SU-76 Samokhodnaya Ustanovka4 (self propelled mounting):
With the First Byelorussian Front, in eastern Germany, in February, 1945.
In June 1941 there were no self propelled gun in the Russian army. The Red Army became impressed with all the ones the German Army was using. It was October 1942 when the Defense Ministry decided to produce their own self propelled gun. Was configured on the T-706 chassis that was widened and added another suspension unit. The engine, fuel tanks, and driving positions were changed and moved to the right front. Some had rear doors and other open backs. Some had the radiators on the track covers and others in the engine compartment.
Early models had an engine placed on each side of the vehicle. Late models had 2 GAZ 203 air cooled gasoline engines. At first was used as a tank destroyer but was later used as an assault gun.
Was nicknamed "Suka" (bitch) by the crews. Fired HE, APHE, HVAP, and HEAT rounds. Models weren't reliable. The gun could fire a 14.3 lb AP round at a muzzle velocity of 2,172'/sec.6 The HE round had a range of 12,580 yards.6
It was used in self-propelled gun regiments in mechanized and armored corps. As of April 1943 there were self-propelled gun regiments that had 4 or 5 batteries, which contained 5 SU-76s each. In 1944 several rifle and guard rifle divisions received their own units.
SU-76M:
Was designed by the design bureau of N. A. Astrov. Used T-70M chassis. The engines were placed back together in a row. Production started in May 1943.
| SU-76 | SU-76 1943 | SU-76 1944 | SU-76M | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 41,4,6 | 42 | 41,3 | |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 22,491 lb, 23,810 lb4 10,800 kg4 11.2 tons5, 12.3 tons6 |
11.2 tons2 | 11,200 kg1, 11.02 tons1 | 10,200 kg3, 10 tons1,3 |
| Length w/gun | 16' 0.1"4, 16.2'6, 16' 8.5" 4.88 m4, 5 m5 |
5 m1, 16' 5"1 | 16' 5"3, 5 m1,3 | |
| Length w/o gun | ||||
| Height | 7', 7.1'6, 7' 1.4"4 2.17 m4, 2.2 m5 |
2.2 m2 | 2.2 m1, 7' 3"1 | 6' 11"3, 2.1 m1,3 |
| Width | 8.9'6, 8' 11.5"4, 9' 1.75" |
2.74 m2 | 2.74 m1, 9'1 | 8' 10"3, 2.7 m1 |
| Width over tracks | ||||
| Ground clearance | 12.5"6 | 0.3 m2 | ||
| Ground contact length | 130"6 | |||
| Ground pressure | 8.1 psi6 0.57 kp/(cm2)2 |
|||
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 76.2 mm ZiS-3 M1942-431 76.2 mm4 76 mm ZIS-3Sh5 76.2 mm Model 42/43, L/41.56 |
76 mm ZIS-3 M19422 | 76.2 mm ZiS-3 L/413 | |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 7.62 mm MG4 |
|||
| Side arms | 7.62 mm PPSch-41 machine pistol2 | |||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 626 | 601,2 | 601,2 | |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | ||||
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 10-353 Front: 1"@50°6, 355 Side: 165 |
|||
| Hull Front, Upper | 352 | 351 | ||
| Hull Front, Lower | 26-352 | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 152 | 161 | ||
| Hull Sides, Lower | 10-162 | |||
| Hull Rear | 10-162 | 161 | ||
| Hull Top | 102 | 0-101 | ||
| Hull Bottom | 102 | 101 | ||
| Superstructure Front | 0.4" - 0.6"6 | |||
| Superstructure Sides | ||||
| Superstructure Rear | ||||
| Superstructure Top | ||||
| Engine (Make / Model) | 2: GAZ4 2: GAZ 2031,2,3 |
|||
| Bore / stroke | ||||
| Cooling | Water6 | |||
| Cylinders | 2x66 | |||
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 704 each6 1405 |
|||
| Power to weight ratio | ||||
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Transmission (Type) | Constant mesh6 4 forward, 1 reverse6 |
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| Steering | Clutch brake6 | |||
| Steering ratio | ||||
| Starter | Electric6 | |||
| Electrical system | ||||
| Ignition | ||||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline4,6 | |||
| Octane | ||||
| Quantity | 116 gallons6 | 400-420 liters2 | 420 liters1, 92 gallons1 | |
| Road consumption | 2.4 mpg6 | |||
| Cross country consumption | 1.6 mpg6 | |||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 32°6 | |||
| Max speed | 28 mph4,6 44 kph5, 45 kph4 |
45 kph2 | 44 kph1, 27 mph1 | 28 mph3, 45 kph3 |
| Cross country speed | ||||
| Road radius | 199 miles, 280 miles4,6 450 km4 |
250 km2 | 265 km1, 165 miles1 | 320 km1,3, 199 miles1,3 |
| Cross country radius | 185 miles6 | 190 km1 118 miles1 |
||
| Turning radius | ||||
| Elevation limits | -3° to +25°6 | |||
| Fording depth | 2' 11"4,6 0.89 m4 |
0.9 m2 | ||
| Trench crossing | 6.5'6 | 1.6-2 m2 | ||
| Vertical obstacle | 26"6 | 0.65 m2 | ||
| Climbing ability | 25° (47%) slope6 | |||
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar6 | |||
| Wheels each side | 66 | |||
| Return rollers each side | 36 | |||
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin6 | |||
| Length | ||||
| Width | 11.75"6 | |||
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | 896 | |||
| Pitch | 4.5"6 | |||
| Tire tread | ||||
| Track centers/tread | 7.9'6 | |||
| Production | 1942-: 12,600 1942: 261,2 1943: 1,9281,2 1944: 7,1551,2 1945: 3,5621, 3,5522 |
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
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
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