Self-propelled artillery installations. The best Soviet self-propelled guns of the Great Patriotic War Modules and improvements
The self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was created on the basis of the SU-76M self-propelled gun and entered service in 1944. It had an open turret with circular rotation, and was equipped with a range finder and radio station. A total of 75 cars were produced. Performance characteristics of the ZSU: length – 4.9 m; width – 2.7 m; height – 2.1 m; ground clearance – 315 mm; weight - 10.5 - 12.2 tons; armor – 10-45 mm; engine type – two 6-cylinder, carburetor “GAZ-202”; engine power – 140 hp; specific power – 11.7 hp/t; speed on the highway – 42 km/h; Power reserve – 330 km; armament - 37-mm cannon 61-K model 1939; ammunition - 320 rounds; crew – 4 people.
The anti-aircraft self-propelled gun was created in 1941 on the basis of the STZ-3 tractor, covered with armor plates with installed cannon and machine gun weapons. The gun had limited firing angles - to aim it at the target it was necessary to turn the entire tractor. In total, about 100 cars were produced. Performance characteristics of the ZSU: length – 4.2 m; width – 1.9 m; height – 2.4 t; weight – 7 t; armor – 5-25 mm; engine type - four-cylinder, kerosene; engine power – 52 hp; speed on the highway – 20 km; Power reserve – 120 km; main armament - 45 mm tank gun 20-K; additional weapons – 7.62 mm DP machine gun; crew – 2 – 4 people.
The open-type self-propelled gun was created by installing the ZIS-2 anti-tank gun on the T-20 Komsomolets artillery tractor and was put into service at the end of 1941. For greater stability when firing, the vehicle was equipped with folding coulters. A gun mounting bracket was installed on the roof of the cabin in a traveling manner. A total of 101 cars were produced. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 3.5 m; width – 1.9 m; height – 2.2 m; weight – 4 t; armor – 7-10 mm; engine type - 6 cylinder carburetor; power – 50 hp; specific power – 12 hp/t; speed on the highway – 60 km/h; Power reserve – 250 km; main armament – 57-mm ZiS-2 cannon; additional – 7.62 mm DT machine gun; crew - 4 - 5 people.
The experimental installation was developed in 1941 on the chassis of the KV-1 tank with two options for artillery weapons. The self-propelled gun was developed as artillery vehicle escorting tanks with a high rate of fire of the main weapon. It belonged to the type of completely enclosed self-propelled guns and was a modification of the KV-1 tank, differing from it mainly in the absence of a rotating turret, installed weapons, ammunition, armor protection, crew size and lower height of the vehicle. The first version had three guns at once: one 76.2 mm F-34 and two 45 mm 20-K guns. The second installation option was equipped with two identical ZiS-5 guns. Only one copy was released. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 6.7 m; width – 3.2 m; height – 2.5 m; ground clearance - 440 mm; weight – 47.5 t; track width – 700 mm; reservation – 30-100 mm; engine type - 12 cylinder diesel; power – 600 hp; specific power – 13 hp/t; speed on the highway – 34 km/h; Power reserve – 225 km; crew – 6 people. Armament of the first option: main armament - one 76-mm F-34 cannon, two 45-mm 20-K cannons; ammunition - 93 rounds for a 76 mm cannon and 200 rounds for 45 mm cannons; rate of fire of triple guns - 12 rounds per minute; additional weapons - two main and one spare 7.62-mm DT machine gun; ammunition - 3,591 rounds. Armament of the second option: 2 76.2 mm ZIS-5 guns; rate of fire - 15 shots in one gulp; ammunition - 150 rounds per minute; additional weapons - three 7.62 mm DT machine guns; ammunition - 2,646 rounds; 30 F-1 grenades.
Self-propelled guns were produced in 1933-1935. by mounting a 76.2-mm gun of the 1927 model on a pedestal mount on the chassis of 6x4 Morland (SU-12) and GAZ-AAA (SU-12-1) trucks. Of the 99 vehicles produced, by the beginning of the war, 3 units were in service. TTX self-propelled guns: length - 5.6 m; width – 1.9 m; height – 2.3 m; weight – 3.7 t; shield thickness – 4 mm; engine type – carburetor, power – 50 hp; speed on the highway – 60 km/h; Power reserve – 370 km; rate of fire - 10 - 12 rounds per minute; ammunition - 36 rounds; crew – 4 people.
The self-propelled guns were produced in 1935-1937. based on the chassis of a three-axle YAG-10 truck (6x4) and a 76-mm 3-K anti-aircraft gun of the 1931 model. For stability, four “jack-type” coulters were mounted on the sides of the platform. The body was protected by curved armored sides, which folded outward in a combat position. A total of 61 units were produced. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 7 m; width – 2.5 m; height – 2.6 m; ground clearance - 420 mm; weight – 10.6 t; speed on the highway – 42 km/h; Power reserve – 275 km; engine type – carburetor “Hercules-YXC”, power – 94 hp; ammunition - 48 rounds; rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute; firing range - 14.3 km; armor penetration - 85 mm; crew – 5 people.
The installation was the most lightweight and simplified version of the SU-76 self-propelled gun. It was developed in 1944. The roof of the cabin is open. A total of 3 cars were produced. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 5 m; width – 2.2 m; height – 1.6 m; ground clearance - 290 mm; weight – 4.2 t; armor – 6-10 mm; engine type - in-line 4-cylinder carburetor liquid cooling; engine power – 50 hp; specific power – 11.9 hp/t; highway speed – 41 km/h; Power reserve – 220 km; armament – 76.2 mm ZIS-3 cannon; ammunition - 30 shots; crew – 3 people.
The installation was produced in 1943-1945. in two versions: SU-76 (with GAZ-202 engines) and SU-76M (with GAZ-203 engines). The roof of the cabin is open. A total of 14,292 vehicles were produced. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 5 m; width – 2.7 m; height – 2.2 m; ground clearance - 300 mm; weight – 11.2 t; armor – 7 – 35 mm; engine type – two twin in-line 6-cylinder carburetor liquid-cooled engines; engine power – 140/170 hp; specific power – 12.5 hp/t; highway speed – 44 km/h; Power reserve – 250 km; armament – 76.2 mm ZIS-3 cannon; ammunition - 60 rounds; firing range - 13 km; crew – 4 people.
The assault gun was built in 1943 on the basis of captured German Pz Kpfw III tanks and StuG III self-propelled guns. A total of 201 vehicles were produced, of which 20 were command vehicles equipped with a turret with an entrance hatch and a high-power radio station. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 6.3 m; width – 2.9 m; height – 2.4 t; ground clearance – 350 mm; weight – 22.5 t; armor – 10-60 mm; engine type - V-shaped 12-cylinder carburetor liquid cooling; engine power – 265 hp; specific power – 11.8 hp/t; speed on the highway – 50 km/h; Power reserve – 180 km; armament - 76.2 mm S-1 cannon; rate of fire - 5 - 6 rounds per minute; ammunition - 98 rounds; crew – 4 people.
The tank destroyer was produced on the T-34 chassis and the cabin of the SU-122 self-propelled gun. Adopted into service in 1943. A modification of the SU-85M installation is known, which was essentially an SU-100 with an 85-mm cannon (315 units were produced). The installation was intended primarily for direct fire from short stops. The crew, gun and ammunition were located in front in the armored cabin, which combined the fighting compartment and the control compartment. A total of 2,652 vehicles were built. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 8.2 m; width – 3 m; height – 2.5 m; ground clearance - 400 mm; weight – 29.2 t; armor – 20-60 mm; engine type – diesel; power – 500 hp; speed on the highway – 55 km/h; Power reserve – 400 km; armament - 85 mm cannon - D-5T; ammunition - 48 rounds; rate of fire - 6-7 rounds per minute; armor penetration at a distance of 500 m – 140 mm; crew – 4 people.
