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Soviet Union's SU-122 (Samochodnaya Ustanovka)¹ self propelled gun

SU-122 self propelled gun:	SU-122 self propelled gun:	SU-122 self propelled gun:	SU-122 self propelled gun:
SU-122 self propelled gun:	SU-122 self propelled gun:	SU-122 self propelled gun:

1/72 Diecast Armor
Forces of Valor
85041:

Design

In the summer of 1942, S.J. Kotin and other designers, were given the task to develop a medium self-propelled gun initially called the SU-35.²
The Central Artillery Directorate (GAU) in April 1942 gave instructions to several design teams to work on a self propelled vehicle that could carry the 122 mm gun.¹

Crew

The five man crew were able to work inside the roomy (compaired to tanks with turrets) superstructure.¹

Armament

The gun was held in a cast mantlet with fabricated armor cover for the recoil system. Excelled at attacking strong points but was weak on antitank performance. HEAT ammunition was developed but is was only effective at short ranges and still wasn't capable of piercing much armor.

Late models had similar ball mantlet as the SU-85.²

Prototype

UZTM Team

The Uralsky Heavy Machine Tool Factory (UZTM) designated its design as the U-35.¹ They used a T-34 chassis to build a box like superstructure onto.^1,2 The superstructure had a 122 mm M-30 gun installed.¹ The frontal armor was 1.77" / 45 mm thick.¹

Zavod Nr 592 Team

The Zavod team designated its design as the SG-122.¹ This used a German PzKpfw III chassis with a new hull.¹ It posed great difficulties with mainenance of a foreign made chassis without spare parts being available.¹

Production

First issued in January 1943. In late 1943 production was phased out in favor of SU-152.

• SU-122: 1,148²
  • Production: December 1942 - 1944¹
    • 1942: 25², 26¹
    • 1943: 630^1,2
    • 1944: 493^1,2

Variants

• SU-122:
• SU-122M: Prototype.¹
• SU-122P: Prototype.^1,2 Self propelled gun with a 122 mm 1931/37 corps cannon.² Was to be a tank destroyer.¹
• SU-122-3: Prototype.¹

Usage

Used in platoons of 3 vehicles each.

In the spring of 1943 self propelled gun regiments were formed with 17 SU-76s and 8 SU-122s.² In April they had 4 or 5 batteries of 5 guns each of the same type.² They were to support the infantry and defend against tank attacks.²

Samokhodnaya Ustanovka (self propelled mounting)	SU-122	SU-122 Model 19431
Crew	Driver, gunner, commander, 2: loaders1 51	4 - 52, 51
Physical Characteristics
Weight	69,440 lb 30 tons1, 30.9 tons1, 34 tons1 30,900 kg1	30.9 tons2, 34 tons1 30,900 kg1
Length w/gun	22' 8"1, 23' 2" 6.95 m1	22' 8"1 6.95 m1,2
Length w/o gun		5.93 m2
Height	7' 5"1, 7' 8.5" 2.32 m1, 2.3 m1	7' 5"1 2.15 m2, 2.3 m1
Width	9' 8"1, 10' 3 m1	9' 8"1 3 m1,2
Ground clearance		0.4 m2
Ground contact length
Ground pressure		0.68 kp/cm2 2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	122 mm M38 howitzer, 122 mm M-30S1 , 122 mm Howitzer1	122 mm howitzer1 122 mm 1938 M-30 S2
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Quantity
Main		402
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)		1.77"1 451
Hull Front, Upper	451	452
Hull Front, Lower		452
Hull Sides, Upper	451	452
Hull Sides, Lower		452
Hull Rear	451	452
Hull Top	201	202
Hull Bottom	201	102
Turret Front
Turret Sides
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	W-2, V-21	W-2/342
Bore / stroke		4 stroke2
Cylinders		V-122
Net HP		500@1,800 rpm2
Transmission
Power to weight		16.2 hp/ton2
Fuel type		Diesel2
Octane
Capacity	810 liters1 178 gallons1	800 liters2
Performance
Traverse	10° each way3	-3° to +25°2, 20°
Max Speed	34 mph1, 35 mph 55 kph1	34 mph1 55 kph1,2
Cross Country
Road radius	186 miles1, 186.4 miles1 300 km1	186.4 miles1 300 km1, 600 km2
Cross country radius	93 miles1 150 km1
Turning Radius
Elevation Limits
Fording depth		1.3 m2
Trench crossing		2.5 m2
Vertical Obstacle		0.73 m2
Climbing ability		30 - 33°2
Suspension (Type)
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires
Track width
Track centers/tread

Sources:

1. Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
2. Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
3. Removed

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