SU-101 and SU-102 self-propelled guns
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In the fall of 1944 UZTM (Ural Heavy Machinery Plant) began the production of a new medium SAU (self propelled artillery unit) the SU-100, armed with the powerful 100mm D-10 gun. For its class the machine possessed good maneuverability, and was all the better for having a frontal protection of 75 mm of sloped armour (in comparison the heavy assault SAU SU-152 was also protected by 75 mm of frontal armor).
Nevertheless, Soviet self propelled guns had a number of essential deficiencies, characteristic of any self-propelled gun with a forward fighting compartment arrangement. The adoption of ever longer barrelled guns increased the overall dimension of the SAU lengthwise. The result of mounting a long overhanging gun low in the hull ( to reduce its silhouette) was hampered maneuvering in narrow passages and limited mobility over undulating ground (the muzzle being driven into the ground) and wooded country. Furthermore, the centre of gravity in such SAU was displaced forward, leading to an overloading of the forward road wheels, often leading to a breakdown of the chassis. In transit, it was also found to be impossible to satisfactory fasten the ordnance out of battery for travel.
At the same time, further increases in the armour protection of German tanks and assault guns required an adequate increase in the combat capabilities of Soviet tanks and SAU, which entailed the adoption of ever longer barrelled ordnance of greater power. To design such a SAU, based on the chassis of the T-34 tank became practically impossible. A new chassis with a more rational arrangement of major units and subassemblies was necessary.
UZTM's solution of this problem began in the summer of 1944, done in parallel with the creation of the Su-100. Before the end of the year designer N.V.Kurin had developed a number of preliminary designs of new SAU using the chassis of all Soviet tanks existing at that time, both with a change in layout and without.
In October 1944 plant presented to the technical review board of the NKTP (Commissariat of Heavy Industry) for examination five projects:
- SU-122P: armed with the 122 mm D-25S gun, at that time with a prototype prepared and having successfully passed manufacturing tests.
- ESU-100, armed with the 100 mm D-10S gun, with a rear fighting compartment and electro-transmission.
- SU-M, armed with the 100 mm D-10S gun, based on the chassis of the T-34 tank, with a rear fighting compartment and with the engine moved to the front.
- SU-M, armed with the 100 mm D-10S gun, on the chassis of the T-44 tank, with a rear fighting compartment.
- SU-44, armed with the 122 mm D-25-44S gun, with the use of subassemblies and chassis of the T-44 tank, and a forward fighting compartment.
The technical review board recognized the Su-m and Su-44 as the best of the projects;and by order of directive №625 to the tank industry, dated October 26, 1944 to the plant of UZTM, it was proposed to finalise the design, to distribute drawings and prepare prototypes of the SU-M and SU-44.
In December 1944, during the course of further development work on the Su-44 it was found that the weight and overall size of the machine was too great, basically because of the five-meter barrel of the D-25S gun. At the same time the SU-M with the rear fighting compartment was found to be compact, its length shortened and its weight consistent with the chassis of tanks in the medium class, while armour was considerably strengthened. Based on these results, the solution accepted was to continue work only on the SU-M, and all work on the Su-44 was terminated by NKTP order №107, dated March 7, 1945. By the same order the design obtained the designation “Uralmash-1” (Ural Heavy Machinery Plant im. Sergo Ordzhonikidze) and was assigned a date for the production of the first prototype, May 1 1945.
It is here interesting to note that the project of SAU “Uralmash-1” (Ural Heavy Machinery Plant im. Sergo Ordzhonikidze) was developed by the design bureau of the plant of UZTM (Ural Heavy Machinery Plant) under the management Of l.Gorlitskogo still in August 1943, but it was not approved BY NKTP and was “frozen”.
n the development of design documentation SAU participated the designers Of a.M.Lekhttsind, I.I.Emmanuilov, A.G.Gayvoronskiy, G.F.Ksyunin, I.F.Vakhrushev, L.A.Pinus, E.A.Karlinskiy, E.I.Linkova, D.A.Geriev, V.L.Likhomanov, N.N.Efimov, A.D.Nekhlyudov and others; the general leadership exercised chief designer L.I.Gorlitskiy.
The production of two prototypes was conducted during March-April, moreover on one of them, that received index Su-101, was established by 100- mm gun D -10s, on other, under the index Su-102 was established 122-mm gun D -25s. Up to the moment of the end of World War II were prepared both prototypes and one additional empty armored housing for the determination with the firing of its bronestoykosti.
SAU “Uralmash (Ural Heavy Machinery Plant im. Sergo Ordzhonikidze) -1” were the machines, which relate to the type of the closed self-propelled units with the rear arrangement of conning tower and front MTO. In the documents of those years frequently is encountered the description “according to the type of Ferdinand”.