The tank destroyer was created on the basis of the T-34-85 tank and entered service in 1944. The self-propelled gun was a type of closed self-propelled gun. A fixed commander's cupola with five viewing slits for all-round visibility was installed on the roof of the cabin above the commander's seat. Ventilation of the fighting compartment was carried out using two fans installed in the roof of the cabin. A total of 2,320 vehicles were produced during the war. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 9.5 m; width – 3 m; height – 2.2 m; ground clearance – 400 mm; weight – 31.6 t; armor – 20-110 mm; engine type - V-shaped 12 cylinder diesel "V-2-34"; engine power – 520 hp; specific power - 16.4 hp/t; speed on the highway – 50 km/h; Power reserve – 310 km; armament - 100-mm D-10S cannon; direct fire range – 4.6 km, maximum – 15.4 km; ammunition - 33 rounds; armor penetration at a distance of 1000 m – 135 mm; crew – 4 people.
The self-propelled assault gun was produced in 1942-1943. as the most simplified design of the T-34 tank. The gun was mounted on a stand, attached to the bottom of the car. The fully armored hull was divided into two parts. The units captured by the Wehrmacht served under the designation "StuG SU-122(r)". A total of 638 vehicles were produced. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 7 m; width – 3 m; height – 2.2 m; ground clearance - 400 mm; weight – 29.6 t; reservation - 15-45 mm; engine type – diesel “V-2-34”, engine power – 500 hp; specific power – 16.8 hp/t; speed on the highway – 55 km/h; Power reserve – 600 km; armament - 122-mm howitzer M-30S; ammunition - 40 shots; armor penetration at a distance of 1000 m – 160 mm; rate of fire - 203 rounds per minute; crew – 5 people.
The self-propelled howitzer was produced in 1939 on the chassis of the T-26 tank by dismantling the turret and openly installing a 122-mm howitzer in its place. 1910/30 By the beginning of the war, 28 vehicles were in service. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 4.8 m; width – 2.4 m; height – 2.6 m; ground clearance - 380 mm; weight – 10.5 t; engine type – carburetor, power – 90 hp; armor – 6 – 15 mm; speed on the highway – 30 km/h; Power reserve – 170 km; ammunition - 8 shots; crew – 5 people.
The installation was created on the basis of the IS tank and put into service in 1944. A modification of the self-propelled gun is known - ISU-122S with a D-25T gun. The self-propelled gun had an armored hull, which was divided into two parts. The crew, gun and ammunition were located in front in the armored cabin, which combined the fighting compartment and the control compartment. The engine and transmission were installed at the rear of the vehicle. Since the end of 1944, self-propelled guns were equipped with anti-aircraft heavy machine gun. A total of 1,735 vehicles were built. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 9.9 m; width – 3.1 m; height – 2.5 m; ground clearance - 470 mm; weight – 46 t; reservation – 20-100 mm; engine type - 12 cylinder diesel; engine power – 520 hp; specific power – 11.3 hp/t; speed on the highway – 35 km/h; Power reserve – 220 km; main armament – 121.9 mm A-19S cannon; rate of fire - 2 rounds per minute; rate of fire D-25T - 3-4; height of the firing line – 1.8 m; ammunition - 30 shots; additional weapons – 12.7 mm DShK machine gun; ammunition - 250 rounds; direct fire range – 5 km, maximum range – 14.3 km; crew – 5 people.
The installation was created on the basis of the IS-1/2 tank and put into service in 1943. From the beginning of 1945, an anti-aircraft long-caliber machine gun was installed on the self-propelled guns. The self-propelled gun was used as a heavy assault gun, tank destroyer and as a self-propelled howitzer. A total of 1,885 vehicles were produced during the war. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 9 m; width – 3.1 m; height – 2.9 m; ground clearance – 470 mm; weight – 46 t; armor – 20 – 100 mm; engine type - 4-stroke 12-cylinder diesel V-2-IS; engine power – 520 hp; specific power – 11.3 hp/t; speed on the highway – 40 km/h; Power reserve – 350 – 500 km; main armament – 152.4 mm howitzer-gun “ML-20S”; ammunition - 21 shots; armor penetration at a distance of 1000 m -123 mm; direct fire range - 3.8 km; maximum - 13 km; height of the firing line – 1.8 m; additional weapons - 12.7 mm DShK machine gun, ammunition - 250 rounds; crew – 5 people.
The self-propelled assault gun was produced in 1942-1944. on the base heavy tank KV-1s. During repairs, the self-propelled gun could be equipped with a turret mount for a 12.7-mm DShK anti-aircraft machine gun. A total of 671 cars were produced. TTX self-propelled guns: length – 9 m; width – 3.3 m; height – 2.5 m; ground clearance - 440 mm; weight – 45.5 t; armor – 20-65 mm; engine type - V-shaped 12-cylinder diesel V-2K; power - 600 l. With.; specific power – 13.2 hp/t; speed on the highway – 43 km/h; Power reserve – 330 km; armament - 152.4 mm ML-20S gun-howitzer; ammunition - 20 shots; rate of fire – 1 – 2 rounds per minute; direct fire range - 3.8 km; maximum - 13 km; crew – 5 people.
The term “tank” in Ozhegov’s dictionary is explained as “an armored self-propelled combat vehicle with powerful weapons on a tracked track.” But such a definition is not a dogma; there is no unified tank standard in the world. Each manufacturing country creates and has created tanks taking into account its own needs, the characteristics of the proposed war, the manner of upcoming battles and its own production capabilities. The USSR was no exception in this regard.
History of the development of tanks of the USSR and Russia by model
History of invention
The primacy of the use of tanks belongs to the British; their use forced military leaders of all countries to reconsider the concept of warfare. The use by the French of their Renault FT17 light tank determined the classic use of tanks for solving tactical problems, and the tank itself became the embodiment of the canons of tank building.
Although the laurels of first use did not go to the Russians, the invention of the tank itself, in its classical sense, belongs to our compatriots. In 1915 V.D. Mendeleev (the son of a famous scientist) sent a project for an armored self-propelled vehicle on two tracks with artillery weapons to technical department Russian army. But for unknown reasons further design work things didn't work out.
The idea itself of installing a steam engine on a caterpillar propulsion device was not new; it was first implemented in 1878 by Russian designer Fyodor Blinov. The invention was called: “A car with endless flights for transporting goods.” In this “car”, a track turning device was used for the first time. The invention of a caterpillar propulsion device, by the way, also belongs to the Russian staff captain D. Zagryazhsky. For which a corresponding patent was issued in 1937.
The world's first tracked combat vehicle is also Russian. In May 1915, tests took place near Riga armored vehicle DI. Porokhovshchikov called “All-terrain vehicle”. It had an armored body, one wide track and a machine gun in a rotating turret. The tests were considered very successful, but due to the approaching Germans, further tests had to be postponed, and after some time they were completely forgotten.
In the same year, 1915, tests were carried out on a machine designed by the head of the experimental laboratory of the military department, Captain Lebedenko. The 40-ton unit was an artillery carriage enlarged to gigantic proportions, driven by two Maybach engines from a downed airship. The front wheels had a diameter of 9 meters. According to the creators, a vehicle of this design should easily overcome ditches and trenches, but during testing it got stuck immediately after starting to move. Where it stood for many years until it was cut into scrap metal.
Russia ended the First World War without its tanks. During the Civil War, tanks from other countries were used. During the battles, some of the tanks passed into the hands of the Red Army, on which the workers’ and peasants’ fighters entered the battle. In 1918, in a battle with French-Greek troops near the village of Berezovskaya, several Reno-FT tanks were captured. They were sent to Moscow to participate in the parade. Lenin’s fiery speech about the need to build our own tanks laid the foundation for Soviet tank building. We decided to release, or rather completely copy, 15 Reno-FT tanks called Tank M (small). On August 31, 1920, the first copy left the workshops of the Krasnoye Sormovo plant in Nizhny Tagil. This day is considered to be the birthday Soviet tank building.
The young state understood that tanks were very important for waging war, especially since the enemies approaching the borders were already armed with this type of military equipment. The M tank was not put into production due to its particularly expensive production price, so another option was needed. According to the idea that existed in the Red Army at that time, the tank was supposed to support the infantry during an attack, that is, the speed of the tank should not be much higher than the infantry, the weight should allow it to break through the defense line, and the weapons should successfully suppress firing points. Choosing between our own developments and proposals to copy ready-made samples, we chose the option that allowed us to organize the production of tanks in the shortest possible time - copying.
In 1925, the tank was launched into mass production, its prototype was the Fiat-3000. Although not entirely successful, the MS-1 became the tank that laid the foundation for Soviet tank building. At his production site, production itself and the coherence of the work of different departments and factories were developed.
