unchanged. Yes, on Kursk Bulge captured SU-75 (StuG III) and Marder III fought in the same row with the T-34.

The SU-122 self-propelled gun, built on the chassis of the Soviet T-34 tank, turned out to be more viable. The total number of parts borrowed from the tank was 75%, the rest of the parts were new, specially made for self-propelled guns. In many ways, the appearance of the SU-122 is associated with the experience of operating captured German "artillery assaults" in the troops. Assault guns were much cheaper than tanks, spacious conning towers made it possible to install guns of a larger caliber. The use of the 122-mm M-30 howitzer as a weapon promised a number of significant benefits. This gun could well be placed in the conning tower of the self-propelled guns, which was confirmed by the experience of creating the SG-122A. Compared to the 76 mm projectile, the howitzer 122 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile had a significantly greater destructive effect. The 122-mm projectile, which weighed 21.76 kg, contained 3.67 explosives, against 6.2 kg of the “three-inch” projectile with 710 gr. explosive. One shot of a 122-mm gun could do more than several shots of a 76-mm gun. The powerful high-explosive action of the 122-mm projectile made it possible to destroy not only wooden and earthen fortifications, but also concrete pillboxes or solid brick buildings. HEAT projectiles could also be successfully used to destroy highly protected fortifications.

The SU-122 self-propelled guns were not born out of nowhere; at the end of 1941, the concept of a turretless tank was proposed with the full preservation of the T-34 chassis, armed with a 76-mm cannon. The weight savings achieved by abandoning the turret made it possible to increase the thickness of the frontal armor to 75 mm. The labor intensity of manufacturing was reduced by 25%. In the future, these developments were used to create 122-mm self-propelled guns.

In terms of security, the SU-122 practically did not differ from the T-34. The self-propelled guns were armed with a tank modification of the 122-mm divisional howitzer mod. 1938 - M-30S, with the preservation of a number of features of the towed gun. Thus, the placement of the controls for the aiming mechanisms on opposite sides of the barrel required the presence of two gunners in the crew, which, of course, did not add free space in self-propelled. The range of elevation angles was from −3° to +25°, the sector of horizontal fire was ±10°. The maximum firing range is 8000 meters. Rate of fire - 2-3 rds / min. Ammunition from 32 to 40 shots of separate-sleeve loading, depending on the production series. Basically, these were high-explosive fragmentation shells.

The need for such vehicles at the front was huge, despite a number of comments identified during the tests, the self-propelled gun was adopted. First Regiment self-propelled guns SU-122 was formed at the end of 1942. At the front, 122-mm self-propelled guns appeared in February 1943 and were received with great enthusiasm. Combat tests of self-propelled guns in order to work out the tactics of use took place in early February 1943. The most successful option is the use of the SU-122 to support the advancing infantry and tanks, being behind them at a distance of 400-600 meters. In the course of breaking through the enemy defenses, self-propelled guns with the fire of their guns carried out the suppression of enemy firing points, destroyed obstacles and barriers, and also repelled counterattacks.

On hit 122 mm high-explosive projectile in a medium tank, as a rule, it was destroyed or disabled. According to the reports of German tankers who took part in the battle of Kursk, they repeatedly recorded cases of serious damage to heavy tanks Pz. VI "Tiger" as a result of shelling with 122-mm howitzer shells.

Here is what Major Gomille Commander III writes about this. Abteilung/Panzer Regiment of the Grossdeutschland Panzer Division:

"... Hauptmann von Williborn, commander of the 10th company, was seriously wounded during the battle. His "Tiger" received a total of eight hits of 122-mm shells from assault guns based on the T-34 tank. One shell pierced the side armor The turret was hit by six shells, three of which made only small dents in the armor, the other two cracked the armor and chipped off small pieces of it. while building the electrical circuit of the gun's electric trigger, the observation devices were broken or knocked out of their attachment points. The welded seam of the tower parted, and a half-meter crack formed that could not be welded by the forces of the field repair team."

