SU-152
| SU-152 | |
|---|---|
German soldiers examine a SU-152, 1943 |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 5 men |
| length | 8.95 m |
| width | 3.30 m |
| height | 2.45 m |
| Dimensions | 45.5 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | Rolled armor steel:
|
| Main armament | 152.4mm Howitzer ML-20S |
| Secondary armament | 12.7 mm machine gun DSchK (was often supplemented by the crew) |
| agility | |
| drive |
Twelve cylinders - diesel engine ( V-engine type W-2 K ) 600 PS |
| suspension | Torsion bar suspension |
| Top speed | 35 km / h (road) |
| Power / weight | |
The SU-152 ( Russian СУ-152 ) were Soviet self-propelled guns with a howitzer of the caliber 152.4 mm as a primary weapon . The Red Army used the heavy armored tracked vehicles in the German-Soviet War from 1943. The abbreviation SU means " S amochodnaja U stanowka" (self-propelled gun). The original project name was week 14 .
development
With the beginning of 1943, the Soviet troops were increasingly confronted with heavy German tanks that they could only destroy with great difficulty. Therefore, a vehicle should be available as quickly as possible, which should be able to support the infantry and destroy heavy German tanks and bunker systems . The Soviet designers quickly decided on the 152-mm M1937 cannon howitzer (ML-20S) . A large, heavy vehicle was required to accommodate this weapon and ammunition. The chassis of the KW-1 was suitable for this, whereby a heavy tower like the KW-2 was dispensed with. A box-shaped structure for the howitzer was designed based on the model of the German assault guns . The armor was beveled all around, which often ricocheted off direct hits and offered additional protection.
Machine guns were not installed at all. This turned out to be a serious mistake during the first use of the new self-propelled guns, as an SU-152 could not defend itself in close combat against attacking infantry. The problem was solved, not in all vehicles, by installing a 12.7 mm DSchK machine gun on the top of the hull. However, the machine gun crew was exposed to enemy fire without protection. The rate of fire of the 152 mm cannon howitzer was very low due to the heavy ammunition, divided into grenades and propellant charge , at around two rounds per minute, but the firepower was considerable. The tank shells weighing around 49 kg were also able to penetrate the front armor of the German Tiger tanks . A total of 20 rounds of ammunition could be carried.
On February 14, 1943, production of the KW-14 was approved. On March 1, 1943, the Chelyabinsk Kirov factory began series production under the new name SU-152 .
commitment
The first regiments with SU-152 were set up in May 1943. They were successfully used against the new German heavy tanks at the Battle of the Kursk Arch . From the turn of 1943/44, the SU-152 was gradually replaced or supplemented by the newer ISU-152 based on the chassis of the IS series . A total of 704 SU-152s were built. This type remained in service until the end of the war.
literature
- Alexander Lüdeke : Type compass tanks of the Allies: 1939–1945. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, ISBN 978-3-613-03108-1 .
See also
Web links
- Tank archive
- SU-152 Heavy Assault Gun ( Memento from January 1, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (English)