Until the early 30s, several of their own models T-19, T-20, T-24 were developed, but due to the lack of special advantages over the T-18, and due to their high cost of production, they did not go into series.
Tanks of the 30-40s - a disease of imitation
Participation in the conflict on the KFZD showed the inadequacy of the first generation tanks for dynamic development battle, the tanks practically did not show themselves in any way, the cavalry did the main work. A faster and more reliable car was needed.
To select the next production model, we went the beaten path and purchased samples abroad. The English Vickers Mk - 6 tons was mass-produced in our country as the T-26, and the Carden-Loyd Mk VI wedge was produced as the T-27.
The T-27, which at first was so tempting to produce due to its low cost, was not produced for long. In 1933, wedge heels were adopted for the army
amphibious tank T-37A, with weapons in a rotating turret, and in 1936 - T-38. In 1940, they created a similar amphibious T-40; the USSR did not produce more amphibious tanks until the 50s.
Another sample was purchased in the USA. Based on the model of J.W. Christie, a whole series of high-speed tanks (BT) was built; their main difference was the combination of two propellers, wheeled and tracked. To move when marching, BTs used wheels; when fighting, they used caterpillars. Such a forced measure was necessary due to the poor operational capabilities of the tracks, only 1000 km.
BT tanks, developing quite high speeds on the roads, fully suited the changed military concept of the Red Army: breaking through the defense and quickly deploying a deep attack through the resulting gap. The three-turreted T-28 was developed directly for the breakthrough, the prototype of which was the English Vickers 16-ton. Another breakthrough tank was supposed to be the T-35, similar to the English five-turret heavy tank “Independent”.
During the pre-war decade, many interesting tank designs were created that did not go into production. For example, based on the T-26
self-propelled semi installation closed type AT-1 (artillery tank). During the Second World War, they will again remember these cars without a cabin roof.
Tanks of the Second World War
Participation in civil war in Spain and in the battles at Khalkhin Gol showed how high the explosion hazard of a gasoline engine is and the inadequacy of bulletproof armor against the then nascent anti-tank artillery. The implementation of solutions to these problems allowed our designers, who had suffered from the disease of imitation, to create truly good tanks and KVs on the eve of the Second World War.
In the first days of the war, a catastrophically large number of tanks were lost; it took time to establish production of the uncompetitive T-34 and KV at the only evacuated factories, and the front desperately needed tanks. The government decided to fill this niche with cheap and quick-to-produce light tanks T-60 and T-70. Naturally, the vulnerability of such tanks is very high, but they gave time to expand the production of Victory tanks. The Germans called them “indestructible locusts.”
In battle under the railway. Art. Prokhorovka was the first time that tanks acted as “cementers” of the defense; before that they were used exclusively as attack weapons. Basically, up to today, there were no more new ideas for using tanks.
Speaking about WWII tanks, it is impossible not to mention tank destroyers (SU-76, SU-122, etc.) or “self-propelled guns” as they were called in the troops. The relatively small rotating turret did not allow the use of some powerful guns and, most importantly, howitzers on tanks; for this purpose, they were installed on the bases of existing tanks without the use of turrets. In fact, Soviet tank destroyers during the war, except for weapons, were no different from their prototypes, unlike the same German ones.
Modern tanks
After the war, light, medium and heavy tanks continued to be produced, but by the end of the 50s, all major tank manufacturers concentrated on the production of the main tank. Thanks to new technologies in the production of armor, more powerful engines and weapons, the need to divide tanks into types disappeared by itself. The niche of light tanks was occupied by armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, so the PT-76 eventually became an armored personnel carrier.
The first post-war mass-produced tank of a new type was armed with a 100 mm gun, and its modification for use in radioactive zones. This model has become the most popular among modern tanks, more than 30,000 of these machines were in service in over 30 countries.
After tanks with a 105 mm gun appeared among potential enemies, it was decided to upgrade the T-55 to a 115 mm gun. The world's first tank with a 155mm smoothbore gun was named.
The ancestor of the classic main tanks was. It fully combined the capabilities of heavy (125mm gun) and medium tanks (high mobility).
Here's the news today:
Artillery units of the Eastern Military District (EMD) received a batch of 203-mm Pion self-propelled artillery mounts.
The head of the district's press service, Colonel Alexander Gordeev, told Interfax-AVN on Thursday. »Today, the Pion self-propelled gun is considered the most powerful self-propelled artillery unit in the world. Its main armament is a 203-mm cannon, weighing more than 14 tons. It is located at the rear of the installation. The gun is equipped with a semi-automatic hydraulic loading system, which allows this process to be carried out at any barrel elevation angle,” said A. Gordeev.
He noted that when developing the chassis of the installation, components and assemblies of the T-80 tank were used. “The self-propelled gun has an individual torsion bar suspension,” the officer specified.
Let's learn more about this weapon:
On August 29, 1949, the first Soviet atomic bomb was tested: both warring factions began to possess nuclear weapons. With both sides of the conflict building up strategic nuclear weapons It became obvious that all-out nuclear war was unlikely and pointless. The theory of “limited nuclear war” with limited use of tactical weapons has become relevant. nuclear weapons. In the early 1950s, the leaders of the warring parties faced the problem of delivering these weapons. The main delivery vehicles were the B-29 strategic bombers, on the one hand, and the Tu-4, on the other; they could not effectively strike at the advanced positions of enemy troops. The most suitable means were considered to be corps and divisional artillery systems, tactical missile systems and recoilless rifles.
The first Soviet artillery systems armed with nuclear weapons were the 2B1 self-propelled mortar and the 2A3 self-propelled gun, but these systems were bulky and could not meet the requirements for high mobility. With the beginning of the rapid development of rocket technology in the USSR, work on most samples of classical artillery, at the direction of N. S. Khrushchev, was stopped.
Photo 3. 
After Khrushchev was removed from the post of First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, work on artillery topics was resumed. By the spring of 1967, a preliminary design of a new heavy-duty self-propelled artillery mount (SAU) based on the Object 434 tank and a full-size wooden model had been completed. The project was a closed-type self-propelled gun with a chopping mount for a gun designed by OKB-2. I received the layout negative reviews from representatives of the Ministry of Defense, however, the proposal to create self-propelled guns of special power interested the USSR Ministry of Defense, and on December 16, 1967, by order No. 801 of the Ministry of Defense Industry, research work was begun to determine the appearance and basic characteristics new self-propelled guns. The main requirement put forward for the new self-propelled guns was the maximum firing range - at least 25 km. The selection of the optimal caliber of the gun, as directed by the GRAU, was carried out by the M. I. Kalinin Artillery Academy. During the work, various existing and developed artillery systems were examined. The main ones were the 210 mm S-72 gun, the 180 mm S-23 gun and the 180 mm MU-1 coastal gun. According to the conclusion of the Leningrad Artillery Academy, the ballistic solution of the 210-mm S-72 gun was considered the most suitable. However, despite this, the Barrikady plant, to ensure continuity of manufacturing technologies for the already developed B-4 and B-4M guns, proposed reducing the caliber from 210 to 203 mm. This proposal was approved by GRAU.
Simultaneously with the choice of caliber, work was carried out on the selection of the chassis and layout for the future self-propelled guns. One of the options was the chassis of the MT-T multi-purpose tractor, based on the T-64A tank. This option received the designation “Object 429A”. A variant based on the T-10 heavy tank, designated “216.sp1”, was also being developed. Based on the results of the work, it turned out that an open installation of the gun would be optimal, while none of the existing types of chassis are suitable for placing the new gun, due to high strength recoil resistance of 135 tf when firing. Therefore, it was decided to develop a new chassis with the maximum possible unification of components with the tanks in service with the USSR. The resulting developments formed the basis of the development work under the name “Peony” (GRAU index - 2S7). "Peony" was supposed to go into service with the artillery divisions of the reserve of the Supreme High Command to replace the 203-mm towed howitzers B-4 and B-4M.
Photo 4. 