In general, assessing the anti-tank capabilities of the SU-122, we can state that they were very weak. This, in fact, served as a result of one of the main reasons for the withdrawal of self-propelled guns from production. Despite the presence of BP-460A cumulative projectiles weighing 13.4 kg, with armor penetration of 175 mm in the ammunition load, it was possible to hit a moving tank from the first shot only from an ambush or in combat conditions in a populated area. A total of 638 vehicles were built, the production of self-propelled guns SU-122 was completed in the summer of 1943. However, several self-propelled guns of this type survived until the end of hostilities, taking part in the storming of Berlin.

ctrl Enter

Noticed osh s bku Highlight text and click Ctrl+Enter

The branch of pumped tank destroyers in the USSR will be subject to serious changes. In particular, a new TOP is introduced into the game: Object 268 4 variant. Consequently, the rest of the technique is shifting down, which leads to changes in some technical parameters. In addition, the weak and unplayable SU-101M1 will completely disappear from the branch. Let's see what awaits us.

Level 9: Object 263 performance characteristics, armament (a 122 mm M62-S2 gun is installed).

Level 8: SU-122-54. The description of the vehicle and weapons are also changed here. In particular, the PT is losing a 100mm D54s gun.

Level 7: SU-101. For the machine, it is also expected to change the performance characteristics and descriptions of equipment in the hangar. In addition, the PT loses two guns at once: a 122-mm D-25S model of 44 years, and a 122-mm M62-S2. Instead of them, more suitable weapons will be added.

Removed from the game, for vehicles below the seventh level, the change is not expected.

What is it for? The main goal of the developers is to optimize this branch of Soviet ATs for the current requirements of the game in order to make the gameplay more balanced and rich. Moreover, the introduction of a new tank into the game should arouse interest among tankers in this unpopular branch of development. Tanks with aft turrets require some skill to play, so many prefer to take the easier route.

Self-propelled artillery mounts

Self-propelled unit ZIS-30

Light anti-tank self-propelled guns open type. Created on an emergency basis at plant No. 92 (Gorky) using a rotating part of a 57-mm cannon and a semi-armored artillery tractor T-20 Komsomolets; it was mass-produced there from September 21 to October 15, 1941. 101 units were made.

Serial modification: in the aft part of the tractor body, a 57-mm gun is installed behind a standard shield. For greater stability when firing, the machine was equipped with folding coulters. On the roof of the cabin, a mounting bracket for the gun was mounted in a stowed position. The rest of the base machine remained unchanged.

Self-propelled guns ZIS-30 began to enter the troops at the end of September 1941. They were equipped with anti-tank batteries of 20 tank brigades of the Western and Southwestern fronts. For all its shortcomings (poor stability, overloaded undercarriage, low power reserve, etc.), the ZIS-30, due to the presence of a powerful artillery system, quite successfully fought enemy tanks. However, by the summer of 1942, there were practically no such vehicles left in the troops.

SAU ZIS-30

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS SAU ZIS-30

COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 3.96.

CREW, people: 5.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 3900, width - 1850, height (in cab) - 1580, ground clearance - 300.

ARMAMENT: 1 cannon ZIS-2 model 1941, caliber 57 mm, 1 machine gun DT model 1929, caliber 7.62 mm.

AMMUNITION: 756 machine gun rounds.

RESERVATION, mm: 7...10.

ENGINE: GAZ M-1, 4-cylinder, carburetor, in-line, liquid cooling; power 50 hp (36.8 kW) at 2800 rpm, displacement 3280 cm3.

TRANSMISSION: single-disk dry friction main clutch, 4-speed gearbox, demultiplier, final drive, final clutches, final drives.

RUNNING GEAR: four rubber-coated road wheels on board, interlocked in pairs into two balancing carts, two support rollers, a steering wheel, a front drive wheel (pinion engagement); suspension on semi-elliptical leaf springs; each track has 79 tracks 200 mm wide.

SPEED MAX., km/h; 47.

POWER RESERVE, km: 150.

OVERCOME OBSTACLES: elevation angle, deg. - 3Q, ditch width, m -1.4, wall height, m ​​-0.47, ford depth, m -0.6.

COMMUNICATIONS: no.