The housing SAU was welded from the rolled armor sheets, by which were given the rational slope angles. The thickness of the frontal sheet of housing was equal to 90 mm with the angle of the slope of 27°, the thickness of the frontal sheet of felling - 122 mm with the angle of the slope of 35°. Onboard sheets had a thickness of 75 mm, stern sheet - 40 mm. In this case the stern sheet of housing and felling was carried out by general. To the right in it the rectangular entrance port, which was being shut by armor door, was found. On the roof of felling was placed round hatchway with the revolving cover, into which was montirovan the inspection instrument of commander.
Gun D -10s was established in the frontal sheet of housing in the cast armor mask. Its stem spoke in favor of the overall sizes of the housing only on 630 mm. Angle of elevation composed - 18°, declination - 2°, the angle of horizontal guidance - 22,5°. The height to bore of gun - is 1760 mm. Into fire unit entered 35 unitary shots. On the machine were established the sighting telescope TSH-19 and panorama. To the ring of the base of the cover of the hatch of commander was fastened with 12,7- mm the AA machine gun DSHK with the fire unit of 450 cartridges.
Engine V -2-44 was located along the axis of machine in the forward section of the housing to the right. To the left of the engine driver was placed. The aggregates of power transfer were borrowed from the tank T -34 with some changes.
Suspension SAU is completely borrowed from the tank T -44 - individual, torsion, and catepillar propeller was borrowed from the tank T -34. With the overall mass of 34,1 tons the machine developed speed to 54 km/h. Crew consisted of four people.
For the external connection SAU it was equipped with radio station 9- RS, for the internal - TPU-3bisF, by light signaling and tankofonom for the two-way communication of commander with the driver.
Su-102 it was characterized by from Su-101 only basic armament: on it was established 122-mm gun D -25s. Angle of elevation was equal - 18,5°, declination - 0°24', the horizontal sector of guidance - 19°. It is remarkable, that with the apparent small dimensions of the fighting compartment, the fire unit SAU composed 28 shots of unitary loading (in contrast to the gun D -25s with the separate-case ammunition loading). The mass of machine grew it was insignificantly and 34,8 tons.
During the years- autumn of 1945 were passed the plant tests both SAU finalizing their construction. It was necessary to change and to finish a number of mechanisms and devices, in particular the aggregates of ventilation and engine cooling - the temperature in the departments of control and combat was very high - was altered complete administration of machine, was moved into the more convenient zone the place of driver and so on. As a result the intensive work of designers and fitters both experiment machines were brought to the readiness for the range tests.
Self-propelled units “Uralmash (Ural Heavy Machinery Plant im. Sergo Ordzhonikidze) -1” had a number of advantages in comparison with previously created domestic SAU. New layout made it possible to make a machine of of more compact, increased the possibility of maneuver in the limited passages and in the broken ground. Crew now could if necessary leave the machine through the stern hatchway under the cover of housing. Powerful armoring also became the result of denser layout. The general estimation of the construction of housing after the range tests by firing was very high: the housing of SAU “Uralmash (Ural Heavy Machinery Plant im. Sergo Ordzhonikidze) -1” proved to be on bronestoykosti higher than the housing of all other domestic tanks and SAU, including IS -2 and ISU-152! Uniform was load distribution on the road wheels of undercarriage, which noticeably decreased its wear. The arrangement of the fighting compartment from behind made it possible to if necessary arm SAU even by long-barrelleder instrument.
At the same time, were noted deficiencies in the new self-propelled guns. First, it was impossible to remove the smallness of the fighting compartment, in it became less vacant place, than in Su-100; in spite of all improvements in the cooling system of engine, condition of the work of driver because of the high temperature in the department of control were very complex, and in the hot time - not borne. Was noted strong action on the roof of the housing of shock wave with the shot, especially in Su-102.
Both SAU successfully underwent all tests and according to their results they were rekomendovany for the adoption for the armament. But, nevertheless, for the armament they were not taken: apparently, these, and also other reasons (end of war, a reduction in the number of army, the presence in the troops of a large quantity of recently released self-propelled guns, adoption for the armament of the tank T -54, equipped with 100- mm by gun) impelled to end the works on SAU “Uralmash (Ural Heavy Machinery Plant im. Sergo Ordzhonikidze) -1”.
Today self-propelled artillery unit Su-101 is located in the exposure of the military history museum of armored armament and technology (VIM BTVT) in Moscow Kubinke.
[edit] See also
- Elefant a similarly configured Panzerjäger of the Wehrmacht.
[edit] External links
| Soviet armoured fighting vehicles of World War II | |
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Experimental and Improvised AFVs
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| List of armoured fighting vehicles of World War II | |
| Soviet armored fighting vehicle production during World War II | |