Officially, work on a new self-propelled gun of special power was approved on July 8, 1970 by Resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the USSR Council of Ministers No. 427-161. The Kirov plant was appointed the lead developer of the 2S7; the 2A44 gun was designed at OKB-3 of the Volgograd Barrikady plant. On March 1, 1971, tactical and technical requirements for new self-propelled guns. According to the assignment, the 2S7 self-propelled gun was supposed to provide a non-ricochet firing range from 8.5 to 35 km with fragmentation high-explosive projectile weighing 110 kg, while it should be possible to fire a 3VB2 nuclear shot intended for the 203-mm B-4M howitzer. The speed on the highway had to be at least 50 km/h.
The new chassis with a stern mounted gun was designated “216.sp2”. In the period from 1973 to 1974, two prototypes of the 2S7 self-propelled guns were manufactured and sent for testing. The first sample underwent sea trials at the Strugi Krasnye training ground. The second sample was tested by fire, but could not meet the requirements for firing range. The problem was solved by selecting the optimal composition of the powder charge and the type of shot. In 1975, the Pion system was adopted by the Soviet army. In 1977, at the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Technical Physics, nuclear ammunition was developed and entered into service for the 2S7 self-propelled gun.
Photo 5. 
Serial production of the 2S7 self-propelled guns began in 1975 at the Leningrad Kirov Plant. The 2A44 gun was produced by the Volgograd Barricades plant. Production of 2S7 continued until its collapse Soviet Union. In 1990 in Soviet troops The last batch of 66 2S7M vehicles was transferred. In 1990, the cost of one 2S7 self-propelled artillery mount was 521,527 rubles. Over 16 years of production, more than 500 units of 2S7 of various modifications were produced.
In the 1980s, there was a need to modernize the 2S7 self-propelled guns. Therefore, development work was started under the code “Malka” (GRAU index - 2S7M). First of all, the question was raised about replacing the power plant, since the V-46-1 engine did not have sufficient power and reliability. For the Malka, the V-84B engine was created, which differed from that used in the T-72 tank in the features of the engine layout in the engine-transmission compartment. With the new engine, the self-propelled gun could be refueled not only with diesel fuel, but also with kerosene and gasoline.
Photo 6. 
The chassis of the car was also modernized. In February 1985, self-propelled guns with a new power plant and modernized chassis passed the tests. As a result of the modernization, the service life of the self-propelled guns was increased to 8,000-10,000 km. To receive and display information from the senior battery officer's vehicle, the gunner's and commander's positions were equipped with digital indicators with automatic data reception, which reduced the time it took to transfer the vehicle from the traveling to the combat position and back. Thanks to the modified design of the stowage, the transportable ammunition load was increased to 8 rounds. The new loading mechanism made it possible to load the gun at any vertical pumping angle. Thus, the rate of fire was increased by 1.6 times (up to 2.5 rounds per minute), and the fire mode - by 1.25 times. To monitor important subsystems, regulatory monitoring equipment was installed in the vehicle, which continuously monitored weapons components, the engine, the hydraulic system and power units. Serial production of the 2S7M self-propelled gun began in 1986. In addition, the crew of the vehicle was reduced to 6 people.
At the end of the 1970s, based on the 2A44 cannon, a project for a naval artillery installation under the code “Pion-M” was developed. The theoretical mass of the artillery mount without ammunition was 65-70 tons. The ammunition load was supposed to be 75 rounds, and the rate of fire was up to 1.5 rounds per minute. The Pion-M artillery mount was supposed to be installed on Project 956 ships of the Sovremenny class. However, due to the fundamental disagreement of the Navy leadership with the use of large caliber, work on the Pion-M artillery mount did not progress beyond the project.
Photo 7. 
Armored Corps
The 2S7 “Pion” self-propelled gun is made according to a turretless design with an open installation of the gun in the rear of the self-propelled gun. The crew consists of 7 (in the modernized version 6) people. During the march, all crew members are placed in the self-propelled gun hull. The body is divided into four compartments. In the front part there is a control compartment with a seat for the commander, driver and a place for one of the crew members. Behind the control compartment is the engine and transmission compartment with the engine. Behind the engine-transmission compartment there is a crew compartment, in which there are stowages with shells, a place for a traveling gunner and places for 3 (in the modernized version 2) members of the crew. In the aft compartment there is a folding opener plate and a self-propelled gun. The 2S7 hull is made of two-layer bulletproof armor with a thickness of outer sheets of 13 mm and internal sheets of 8 mm. The crew, being inside the self-propelled guns, is protected from the consequences of the use of weapons mass destruction. The housing weakens the effect of penetrating radiation three times. Loading of the main gun during self-propelled gun operation is carried out from the ground or from a truck using a special lifting mechanism installed on the platform on the right side relative to the main gun. The loader is located to the left of the gun, controlling the process using the control panel.
Photo 8. 
Armament
The main armament is the 203-mm 2A44 cannon, which has a maximum rate of fire of 1.5 rounds per minute (up to 2.5 rounds per minute on the modernized version). The gun barrel is a free tube connected to the breech. A piston valve is located in the breech. The gun barrel and recoil devices are placed in the cradle of the swinging part. The swinging part is fixed to the upper machine, which is mounted on an axis and secured with bastings. Recoil devices consist of a hydraulic recoil brake and two pneumatic knurling devices located symmetrically relative to the barrel bore. This scheme of recoil devices allows you to reliably hold the recoil parts of the gun in the extreme position before firing a shot at any angle of vertical pointing of the gun. The recoil length when fired reaches 1400 mm. Sector-type lifting and rotating mechanisms provide gun guidance in the angle range from 0 to +60 degrees. vertically and from -15 to +15 degrees. along the horizon. Guidance can be carried out either by hydraulic drives powered by pumping station SAU 2S7, and with the help of manual drives. The pneumatic balancing mechanism serves to compensate for the moment of imbalance of the swinging part of the implement. To facilitate the work of crew members, the self-propelled gun is equipped with a loading mechanism that ensures that shots are fed to the loading line and delivered to the gun chamber.
A folding base plate, located at the rear of the hull, transfers the force of the shot to the ground, providing greater stability of the self-propelled gun. With charge No. 3, the Peony could fire directly without installing a coulter. The transportable ammunition load of the Pion self-propelled gun is 4 rounds (8 for the modernized version); the main ammunition load of 40 rounds is carried in the transport vehicle attached to the self-propelled gun. The main ammunition includes 3OF43 high-explosive fragmentation shells; in addition, 3-O-14 cluster shells, concrete-piercing and nuclear ammunition can be used. Additionally, the 2S7 self-propelled gun is equipped with a 12.7-mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun and 9K32 Strela-2 man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
Photo 9. 
To aim the gun, the gunner's position is equipped with a PG-1M artillery panoramic sight for firing from indirect firing positions and an OP4M-99A direct fire sight for firing at observed targets. To monitor the terrain, the control department is equipped with seven prismatic periscopic observation devices TNPO-160, two more TNPO-160 devices are installed in the hatch covers of the crew compartment. To operate at night, some of the TNPO-160 devices can be replaced by TVNE-4B night vision devices.
External radio communication is supported by the R-123M radio station. The radio station operates in the VHF range and provides stable communication with similar stations at a distance of up to 28 km, depending on the height of the antenna of both radio stations. Negotiations between crew members are carried out through intercom equipment 1B116.
Photo 10. 
Engine and transmission
The power plant in the 2S7 was a V-shaped 12-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine V-46-1 liquid-cooled supercharged with a power of 780 hp. The V-46-1 diesel engine was created on the basis of the V-46 engine installed on T-72 tanks. Distinctive Features The B-46-1 had minor layout changes associated with its adaptation for installation in the engine compartment of the 2S7 self-propelled gun. The main difference was the changed location of the power take-off shaft. To make it easier to start the engine in winter conditions, a heating system is installed in the engine-transmission compartment, developed on the basis of a similar system in the T-10M heavy tank. During modernization on self-propelled guns 2S7M power point was replaced by a multi-fuel diesel engine V-84B with an output of 840 hp. The transmission is mechanical, with hydraulic control and a planetary rotation mechanism. Has seven forward and one reverse gears. The engine torque is transmitted through a bevel gearbox with a gear ratio of 0.682 to two onboard gearboxes.
Photo 11. 