Self-propelled gun SU-76

Light self-propelled guns for infantry escort, created on the basis of the T-70 tank with the use of the ZIS-Z divisional field gun. The most massive Soviet self-propelled guns of the Second World War. Serial production was carried out by plants No. 38 (Kirov), No. 40 (Mytishchi) and GAZ. From December 1942 to June 1945, 14,292 units were manufactured.

Serial modifications:

SU-76 (SU-12) - a fixed armored cabin closed from above is installed above the aft part of the hull, which is elongated compared to the base tank. A ZIS-Z gun is mounted in the embrasure of the frontal cutting sheet. The power plant consisted of two engines connected to the power transmission in parallel. The units of the latter were also paralleled and connected at the level of the main gears. The driver was located in the bow of the car, and the gun crew of three people was in the wheelhouse. Combat weight 11.2 tons. Dimensions 5000x2740x2200 mm. 360 units made.

SU-76M (SU-15) - an armored cabin open at the top and partially behind. The power plant and transmission are borrowed from the T-70M tank. layout and chassis remained unchanged. 13,932 units manufactured.

The first batch of self-propelled guns SU-76 (25 units) was manufactured by January 1, 1943 and sent to The educational center self-propelled artillery. At the end of January, the first two self-propelled artillery regiments of a mixed organization - the 1433rd and 1434th were sent to the Volkhov Front to participate in breaking through the blockade of Leningrad. In March 1943, two more regiments were formed - the 1485th and 1487th, which participated in the battles on the Western Front.

In 1943, the light self-propelled artillery regiment had 21 self-propelled guns SU-76M. At the end of 1944 and at the beginning of 1945 for rifle divisions 70 self-propelled artillery battalions SU-76M were formed (16 self-propelled guns in each). In the first half of 1944, the formation of light self-propelled artillery brigades of the RVGK (60 SU-76M and 5 T-70) began.

By the end of the war, the Red Army had 119 light self-propelled artillery regiments and 7 light self-propelled artillery brigades.

Self-propelled guns SU-76M took part in the hostilities until the end of the Great Patriotic War, and then in the war with Japan. 130 self-propelled guns were handed over to the Polish Army.

In the post-war period, the SU-76M was in service with the Soviet Army until the early 1950s, and in the armies of a number of countries even longer. In the army of the DPRK, they took part in the war in Korea.

SAU SU-76M

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF SAU SU-76M

COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 10.5.

CREW, people: 4.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 4966, width - 2715, height -2100, ground clearance -300.

WEAPONS; 1 gun ZIS-Z arr. 1942 caliber 76 mm.

AMMUNITION: 60 shots.

AIMING DEVICES: Hertz panorama.

RESERVATION, mm: forehead of the hull and cabin - 25 ... 35, side - 10 ... 15, stern - 10, roof and bottom -10.

ENGINE and TRANSMISSION: like the T-70M tank.

RUNNING GEAR: six rubber-coated track rollers on board, three support rollers, front drive wheel

th location with a removable gear rim (lantern engagement), a guide wheel similar in design to a track roller; individual torsion suspension; in each caterpillar there are 93 tracks 300 mm wide, track pitch 111 mm.

SPEED MAX, km/h: 45.

POWER RESERVE, km: 250.

OVERCOME OBSTACLES: elevation angle, deg - 28, ditch width, m -1.6, wall height, m ​​- 0.6, ford depth, m - 0.9.

COMMUNICATIONS: radio station 12RT-3 or 9R, intercom TPU-3.

Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun ZSU-37

Created on the basis of the SU-76M self-propelled gun. Produced at plant number 40 (Mytishchi) in 1945 and 1946. Manufactured 75 units.

Serial modification:

frame, power point and chassis borrowed from the SU-76M. A 37-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun is installed in a fixed armored cabin open from above in the aft part of the hull.

The ZSU-37 did not take part in the hostilities of the Second World War. It was first demonstrated at a military parade in Moscow on November 7, 1946. Due to a number of technical shortcomings, it was quickly withdrawn from production and armament.

ZSU-37

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS ZSU-37

COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 11.5.

CREW, people: 6.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 5250, width - 2745, height - 2180, ground clearance - 300.

ARMAMENT: 1 automatic anti-aircraft gun mod. 1939 caliber 37 mm.

