ASU-85
| ASU-85 | |
|---|---|
Polish ASU-85 (1971) |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader) |
| length | 8.44 m (with cannon); 6.24 m above the tub |
| width | 2.97 m |
| height | 1.94 m |
| Dimensions | 15.5-17.0 tons (combat weight) |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | Bow 40-60 mm; Pages 13-40 mm |
| Main armament | 1 × 85mm D-70 cannon (2S15) |
| Secondary armament | 1 × 7.62 mm SGMT - machine gun (coaxial), and
1 × 12.7 mm DShKM anti-aircraft machine gun (after increased combat value) |
| agility | |
| drive | 6-cylinder V-two-stroke diesel engine JaMZ-296W (water-cooled) 210/240 PS (155/177 kW) |
| suspension | Torsion bar |
| Top speed | 45 km / h (road) |
| Power / weight | 14 hp / ton |
| Range | 260 km |
The ASU-85 ( A wiadessantnaja S amochodnaja U stanowka ; Russian АСУ-85 Авиадесантная самоходная установка , in German: Luftlande-Selbstfahrgeschütz 85) is a Soviet airborne self-propelled gun .
history
By resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on September 15, 1953, the Special Design Office 40 (OKB-40) in Plant No. 40 was commissioned to develop a light self-propelled gun for anti-tank defense . It should be used in the motorized rifle and armored units, as well as with the airborne troops . The SFL carried the designation SU-85 "Object 573", with which it was added to the armament of the Soviet Army on July 6, 1958. Later the designation ASU-85 was used for better differentiation in articles and books, although all official documents were / are called SU-85. The series production ran from 1956 to 1964 (according to other information also until 1966).
The successors of the ASU-85 are the armored personnel carrier models of the BMD series , which were specially developed for the airborne troops .
technology
According to the requirements, the designers used aggregates and assemblies of the light floating tank PT-76 (chassis, engine, etc.) The hull was a completely new design with rationally inclined armor plates. The thickness of the armor provided sufficient protection against small and medium-caliber projectiles. The turretless construction was armed with the 85-mm cannon D-70 (2A15) and an axially parallel 7.62-mm SGMT MG. The crew consisted of the commander, driver, gunner and loader.
With its six-cylinder two-stroke diesel engine JaMZ -296W with an output of 210 PS (177 kW), the vehicle reached a top speed of 45 km / h and, with the additional tanks at the rear, had a driving range of 360 kilometers. It was equipped with infrared night vision equipment (easily recognized by the searchlight that was mounted above the cannon) and an R113 radio.
Although the design of the ASU-85 was designed for use in the airborne troops, it could only be transported with aircraft Antonov An-12 and helicopters Mi-6 . With a weight of 15.5 tons, it was initially not possible to set it down using a parachute system. It was not until 2006 that an article published pictures showing the ASU-85 on the P 16M airborne platform with a multi-coupling system (presumably MKS-1400). The P-16 platform was designed for loads up to 21 tons. Even so, landing by plane or helicopter remained the main method.
The Soviet airborne divisions each had an SPG division with 31 ASU-85s. The ASU-85 was also used by the Polish Airborne Forces and the Egyptian Army. Despite the low armor, the ASU-85 with its powerful cannon and its mobility had a high combat value among airborne units. It was not until 1993 that the last ASU-85s were removed from the armament.
variants
A total of four modifications are known:
- SU-85 Object 573 (ASU-85): open at the top, stern tilted forward
- SU-85 Object 573 (ASU-85): closed at the top with four hatches, stern tilted forward
- SU-85 Object 573 (ASU-85): closed at the top with four hatches, stern tilted backwards
- ASU-85M Object 573 : modernized variant with Fla-MG DSchKM
Users
In almost all user states, the vehicle was taken out of service while the respective armed forces were still in existence.
Current users
Since 1979, ASU-85 were also in the army of the VR Vietnam. In 2015, vehicles (ASU-85M) were reactivated from long-term storage and in May 2015 the 168th Artillery Brigade carried out a trial shooting. In 2019, the armed forces considered a modernization.
Previous users
Used by the 35th Mechanized Artillery Squadron (pol. 35. Dywizjon Artylerii Samobieżnej) . All units were retired by 1976 and the unit dissolved.
Web links
- Detailed information about the ASU-85 (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Vietnam upgrades Soviet-made weapon systems. In: armyrecognition.com/. September 19, 2019, accessed April 30, 2020 .