The 2S7 chassis is based on the main T-80 tank and consists of seven pairs of double rubber-coated road wheels and six pairs of single support rollers. There are guide wheels at the rear of the machine and drive wheels at the front. In the combat position, the guide wheels are lowered to the ground to give the self-propelled gun greater resistance to loads when firing. Lowering and raising is carried out using two hydraulic cylinders attached to the axles of the wheels. Suspension 2S7 - individual torsion bar with hydraulic shock absorbers.
Photo 12. 
Special equipment
The preparation of the firing position was carried out using a coulter in the rear of the self-propelled gun. Raising and lowering the opener was carried out using two hydraulic jacks. Additionally, the 2S7 self-propelled gun was equipped with a 9R4-6U2 diesel generator with a power of 24 hp. Diesel generator was intended to ensure the operation of the main pump of the self-propelled gun hydraulic system during parking, when the vehicle engine was turned off.
Vehicles based
In 1969, in the Tula NIEMI, by decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated May 27, 1969, work began on the creation of a new anti-aircraft missile system Front-line S-300V. Research carried out at NIEMI together with the Leningrad VNII-100 showed that there was no chassis suitable in terms of load capacity, internal dimensions and cross-country ability. Therefore, KB-3 of the Leningrad Kirov Plant was given the task of developing a new unified tracked chassis. The following requirements were imposed on the development: total weight - no more than 48 tons, load capacity - 20 tons, ensuring the operation of equipment and crew under conditions of the use of weapons of mass destruction, high maneuverability and cross-country ability. The chassis was designed almost simultaneously with the 2S7 self-propelled gun and was maximally unified with it. The main differences include the rear location of the engine-transmission compartment and the drive wheels of the tracked propulsion unit. As a result of the work carried out, the following modifications of the universal chassis were created.
- “Object 830” - for the 9A83 self-propelled launcher;
- “Object 831” - for the 9A82 self-propelled launcher;
- “Object 832” - for the 9S15 radar station;
- “Object 833” - in the basic version: for the multi-channel missile guidance station 9S32; in version "833-01" - for the 9S19 radar station;
- “Object 834” - for command post 9S457;
- “Object 835” - for launch-loading installations 9A84 and 9A85.
The production of prototypes of the universal chassis was carried out by the Leningrad Kirov Plant. Serial production was transferred to the Lipetsk Tractor Plant.
In 1997, by order of the Engineering Troops of the Russian Federation, a high-speed trench vehicle BTM-4M “Tundra” was developed for making trenches and digging in frozen soil.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, funding for the armed forces in Russia sharply decreased, and military equipment practically ceased to be purchased. Under these conditions, a conversion program was carried out at the Kirov plant military equipment, within the framework of which civil engineering vehicles were developed and began to be produced on the basis of the 2S7 self-propelled guns. In 1994, the highly mobile crane SGK-80 was developed, and four years later its modernized version, the SGK-80R, appeared. The cranes weighed 65 tons and had a lifting capacity of up to 80 tons. In 2004, by order of the Department of Traffic Safety and Ecology of the Ministry of Railways of Russia, self-propelled tracked vehicles SM-100 were developed, designed to eliminate the consequences of rolling stock derailments, as well as to carry out emergency rescue operations after natural and man-made disasters.
Photo 13. 
Combat use
During operation in the Soviet army, self-propelled guns "Pion" were never used in any armed conflict, but were intensively used in high-power artillery brigades of the GSVG. After the signing of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, all self-propelled guns "Pion" and "Malka" were withdrawn from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and redeployed to the Eastern Military District. The only episode combat use SAU 2S7 was a war in South Ossetia, where the Georgian side of the conflict used a battery of six 2S7 self-propelled guns. During the retreat, Georgian troops hid all six 2S7 self-propelled guns in the Gori area. One of the 5 self-propelled guns 2S7 discovered by Russian troops was captured as a trophy, the rest were destroyed.
In November 2014, Ukraine, in connection with armed conflict began reactivation and restoration combat status of its existing 2S7 installations.
In the 1970s, the Soviet Union attempted to re-equip the Soviet army with new types of artillery weapons. The first example was the 2S3 self-propelled howitzer, presented to the public in 1973, followed by the 2S1 in 1974, 2S4 in 1975, and the 2S5 and 2S7 were introduced in 1979. Thanks to new technology The Soviet Union significantly increased the survivability and maneuverability of its artillery forces. By the time mass production of the 2S7 self-propelled gun began, the US already had a 203-mm M110 hull self-propelled gun in service. In 1975, the 2S7 was significantly superior to the M110 in key parameters: OFS firing range (37.4 km versus 16.8 km), transportable ammunition (4 shots versus 2), power density(17.25 hp/t versus 15.4), however, the 2S7 self-propelled gun was served by 7 people versus 5 on the M110. In 1977 and 1978, the US Army received improved M110A1 and M110A2 self-propelled guns, which had a maximum firing range increased to 30 km, but they could not surpass the 2S7 self-propelled gun in this parameter. An advantageous difference between the Pion and the M110 self-propelled guns is the fully armored chassis, while the M110 has only the engine and transmission compartment armored.
In the DPRK in 1978, on the basis of the Type 59 tank, the 170-mm Koksan self-propelled gun was created. The gun allowed firing at a distance of up to 60 km, but had a number of significant disadvantages: low barrel survivability, low rate of fire, low chassis mobility and lack of portable ammunition. In 1985, an improved version was developed; this weapon appearance and the layout was reminiscent of a 2S7 self-propelled gun.
Attempts to create systems similar to the M110 and 2S7 were made in Iraq. In the mid-1980s, development of the 210 mm AL FAO self-propelled gun began. The gun was created as a response to the Iranian M107, and the gun was supposed to be significantly superior to this self-propelled gun in all respects. As a result, it was manufactured and demonstrated in May 1989 prototype Self-propelled guns AL FAO. The self-propelled artillery mount was a G6 self-propelled howitzer chassis, on which a 210 mm gun was mounted. The self-propelled gun was capable of reaching speeds on the march of up to 80 km/h. The barrel length was 53 calibers. Firing could be carried out either with conventional 109.4 kg high-explosive fragmentation projectiles with a bottom notch and a maximum firing range of 45 km, or with projectiles with a bottom gas generator with a maximum firing range of up to 57.3 km. However, the economic sanctions against Iraq that followed in the early 1990s prevented further development of the weapon, and the project did not go beyond the prototype stage.
In the mid-1990s, the Chinese company NORINCO, based on the M110, developed a prototype of a 203-mm self-propelled gun with a new artillery unit. The reason for the development was the unsatisfactory firing range of the M110 self-propelled gun. The new artillery unit made it possible to increase the maximum firing range of high-explosive fragmentation shells to 40 km, and active-reactive shells to 50 km. In addition, the self-propelled gun could fire guided, nuclear projectiles, as well as cluster projectiles that lay anti-tank mines. The production of the development prototype did not progress further.
As a result of the completion of the Pion development work, the self-propelled guns entered service with the Soviet Army, embodying the most advanced design ideas self-propelled guns high power. For its class, the 2S7 self-propelled gun had high performance characteristics (maneuverability and relatively short time for transferring the self-propelled gun to the combat position and back). Thanks to the 203.2 mm caliber and the maximum firing range of high-explosive fragmentation shells, the Pion self-propelled gun had high combat effectiveness: for example, in 10 minutes of fire attack, the self-propelled gun is capable of “delivering” about 500 kg to the target explosive. The modernization carried out in 1986 to the 2S7M level allowed this self-propelled gun to meet the requirements for promising artillery weapon systems for the period until 2010. The only drawback noted by Western experts was the open installation of the gun, which did not allow the crew to be protected from shell fragments or enemy fire when working in position. It was proposed to further improve the system by creating guided projectiles of the “Daredevil” type, the firing range of which could be up to 120 km, as well as improving the working conditions of the self-propelled gun crew. In fact, after the withdrawal from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and redeployment to the Eastern Military District, most of the 2S7 and 2S7M self-propelled guns were sent for storage, and only a small part of them remained in operation.
Photo 14. 
But look at this interesting example of a weapon:
Photo 16. 