AMMUNITION: 320 rounds.

AIMING DEVICES: collimator - 2.

RESERVATION, mm: forehead of the hull and cabin - 25 ... 35, side - 15, stern - 10 ... 15, roof and bottom - 6 ... 10.

ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and RUNNING GEAR: same as SU-76M.

MAX SPEED, km/h: 45.

POWER RESERVE, km: 360.

OVERCOME OBSTACLES: elevation angle, deg. -24, ditch width, m - 2, wall height, m ​​- 0.6, ford depth, m - 0.9. COMMUNICATIONS: radio station 12RT-3, intercom TPU-ZF.

Self-propelled gun SU-122 (U-35)

Self-propelled infantry support unit. Created on the basis of the T-34 medium tank using the M-30 122-mm howitzer. Adopted by the GKO Decree of December 2, 1942. Serially produced at UZTM (Sverdlovsk). From December 1942 to August 1943, 638 units were manufactured.

Serial modification:

chassis and hull of the base tank. The 122-mm divisional howitzer is mounted in front of the hull on a pedestal in a low-profile fully enclosed armored cabin. Horizontal angle of fire 2 (U, vertical from -U to + 25 °. All crew members, including the driver, were located in the wheelhouse.

The first SU-122 self-propelled guns entered service with the 1433rd and 1434th self-propelled artillery regiments along with the SU-76. The baptism of fire took place on February 14, 1943, during a private operation of the 54th Army of the Volkhov Front in the Smerdyn region.

Since April 1943, the formation of self-propelled artillery regiments of a homogeneous composition began. They had 16 SU-122s, which until the beginning of 1944 continued to be used to escort infantry and tanks. However, such an application was not effective enough due to the low initial velocity of the projectile - 515 m / s and, consequently, the low flatness of its trajectory.

SU-122

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS SAU SU-122

COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 30.9.

CREW, people: 5.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 6950, width - 3000, height -2235, ground clearance -400.

ARMAMENT: 1 howitzer M-30 mod. 1938, caliber 122 mm.

AMMUNITION: 40 shots.

AIMING DEVICES: panoramic sight.

RESERVATION, mm: forehead, side, stern of the hull - 45, roof and bottom - 20.

ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and RUNNING GEAR: same as base tank.

SPEED MAX., km/h: 55.

POWER RESERVE, km: 300.

OVERCOME OBSTACLES: elevation angle, deg. - 35, ditch width, m - 2.5, wall height, m ​​- 0.73, ford depth, m - 1.3.

COMMUNICATIONS: radio station 9R or 10RK, intercom TPU-Z-bisF.

Self-propelled gun SU-85

The first Soviet full-fledged anti-tank self-propelled guns, designed to fight the new German heavy tanks. Created on the basis of the T-34 tank and self-propelled guns SU-122. Adopted by the Red Army by GKO Decree No. 3892 of August 7, 1943. During serial production from August 1943 to October 1944, 2644 units were manufactured at UZTM.

Serial modifications:

SU-85 (SU-85-11) - identical in design, layout and armor to SU-122. The main difference in armament is that instead of a 122-mm howitzer, an 85-mm cannon with ballistics of an anti-aircraft gun 52K model 1939 was installed. The design and location of the commander's cupola were changed. 2329 units were made.

SU-85M-SU-85 with SU-100 hull. Manufactured 315 units.

The baptism of fire of the SU-85 took place in the fall of 1943 during the fighting in the Left-Bank Ukraine and for the liberation of Kyiv. Basically, SU-85s were used to escort T-34 tanks. In addition, self-propelled artillery regiments, which were part of some anti-tank brigades, were armed with them. The SU-85 was capable of fighting German Tiger and Panther tanks at a distance of 600 - 800 m.

SU-85 took part in the fighting until the end of the war.

In addition to the Red Army, vehicles of this type entered service with the Polish Army (70 units) and the Czechoslovak Corps (2 units). In Poland, SU-85s were operated until the end of the 50s, some of them were converted into ARVs.

SU-85M

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS SAU SU-85

COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 29.6.

