SAU SU-122 – self-propelled artillery mount gauge 122 mm

19 October 1942 g. State Defense Committee adopted a resolution on the need for a self-propelled artillery. A little earlier, in summer 1942 city, artillery factory in Sverdlovsk developed a draft design of self-propelled. On the chassis of the tank T-34 was located 122-mm M-30 howitzer. In the development of this model was to gain valuable experience, based on it became possible to gather detailed tactical and technical requirements for self-propelled artillery.

SAU SU-122 – video

Tactical and technical requirements were attached to the decision of the State Defense Committee. Develop prototypes of self-propelled artillery was entrusted Uralmash and plant N 592 Commissariat weapons. Factories, who were tasked to develop SAU, We had to comply with a number of requirements: should have been provided for use without any upgrades a significant amount of units implements all of the receiver group recoil device, upper machine aiming and sighting devices mechanisms. Compliance with these conditions it was possible only in the case, if the installation tools would be made on a pedestal, attached to the bottom of the machine. The length of the weapon recoil, equal 1100 mm, at the same time should not be changed. According to the tactical and technical requirements, the development of self-propelled guns were to be saved all engine-transmission units of the T-34, and ACS mass does not exceed the weight of the tank.
At the end of October 1942 g. Uralmashplant organize a special design team. Managers and design team were. Gorlitskiy and Deputy People's Commissar for Tank Industry F. I. Kotin. Installing received factory index U-35.

After some time the index was changed to the SU-122 on special order GABTU Red Army. Designers must have been in a very short time, in one month, create a self-propelled artillery. anticipated, what 25 November 1942 g. begin state testing. After the completion of the detailed design took its consideration of the interdepartmental commission of representatives of GAC and NKTP.
Project, made Uralmashzavod, I had high specifications. The Commission recommended it to produce. It was necessary to reduce the time limit for making a prototype. In this connection, the drawings have developed not only designers, but also technologists. Since the task was carried out in record time, Not all tooling was ready. Therefore, when creating the prototype had in place to adjust some details.
30 November 1942 g. prototype was ready. On the same day he held production tests. ACS made a run on the 50 km and carried out shooting 20 shots. As a result of the tests made some corrections to the machine. were also taken into account the technological shortcomings with the intention to correct them when developing experimental series of drawings.

In the beginning of December 1942 g. on Gorokhovetsky range were tested two prototypes of self-propelled guns SU-122. Manufacturer of the sample was Uralmashplant, another - factory number 592. The purpose of the test was to determine the tactical and technical performance of self-propelled artillery. In the study of the characteristics of a state commission submitted samples agreed on the need to eliminate a number of shortcomings. Serious shortcomings were attributed tightness in the fighting compartment. Despite numerous improvements, State Commission recommended the adoption of ACS by the Red Army.
2 December 1942 g. It issued a decree of the State Defense Committee of the mass production of the SU-122 Uralmashplant. anticipated, that the first 125 installations will be made according to the drawings of the prototype, and since February 1943 g. They were to be made with the installation of deficiencies, identified during the test. But much earlier, December 1942 city, factory developed drawings, eliminating the shortcomings in the construction of self-propelled artillery. According to the new drawings of the serial production plants.
corrective changes included installation straightened) frontal sheet cutting. This made it possible to cope with overcrowding in the fighting compartment, which significantly improved the conditions for the crew. Besides, cracks were eliminated in the armor protection, improve the layout of the working crew seats, replaced by a commander's cupola on the PTC device, increased fuel capacity, etc..

In late December 1942 g. We have tested one of the machines. Self-propelled artillery unit has carried out a run on 50 km and shooting in 40 shots. During the test were not found in any design flaws. Party self-propelled units have adopted. December 1942 g. They formed the first self-propelled artillery regiments - 1433rd and 1434th th. At this time it began an operation to break the siege of Leningrad, so SAU shelves in late January 1943 g. They were sent to the front Volkhovsky. 14 February 1943 g. shelves ACS took the first battle. 5-6 days of combat self-propelled guns destroyed 47 enemy bunker, crushed 6 mortar batteries. several stores were burned and destroyed ammunition 14 anti-tank guns.
As a result of the fighting has been developed tactics of the self-propelled artillery. This tactic held throughout the Great Patriotic War. Self-propelled artillery moved the tanks at a distance. After joining ACS in the torn enemy tanks defense line held the destruction of the remaining points where the enemy. In this way, self-propelled artillery units released path for the infantry.