Experimental self-propelled artillery unit. The development of the self-propelled guns was carried out by the Central Design Bureau of the Uraltransmash plant, chief designer- Nikolai Tupitsyn. The first prototype of the self-propelled gun was built in 1976. In total, two copies of the self-propelled gun were built - with a 152-mm caliber gun from the Akatsiya self-propelled gun and with a gun from the Giatsint self-propelled gun. The “object 327” self-propelled gun was developed as a competitor to the “Msta-S” self-propelled gun, but being quite revolutionary, it remained an experimental self-propelled gun. The self-propelled gun was distinguished by a high degree of automation - reloading of the gun was carried out routinely by an automatic loader with the gun located externally with the ammunition rack placed inside the body of the self-propelled gun. During tests with two types of guns, the self-propelled guns showed high efficiency, but preference was given to the more “technological” models - 2S19 “Msta-S”. Testing and design of self-propelled guns were discontinued in 1987.
The name of the object “puck” was unofficial. The second copy of the self-propelled gun with the 2A37 gun from the Giatsint self-propelled gun has stood at the training ground since 1988 and is preserved in the Uraltransmash PA museum.
There is also a version that the prototype self-propelled gun shown in the photo is the only prototype that was also tested on the topics “object 316” (prototype of self-propelled gun “Msta-S”), “object 326” and “object 327”. During testing, guns with different ballistics were installed on a rotating platform turret. The presented sample with a cannon from the Giatsint self-propelled gun was tested in 1987.
Photo 17. 
Photo 18. 
sources
http://wartools.ru/sau-russia/sau-pion-2s7
http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/index-411.html
http://gods-of-war.pp.ua/?p=333
Look at the self-propelled guns, and here recently. Look at what it looked like before The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -Self-propelled artillery installations
Self-propelled gun ZIS-30
Light anti-tank self-propelled gun of open type. Created on an emergency basis at plant No. 92 (Gorky) using the rotating part of a 57-mm cannon and a semi-armored T-20 Komsomolets artillery tractor; It was mass-produced there from September 21 to October 15, 1941. 101 units produced.
Serial modification: a 57-mm cannon is installed behind a standard shield in the rear part of the tractor body. For greater stability when firing, the vehicle was equipped with folding coulters. A gun mounting bracket was installed on the roof of the cabin in a traveling manner. Otherwise, the base car remains unchanged.
Self-propelled guns ZIS-30 began to enter service at the end of September 1941. They equipped the anti-tank batteries of 20 tank brigades of the Western and Southwestern Fronts. Despite all its shortcomings (poor stability, overloaded chassis, short range, etc.), the ZIS-30, thanks to the presence of a powerful artillery system, fought quite successfully against enemy tanks. However, by the summer of 1942 there were practically no such vehicles left in the army.
SAU ZIS-30
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SAU ZIS-30
COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 3.96.
CREW, people: 5.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 3900, width - 1850, height (in the cabin) - 1580, ground clearance - 300.
ARMAMENT: 1 ZIS-2 cannon model 1941, 57 mm caliber, 1 DT machine gun model 1929, 7.62 mm caliber.
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 cm?.
TRANSMISSION: single-disc main dry friction clutch, 4-speed gearbox, range, final drive, final clutches, final drives.
CHASSIS: four rubber-coated support rollers on board, interlocked in pairs into two balancing bogies, two support rollers, a guide wheel, a front drive wheel (lantern engagement); suspension on semi-elliptical leaf springs; each caterpillar has 79 tracks with a width of 200 mm.
SPEED MAX., km/h; 47.
POWER RESERVE, km: 150.
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME: angle of ascent, degrees - 3Q, ditch width, m -1.4, wall height, m -0.47, ford depth, m -0.6.
COMMUNICATIONS: no.
Self-propelled gun SU-76
Light infantry escort self-propelled guns, created on the basis of the T-70 tank using the ZIS-Z field divisional gun. The most massive Soviet self-propelled gun 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) - above the rear part of the hull, which is elongated compared to the base tank, there is a fixed armored cabin closed at the top. A ZIS-Z cannon is mounted in the embrasure of the front deckhouse. The power plant consisted of two engines connected to the power transmission in parallel. The units of the latter were also parallelized and connected at the level of the main gears. The driver was located in the bow of the vehicle, and the three-man gun crew was located in the wheelhouse. Combat weight 11.2 t. Dimensions 5000x2740x2200 mm. 360 units produced.
SU-76M (SU-15) - armored cabin open at the top and partially at the rear. The power plant and transmission are borrowed from the T-70M tank. The layout and chassis remained unchanged. 13,932 units produced.
The first batch of SU-76 self-propelled guns (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 the siege of Leningrad. In March 1943, two more regiments were formed - the 1485th and 1487th, which took part in the battles on the Western Front.
According to the 1943 staff, the light self-propelled artillery regiment had 21 SU-76M self-propelled guns. At the end of 1944 and the beginning of 1945, 70 SU-76M self-propelled artillery divisions (16 self-propelled guns each) were formed for rifle divisions. In the first half of 1944, the formation of light self-propelled artillery brigades of the RVGK began (60 SU-76M and 5 T-70).
By the end of the war, the Red Army had 119 light self-propelled artillery regiments and 7 light self-propelled artillery brigades.
The SU-76M self-propelled guns took part in hostilities until the end of the Great Patriotic War, and then in the war with Japan. 130 self-propelled guns were transferred to the Polish Army.
In the post-war period, the SU-76M was in service with the Soviet Army until the early 50s, and in the armies of a number of countries even longer. They took part in the Korean War as part of the North Korean army.
Self-propelled gun SU-76M
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL 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 ZIS-Z gun mod. 1942 caliber 76 mm.
AMMUNITION: 60 rounds.
AIMING DEVICES: Hertz panorama.
RESERVATION, mm: front of the hull and deckhouse - 25...35, side - 10...15, stern - 10, roof and bottom -10.
ENGINE and TRANSMISSION: like the T-70M tank.
CHASSIS: six support rubber rollers on board, three support rollers, front drive wheel
th arrangement with a removable gear rim (lantern engagement), a guide wheel similar in design to a support roller; individual torsion bar suspension; each caterpillar has 93 tracks 300 mm wide, track pitch 111 mm.
MAX SPEED, km/h: 45.
POWER RESERVE, km: 250.
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME: angle of ascent, degrees - 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 No. 40 (Mytishchi) in 1945 and 1946. 75 units produced.
Serial modification:
the hull, power plant and chassis are borrowed from the SU-76M. A 37-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun is installed in a fixed armored cabin open at the top in the rear part of the hull.
The ZSU-37 did not take part in the fighting of the Second World War. 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 service.
ZSU-37
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS ZSU-37
COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 11.5.
CREW, people: 6.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 5250, width - 2745, height - 2180, ground clearance - 300.
WEAPONS: 1 automatic anti-aircraft gun mod. 1939 caliber 37 mm.
AMMUNITION: 320 rounds.
AIMING DEVICES: collimator - 2.
RESERVATION, mm: front of the hull and deckhouse - 25...35, side - 15, stern - 10...15, roof and bottom - 6...10.
ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and CHASSIS: like the SU-76M.
MAX. SPEED, km/h: 45.
POWER RESERVE, km: 360.
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME: ascent angle, degrees. -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 122 mm M-30 howitzer. Adopted into service by decree of the State Defense Committee 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 installed in the front part of the hull on a pedestal in a low-profile, fully enclosed armored cabin. Horizontal firing angle 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 area.
In April 1943, the formation of self-propelled artillery regiments of homogeneous composition began. They had 16 SU-122s, which continued to be used to escort infantry and tanks until the beginning of 1944. However, this application was not effective enough due to the low initial speed of the projectile - 515 m/s and, consequently, the low flatness of its trajectory.
SU-122
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF 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 M-30 howitzer model 1938, 122 mm caliber.
AMMUNITION: 40 rounds.
AIMING DEVICES: panoramic sight.
RESERVATION, mm: forehead, side, hull rear - 45, roof and bottom - 20.
ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and CHASSIS: same as the base tank.
MAX. SPEED, km/h: 55.
POWER RESERVE, km: 300.
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME: ascent angle, degrees. - 35, ditch width, m - 2.5, wall height, m - 0.73, ford depth, m - 1.3.
COMMUNICATIONS: radio station 9P or 10RK, intercom TPU-Z-bisF.