CREW, people: 4.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 8130, width - 3000, height -2300, ground clearance -400.

ARMAMENT: 1 cannon D-5-S85 or D-5-S85A model 1943, caliber 85 mm.

AMMUNITION: 48 shots.

AIMING DEVICES: telescopic sight 10T-15 or TSh-15, panoramic sight.

RESERVATION, mm: forehead, sides of the stern of the hull - 45, roof, bottom - 20,

SPEED MAX., km/h: 55.

POWER RESERVE, km: 300.

OVERCOME OBSTACLES: elevation angle, deg.-35, ditch width, m - 2.5, wall height, m ​​- 0.73, ford depth, m - 1.3.

Self-propelled gun SU-100 (object 138)

The most heavily armed medium anti-tank self-propelled guns of World War II. Developed on the basis of the T-34-85 tank and the SU-85 self-propelled guns. Adopted by GKO Decree No. 6131 of July 3, 1944. From September 1944 to the III quarter of 1945 UZTM produced 2495 units.

Serial modification:

in terms of design and layout, it is generally identical to the SU-85. A 100-mm cannon with the ballistics of the B-34 naval gun was installed. A new commander's cupola was introduced, the thickness of the frontal armor was increased, the ventilation of the fighting compartment was improved, and the suspension of the front road wheels was strengthened.

SU-100s were used by the Red Army in the battles of the autumn-winter campaign of 1944 and at the final stage of the war in 1945. In terms of firepower, the SU-100 surpassed the best anti-tank self-propelled guns of the Wehrmacht "Jagdpanther" and was capable of hitting enemy heavy tanks at a distance of up to 2000 m.

Sufficiently large-scale SU-100 were used in repelling the German counteroffensive near about. Balaton (Hungary) in March 1945. In other sectors of the front, the use of the SU-100 was limited.

Production of the SU-100 in the USSR continued until 1947

(a total of 2693 units were produced). In the 50s, under a Soviet license, these self-propelled guns were produced in Czechoslovakia.

In the post-war period, the SU-100 was in service with the Soviet Army (until the end of the 70s), the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, as well as many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. They were used in combat operations in the Middle East, in Angola, etc.

SU-100

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS SAU SU-100

COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 31.6.

CREW, people: 4.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 9450, width - 3000, height -2245, ground clearance -400.

ARMAMENT: 1 gun D-10S mod. 1944, caliber 100 mm.

AMMUNITION: 33 shots.

AIMING DEVICES: telescopic sight ТШ-19, Hertz's panorama.

RESERVATION, mm: hull forehead - 75, side and stern - 45, roof and bottom - 20.

ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and RUNNING GEAR: same as base tank.

MAX SPEED, km/h: 48.3.

POWER RESERVE km: 310.

OVERCOME OBSTACLES: elevation angle, deg. - 35, ditch width, m-2.5, wall height-0.73, ford depth, m -1.3.

COMMUNICATIONS: radio station ERM or 9RS, intercom TPU-Z-bisF.

Self-propelled gun SU-152 (KV-14, object 236)

The first heavy self-propelled guns of the Red Army. Created on the basis heavy tank KV-1s using the oscillating part of a 152 mm hull howitzer-gun. Developed at plant number 100 (Chelyabinsk). Adopted by the GKO decree of February 14, 1943. Serial production was carried out at ChKZ. From February to December 1943, 671 units were manufactured.

Serial modification: the chassis and hull of the base tank remained unchanged. In front of the hull, a closed fixed box-shaped cabin is mounted, in the frontal sheet of which a tool is installed.

In July 1943, heavy self-propelled guns took part in the battles on the Kursk Bulge and became an unpleasant surprise for the Germans. The hit of an armor-piercing projectile weighing 48.8 kg with an initial speed of 600 m/s and even a fragmentation projectile weighing 43.5 kg with an initial velocity of 655 m/s into the turret of a German Tiger tank tore it off the tank hull. As a result, these self-propelled guns, created as "pillbox fighters", were often used as anti-tank ones.

In 1943, the RVGK heavy self-propelled artillery regiment had 12 SU-152 units.

SU-152

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS SAU SU-152

COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 45.5.