Design ACS CS-122 has the following features: It was not modified engine-transmission group and the code of the T-34 tank, the crew compartment is located in front of the unit, it was completely Reserved. ACS had less weight, than the T-34, and was 29,6 t. traveling speed, and maneuverability self-propelled artillery SU-122 were similar to those of T-34. In front of the hull bottom was a special cabinet. The pedestals nest was placed upper pin 12 from the machine-mm field howitzer M-30 Sample 1938 g. Swinging part howitzers was trunnion machine. Trunk, cradle, recoil device, aim, guidance mechanisms have not been changed. Swinging part howitzers was armored, This led to an increase of the spring balancing mechanism. Notably, that the dimensions of the spring mechanism has not been changed.
Ammunition consisted of ACS 40 shots, predominantly high-explosive. Sometimes when you need to fight with enemy tanks at ranges of up to 1000 m used cumulative mass projectiles 13,4 kg. Such missiles could penetrate armor up 120 mm. Self crew achieved those, that the plant was equipped with two submachine guns with PCA 20 cartridges and discs 20 hand grenades F-1. At the disposal of the commander of a tank car was periscope surveillance device PTK-5. He made it possible to carry out a circular observation of the terrain. Besides, the commander was radio ERM.

A panoramic sight with a semi-independent line of sight made it possible to carry out direct fire or fire indirect fire. The armored visor body side holes were, through which it was possible to survey the area. These openings are closed by hinged lids if necessary. Crew ACS was large enough and was 5 human. The tank had a 122mm howitzer, which was equipped with interrupted screw, separate charged and spaced on both sides pointing guns mechanism. On the left side of the screw handwheel located pivoting mechanism. On the right side there was a sector of the lifting mechanism of the flywheel. At gun angle was horizontal guidance 20′, on each side had at 10 degrees. Vertical angle ranged from +25 to -3 degrees. More 70% self-propelled artillery pieces SU-122 was borrowed from secretly T34. The remaining parts specially designed for ACS CS-122. Since December 1942 g. in August 1942 g. Uralmashplant continued production of the SU-122. All were released 638 self-propelled artillery.
Simultaneously with the work on self-propelled guns were carried out work on its modernization. The aim is the improvement of ACS. As a result, it was concluded, it is best to position the howitzer in the wheelhouse SAU is not on a pedestal, and a mask. Accession instruments to the front hull resulted in, that the volume of the crew compartment significantly increased. It was more comfortable for the crew. Designers came to the conclusion, that it would be appropriate to reduce the length of the gun with recoil 1100 to 600 mm. This entailed significant system compactness.

It was necessary to create a fundamentally new tool, which would be ideally suited for ACS. factory number 9 I started the development and production of a gun. In mid-spring 1943 g. prototype self-propelled guns SU-122M was created, which was a new gun D-11. If compare the SU-122 and SU-122M, that the latter had a number of advantages. D-11 howitzer with cradles inserted into the frame, which rotates in journals. Frame krepylas Only for frontal sheet, It was not associated with side and bottom. Howitzer was samouravnoveshena in journals and set back. This made it possible to improve the working conditions of the front track roller chassis. In order to direct fire to be effective, SAU was equipped with a telescopic sight. Increased the size of the crew compartment, because the wall expanded to the dimensions of the caterpillars, also body height has been increased by 50 mm.
In June 1943 g. The state tests SU-122M. As a result, it became apparent, it is necessary to make some changes in design. In general, the state commission considered installing fresh for the adoption by the Red Army. When developing a new prototype self-propelled guns SU-122-III all the comments of the State Commission were taken into account. ACS was equipped with 122 mm howitzer D-6, manufactured at the plant number 9. At the beginning of August 1943 g. prototype SU-122-III together with three SAU, in which the 85 mm gun installed, tested. As a result, we found serious flaws, therefore, SU-122-III was removed from Test. From April 1943 g. They began to form self-propelled artillery regiments with the same type of machines. Each regiment had at its disposal a number of machines SU-122. These machines before the start of 1944 g. We used to accompany tanks and infantry. However, the use seriously complicated ACS low muzzle velocity, which was 515 m / s. That is why the new self-propelled guns SU-85 appeared to be more effective, What SU-122.

Tactic-technical characteristics SAU SU-122

Photo SU-122

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