Self-propelled gun SU-85
The first Soviet full-fledged anti-tank self-propelled gun, intended to combat the new German heavy tanks. Created on the basis of the T-34 tank and SU-122 self-propelled guns. 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) is identical in design, layout and armor to the SU-122. The main difference is in the armament - instead of a 122-mm howitzer, an 85-mm cannon with the ballistics of a 52K anti-aircraft gun model 1939 is installed. The design and location of the commander's cupola has been changed. 2329 units produced.
SU-85M-SU-85 with SU-100 hull. 315 units produced.
The SU-85's baptism of fire took place in the fall of 1943 during the fighting in Left Bank Ukraine and for the liberation of Kyiv. The SU-85 was mainly used to escort T-34 tanks. In addition, self-propelled artillery regiments that were part of some anti-tank destroyer 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 combat operations 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 used until the end of the 50s, some of them were converted into ARVs.
SU-85M
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF 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, 85 mm caliber.
AMMUNITION: 48 rounds.
AIMING DEVICES: telescopic sight 10T-15 or TSh-15, panoramic sight.
RESERVATION, mm: forehead, sides of the rear hull - 45, roof, bottom - 20,
MAX. SPEED, km/h: 55.
POWER RESERVE, km: 300.
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME: angle of ascent, degrees -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 gun of the Second World War. Developed on the basis of the T-34-85 tank and SU-85 self-propelled guns. Adopted by GKO Decree No. 6131 of July 3, 1944. From September 1944 to the third quarter of 1945, UZTM produced 2,495 units.
Serial modification:
its design and layout are 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 was superior to the best anti-tank self-propelled gun of the Wehrmacht, the Jagdpanther, and was capable of hitting heavy enemy tanks at a distance of up to 2000 m.
SU-100s were used on a fairly large scale in repelling the German counter-offensive near the island. 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
(total 2693 units produced). In the 50s, under 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, Angola, etc.
SU-100
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF 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 D-10S gun model 1944, 100 mm caliber.
AMMUNITION: 33 rounds.
AIMING DEVICES: telescopic sight TSh-19, Hertz panorama.
RESERVATION, mm: hull front - 75, side and stern - 45, roof and bottom - 20.
ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and CHASSIS: same as the base tank.
MAX. SPEED, km/h: 48.3.
POWER RESERVE km: 310.
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME: ascent angle, degrees. - 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 gun of the Red Army. Created on the basis of the KV-1s heavy tank using the swinging part of a 152-mm hull howitzer-gun. Developed at plant No. 100 (Chelyabinsk). Adopted by the State Defense Committee 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 the front part of the hull there is a closed, stationary, box-shaped wheelhouse, in the front of which a gun 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. Hit armor-piercing projectile weighing 48.8 kg with initial speed 600 m/s and even fragmentation weighing 43.5 kg with an initial speed of 655 m/s into the turret of the German Tiger tank tore it off the tank’s hull. As a result, these self-propelled guns, created as “pillbox destroyers,” were often used as anti-tank guns.
In 1943, the heavy self-propelled artillery regiment of the RVGK had 12 SU-152 installations.
SU-152
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF 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-cannon ML-20S model 1937, 152 mm caliber.
AMMUNITION: 20 shots.
AIMING DEVICES: ST-10 telescopic sight, panoramic sight.
RESERVATION, mm: hull front - 60...70, side and stern - 60, roof and bottom - 30.
ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and CHASSIS: same as the base tank.
MAX. SPEED, km/h: 43.
COURSE RESERVE, km: 330
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME: ascent angle, degrees. -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-
Designed to replace the SU-152 due to the discontinuation of the KV-1s tank. In general, it is similar in design and armament, but the base of the IS heavy tank is used. Serially produced at ChKZ and LKZ. From November 1943 to the third quarter of 1945, 4635 units were manufactured.
Serial modifications:
ISU-152 (object 241) - the chassis of the base tank has undergone virtually no changes. An armored cabin is mounted in the front part of the hull, with an ML-20S howitzer gun installed in the front plate. Compared to the SU-152, the sight, rotating mechanism and some other parts have been improved. Armor protection has been enhanced.
ISU-122 (object 242) - similar in design to ISU-152. Armed with a 122-mm hull gun A-19 mod. 1931/37 with piston valve. The cradle and recoil devices of the A-19 gun are the same as those of howitzer guns ML-20, which allowed the manufacturer to use the barrel of any of these calibers. Dimensions 9850x3070x2480 mm. Ammunition 30 rounds.
ISU-122S (ISU-122-2, object 249) - 122 mm D-25S cannon mod. 1943 with wedge shutter. Dimensions 9950x3070x2480 mm.
ISU-152
ISU self-propelled guns entered service with heavy self-propelled artillery regiments of the RVGK (21 installations, 8 each) and were used to fight tanks and destroy enemy fortifications. By 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 Konigsberg and Berlin.
The Polish Army received from the USSR 10 ISU-152 and 22 ISU-122.
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 tactical and operational-tactical missiles.
ISU-122
ISU-122S
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SAU ISU-152
COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 46.
CREW, people: 5.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 9050, width -3070, height - 2480, ground clearance - 470.
ARMAMENT: 1 ML-20S howitzer gun model 1937, 122 mm caliber, 1 DShK model 1938 machine gun, 12.7 mm caliber (on an anti-aircraft machine on some vehicles),
AMMUNITION: 20 shots, 250 rounds.
AIMING DEVICES: telescopic sight ST-10, Hertz panorama.
RESERVATION, mm: front and side of the hull - 90, stern - 60, roof and bottom - 20...30.
ENGINE, TRANSMISSION and CHASSIS: same as the base tank.
MAX. SPEED, km/h: 35.
POWER RESERVE, km: 220.
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME: ascent angle, degrees. - 36, ditch width, m - 2.5, wall height, m - 1, ford depth, m - 1.3.
COMMUNICATIONS: radio station YUR or 10RK, intercom TPH-4-bisF.
From the book Technology and Weapons 1996 06 authorSELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY UNITS Alexander Shirokorad Drawings by Valery Lobachevsky As on the Russian field, Between Orel and Kursk, Beyond the mighty Dnieper, By the gray Carpathians And “Panthers” and “Tigers” Of all stripes, calibers Self-propelled guns were beaten In combat battles. Ya. Shvedov In this
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Self-propelled artillery began to be used en masse by the Red Army relatively late - only at the end of 1942. However, the cars produced by Soviet designers brought huge contribution into a common victory. Without exception, all Soviet self-propelled guns of the war period can be classified as formidable machines that were useful in different ways on the battlefield. From the small, but no less effective SU-76, to such a monster as the ISU-152, which could easily hit a bunker or destroy a house in which the Nazis were holed up.
Light self-propelled gun SU-76
This self-propelled gun was developed in 1942 by the design bureaus of plant No. 38 in the city of Kirov; the vehicle was created on the basis of the T-70 light tank, which was well developed by the industry. In total, from 1942 until the end of the war, more than 14 thousand vehicles of this type were manufactured. Thanks to this, the SU-76 is the most popular Soviet self-propelled artillery unit of the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War, and its production volume was second only to that of the T-34 tank. The popularity and prevalence of the machine is explained by its simplicity and versatility.
A huge role was played by the fact that a very good ZIS-3 divisional gun of 76.2 mm caliber was chosen as a weapon for arming this self-propelled gun. The gun showed excellent performance during the war and was distinguished by its high versatility of use. The best weapon it was difficult to come up with infantry support. When using sub-caliber shells, the gun also revealed its anti-tank properties, although tanks such as the Tiger and Panther were still recommended to be destroyed by firing at their sides. Against most types of German armored vehicles, the armor penetration of the ZIS-3 gun remained adequate until the end of the war, although 100 mm armor remained an insurmountable obstacle for the gun.
The advantage, and in some cases the disadvantage of the machine, was its open cabin. On the one hand, it helped the self-propelled gun crew to interact more closely with their infantry, especially in street battle conditions, and also provided best review on the battlefield. On the other hand, the crew of the self-propelled guns turned out to be vulnerable to enemy fire and could be hit by shrapnel. In general, the self-propelled guns had a minimum level of armor, which was bulletproof. However, the SU-76 was still very popular in units. Possessing the mobility of a light tank, the self-propelled gun had a much more serious weapon.