CREW, people: 5.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 8950, width - 3250, height - 2450, ground clearance - 440.

ARMAMENT: 1 howitzer-gun ML-20S model 1937, caliber 152 mm.

AMMUNITION: 20 shots.

AIMING DEVICES: ST-10 telescopic sight, panoramic sight.

RESERVATION, mm: hull forehead - 60 ... 70, side and stern - 60, roof and bottom - 30.

ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and RUNNING GEAR: same as base tank.

MAX SPEED, km/h: 43.

POWER RESERVE, km: 330

OVERCOME OBSTACLES: elevation angle, deg. -36, ditch width, m -2.5, wall height, m ​​-1.2, ford depth, m -0.9.

COMMUNICATIONS: radio station YUR or 10RK, intercom TPU-ZR.

Self-propelled unit ISU-

Developed to replace the SU-152 due to the withdrawal of the KV-1s tank from production. In general, it is similar in design and armament, but the base of the IS heavy tank was used. Serially produced at ChKZ and LKZ. From November 1943 to the III quarter of 1945, 4635 units were manufactured.

Serial modifications:

ISU-152 (object 241) - the chassis of the base tank has not changed much. An armored cabin is mounted in the front of the hull, in the front plate of which a ML-20S howitzer-gun is installed. Compared to the SU-152, the sight, swivel mechanism and some other details have been improved. Enhanced armor protection.

ISU-122 (object 242) - similar in design to ISU-152. Armed with a 122 mm A-19 hull gun mod. 1931/37 with piston lock. The cradle and recoil devices of the A-19 gun are the same as those of the ML-20 howitzer gun, which allowed the manufacturer to use the barrel of any of these calibers. Dimensions 9850x3070x2480 mm. Ammunition 30 shots.

ISU-122S (ISU-122-2, object 249) - 122 mm gun D-25S mod. 1943 wedge bolt. Dimensions 9950x3070x2480 mm.

ISU-152

The ISU self-propelled guns entered service with the heavy self-propelled artillery regiments of the RVGK (21 installations of 8 each) and were used to fight tanks and destroy enemy fortifications. Until the end of the war, 53 such regiments were formed. In March 1945, a heavy self-propelled artillery brigade (65 ISU-122) was formed.

Heavy self-propelled guns were used especially effectively during the assault on Koenigsberg and Berlin.

The Polish Army received 10 ISU-152 and 22 ISU-122 from the USSR.

After the Second World War, heavy self-propelled guns, mainly ISU-152, were repeatedly modernized and operated in the Soviet Army until the mid-60s. In addition to the USSR and Poland, they were in service with the Egyptian army and took part in the Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973.

In the post-war period, a significant number of tractors, ARVs and launchers of tactical and operational-tactical missiles were built on the basis of the decommissioned self-propelled guns.

ISU-122

ISU-122S

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS ACS ISU-152

COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 46.

CREW, people: 5.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 9050, width -3070, height - 2480, ground clearance - 470.

ARMAMENT: 1 howitzer-gun ML-20S model 1937, 122 mm caliber, 1 DShK machine gun, model 1938, 12.7 mm caliber (on an anti-aircraft machine for parts of vehicles),

AMMUNITION: 20 shots, 250 rounds.

AIMING DEVICES: ST-10 telescopic sight, Hertz's panorama.

RESERVATION, mm: forehead and side of the hull - 90, feed - 60, roof and bottom - 20 ... 30.

ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and RUNNING GEAR: same as base tank.

SPEED MAX., km/h: 35.

POWER RESERVE, km: 220.

OVERCOME OBSTACLES: elevation angle, deg. - 36, ditch width, m - 2.5, wall height, m ​​- 1, ford depth, m - 1.3.

COMMUNICATIONS: radio station YUR or 10RK, intercom TPKh-4-bisF.

SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY ASSEMBLY Alexander Shirokorad Drawings by Valery Lobachevsky As in the Russian field, Between Orel and Kursk, Beyond the mighty Dnieper, Near the gray-haired Carpathians Both "Panthers" and "Tigers" Of all stripes, calibers Self-propelled guns were beaten In combat battles. Ya. Shvedov In this