SU-122 Self Propelled Gun:

Soviet SU-122 Self Propelled Gun

USSR SU-122 Self Propelled Gun

1/72 Diecast Armor
Forces of Valor
85041:

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. Used T-34 chassis. Box like superstructure was added. The gun was held in a cast mantlet with fabricated armor cover for the recoil system. First issued in January 1943. Used in platoons of 3 vehicles each. In late 1943 production was phased out in favor of SU-152. 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.

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

Samokhodnaya Ustanovka (self propelled mounting)	SU-122	SU-122 1943
Crew	Driver, gunner, commander, 2:loaders³ 5^1,3	4-5²
Physical Characteristics
Weight	69,440 lb 30.9 tons^1,3, 34 tons¹ 30,900 kg¹	30.9 tons²
Length w/gun	22' 8"¹, 23' 2" 6.95 m^1,3	6.95 m²
Length w/o gun		5.93 m²
Height	7' 8.5", 7' 5"¹ 2.32 m^1,3, 2.3 m¹	2.15 m²
Width	10', 9' 8"¹ 3 m^1,3	3m²
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-30³ 122 mm M-30S¹ , 122 mm Howitzer¹	122 mm 1938 M-30 S²
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Quantity
Main		40²
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	Front: 45³ Side: 45³
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
Cylinders
Net HP	500³
Transmission
Fuel type
Octane
Capacity	810 liters¹ 178 gallons¹	800 liters²
Performance
Traverse	10° each way³	20°
Max Speed	34 mph¹, 35 mph 55 kph^1,3	55 kph²
Cross Country
Road radius	188 miles, 186.4 miles¹ 300 km¹ Cross Country: 150 km¹ , 93 miles¹	600 km²
Turning Radius
Elevation Limits	-3° to +26°³
Fording depth		1.3 m²
Trench crossing		2.5 m²
Vertical Obstacle		0.73 m²
Suspension (Type)
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires
Track width
Track centers/tread
Production	1942: 25, 26¹ 1943: 630¹^,2 1944: 493^1,2

Sources:

Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002

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