Not the most powerful weapons, thin armor, an open-top fighting compartment - all this, paradoxically, did not make the self-propelled gun unsuccessful. The SU-76 coped with its immediate task on the battlefield perfectly. It was used for fire support of infantry, acting as a light assault gun and anti-tank self-propelled gun. It was able to largely replace light tanks for direct infantry support. Almost 25 years after the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Marshal of the Soviet Union K.K. Rokossovsky noted: “Our soldiers especially loved the SU-76 self-propelled gun. These mobile, light vehicles managed to go everywhere in order to help out and support the infantry units with their fire and tracks, and the infantrymen, in turn, did everything to protect these vehicles.”
Anti-tank self-propelled guns SU-85 and SU-100
A special place among all Soviet self-propelled guns was occupied by the SU-85 and SU-100, which were created on the basis of the mass tank during the war - the T-34 medium tank. As you can easily guess, they differed primarily in the caliber of the gun and, accordingly, in their anti-tank capabilities. It is noteworthy that both self-propelled guns remained in service with various countries after the end of World War II.
The SU-85 was a medium-weight Soviet self-propelled artillery unit belonging to the class of tank destroyers. Its main task on the battlefield was to fight enemy armored vehicles. Fighting machine was developed at the UZTM Design Bureau (Ural Heavy Engineering Plant, Uralmash) in May-July 1943. Serial production of new anti-tank self-propelled guns began in July-August 1943. As the main tool for new self-propelled gun The 85-mm D-5S-85 gun was chosen, which had good anti-tank capabilities. In fact, it was the SU-85 that became the first Soviet self-propelled gun that could fight German tanks on equal terms. From a distance of more than a kilometer, the SU-85 crew could easily disable any enemy medium tank. Tiger frontal armor when used armor-piercing shells it was possible to penetrate from a distance of up to 500 meters; the use of sub-caliber ammunition made this task even easier.
Along with good firepower, the SU-85 was able to maintain the speed and maneuverability of its “progenitor” - the T-34 medium tank, and these good mobility characteristics more than once saved the crews of this anti-tank self-propelled gun in battle. And under enemy fire, the SU-85 self-propelled gun felt much more confident than the SU-76 with its open wheelhouse. In addition, its frontal armor, located at rational angles, was no longer bulletproof and could withstand a blow.
A total of 2,329 such vehicles were produced in 1943-1944. Despite the comparative small number, it was the SU-85 self-propelled gun, from 1943 until the end of hostilities in Europe, that was the basis Soviet units self-propelled artillery, armed with medium-weight vehicles. The SU-100, which replaced it, was able to appear in battle only in January 1945. Therefore, it was the SU-85 self-propelled guns and their crews who bore on their shoulders almost the entire brunt of the anti-tank and assault work of medium self-propelled artillery during the war.
With the advent of new species among the Germans armored vehicles, such as the heavy tank “Royal Tiger” and the self-propelled gun “Ferdinand”, the issue of increasing anti-tank capabilities has become acute Soviet self-propelled guns. The designers of Uralmash responded to the new challenge and in mid-1944 introduced best fighter tanks of the Second World War - self-propelled gun SU-100. The self-propelled gun used the base of the T-34-85 tank and went into mass production in August 1944. In total, during the period from 1944 to 1956, 4976 such self-propelled artillery units were produced, while in the USSR production was stopped in 1948, but continued under license in Czechoslovakia.
The main difference and main highlight of the self-propelled gun was its gun - the 100-mm D-10S gun, which could confidently fight even the heaviest and well-armored German tanks. It is no coincidence that the SU-100’s finest hour struck during the Balaton defensive operation, when the German large-scale tank offensive, code-named “Winter Awakening,” ended in huge losses of armored vehicles and actually became the cemetery of the Panzerwaffe. The self-propelled gun also had better armor. The thickness of its sloping frontal armor reached 75 mm. The self-propelled gun felt confident not only in the fight against enemy tanks, but also in urban battles. Often, one shot from a high-explosive shell from a 100-mm gun was enough to literally “blow away” a detected enemy firing point.
Unique and exceptional combat capabilities The SU-100 is confirmed by the fact that it was in service with the Soviet Army for several decades after the war, periodically being modernized. In addition, self-propelled guns were supplied to the allies of the Soviet Union and actively participated in post-war local conflicts, including in the Arab-Israeli wars. The self-propelled gun remained in service with the armies of some countries until the end of the 20th century, and in some countries such as Algeria, Morocco and Cuba they remained in service as of 2012.
Heavy self-propelled guns SU-152 and ISU-152
Heavy Soviet self-propelled artillery units SU-152 and ISU-152 also made a significant contribution to the victory. The effectiveness of these machines is best illustrated by their nicknames - “St. John's Wort” and “Can Opener”, which were given to these mighty twins by the troops. The SU-152 was created on the basis of the KV-1S heavy tank and was armed with a 152 mm ML-20S howitzer gun. The self-propelled gun was developed by designers of ChKZ (Chelyabinsk Kirov plant), construction of the first prototype was completed on January 24, 1943, and mass production of the vehicle began the following month. It is worth noting that only 670 of these self-propelled guns were assembled, since the KV-1S tank on the basis of which it was built was discontinued. In December 1943, this vehicle was replaced on the production line by the ISU-152, an equivalent in armament but better armored self-propelled gun based on the heavy IS tank.
The SU-152 self-propelled gun made its combat debut in the famous battle of Kursk, where it was immediately able to show itself as a worthy opponent of the new German tanks. The self-propelled gun's capabilities were enough to fight the new brood of German "cats". The use of the 152-mm howitzer-cannon ML-20S presupposed the use of all projectiles developed for it. But in reality, the vehicle crews made do with only two - high-explosive fragmentation and concrete-piercing shells. A direct hit by concrete-piercing shells on an enemy tank was enough to cause heavy damage and disable it. In some cases, shells simply broke through the armor of tanks, tore off the turret from the shoulder strap, and killed the crew. And sometimes a direct hit from a 152-mm shell led to the detonation of the ammunition, which turned enemy tanks into burning torches.
High explosive shells were also effective against German armored vehicles. Even without penetrating the armor, they damaged sights and observation devices, guns, and the chassis of the vehicle. Moreover, in order to disable an enemy tank, sometimes simply a close explosion of a high-explosive fragmentation shell was enough. The crew of Major Sankovsky, commander of one of the SU-152 batteries in the Battle of Kursk, disabled 10 enemy tanks in one day (according to other sources, this was the success of the entire battery), for which the major was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Of course, the SU-152 was not used as a tank destroyer out of a good life, but even in this capacity the self-propelled gun proved to be a wonderful machine. In general, the SU-152 was an excellent example of versatility. It could be used as an assault gun, tank destroyer and self-propelled howitzer. True, the use of the vehicle as a tank destroyer was complicated by the low rate of fire, but the effect of hitting the target could easily cancel out this drawback. The monstrous power of the 152-mm howitzer gun was indispensable in suppressing German bunkers and firing points. Even concrete wall or the ceilings withstood a shell hit, the people inside suffered serious concussions and their eardrums were torn.
The ISU-152 heavy self-propelled artillery mount replaced the SU-152; it was created by the design bureau of pilot plant No. 100 in June-October 1943 and was put into service on November 6 of the same year. The production of the new self-propelled guns was launched at ChKZ, where it simply replaced the SU-152. Production of self-propelled guns continued until 1946, during which time a total of 3,242 vehicles of this type were built. The self-propelled gun was widely used in the final stages of the war and, like its predecessor SU-152, could be used in all aspects of the use of self-propelled artillery. These vehicles were removed from service with the Soviet Army only in the 1970s, which also indicates their great combat potential.
The ISU-152 became an indispensable self-propelled gun during urban battles, literally leveling enemy buildings and firing points to the ground. She performed very well during the assaults on Budapest, Koenigsberg and Berlin. Good booking allowed the self-propelled guns to move into direct shot range and hit German firing points with direct fire. For conventional towed artillery this represented mortal danger due to massive machine gun and targeted sniper fire.
Information sources:
http://rg.ru/2015/04/24/samohodka-site.html
http://armor.kiev.ua
http://pro-tank.ru
http://www.opoccuu.com