SU-5 self-propelled artillery mount
The need to create and develop self-propelled artillery was determined by the views of Soviet military science in the 1930s. Their essence boiled down to the fact that in order to conduct successful military operations tank and mechanized formations of the Red Army may require increased firepower. Since towed artillery is significantly inferior in mobility to tanks, self-propelled artillery was supposed to strengthen the firepower of the units. In accordance with these views, the USSR began to create small, light and heavy self-propelled guns. Self-propelled guns, designated SU-5, were part of the so-called “small triplex”. Partial reservation self-propelled guns, created on the basis of the T-26 light tank and representing a universal self-propelled gun mount, on the basis of which 3 guns could be placed, were called this term: SU-5-1 - 76-mm divisional gun mod. 1902/30, SU-5-2 - 122-mm howitzer arr. 1910/30 g, SU-5-3 - 152 mm division mortar mod. 1931
According to the theory prevalent at the time, the availability of this triplex could fully cover the entire existing range of army tasks at the divisional level. For the development of all three systems, the design bureau of the plant experienced engineering Kirov (plant number XXUMX) under the leadership of P. N. Syachentov and S. A. Ginzburg. V. Moskvin was appointed responsible designer of this project.
Design features
The light tank T-26 arr. 1933, the production of which was established in Leningrad. Due to the fact that the existing tank layout was completely unsuitable for self-propelled guns, the T-26 case was significantly redesigned.
Department of management, together with the controls of the ACS, the driver's seat, as well as the elements of the transmission remained in place in the nose of the car. But the engine compartment had to be moved to the center of the case, separating it from the remaining compartments of the self-propelled gun with armored partitions. The engine compartment was fitted with a standard petrol engine from a T-26 tank with an 90 horsepower, main friction clutch, shortened drive shaft, radiator, fan, oil and fuel tanks, which were separated by hermetic enclosures. The engine compartment of the SAU SU-5 was connected with a special pocket to the side openings, which served to emit the cooling air. On the roof of the engine compartment were 2 hatch for access to the spark plug, carburetor, valves and oil filter, as well as openings with armored blinds, which served to enter the cooling air.
The fighting compartment was in the stern of the car. Here, behind the 15-mm broneschit was located the armament of the ACS and the place to calculate (4 person). For damping recoil during fire, a special coulter, located in the rear of the machine, was lowered to the ground. In addition, additional side stops could be used.
Chassis has not changed in comparison with the serial tank T-26. Applied to each of the sides, it consisted of the following components: on 8 track rollers, which were assembled in 4 carts (first and second / third and fourth carts had a common suspension with damping on leaf springs), 4 supporting rollers. The directing wheel back, leading forward.
All three ACSs had a single chassis and differed mainly in the weapons used:
1. The main armament of ACS SU-5-1 was the 76,2-mm divisional gun mod. 1902 / 30 (barrel length 30 caliber). The initial velocity of the projectile - 338 m / s. Vertical tool pointing angles ranged from -5 to + 60 degrees, horizontal - in the 30 sector of degrees, without turning the installation body. When firing, the calculation used a telescopic sight and a panorama of Hertz. The maximum firing range was 8 760 meters at an elevation angle of the 40 gun degrees. The gun's rate of fire was 12 shots per minute. Shooting was carried out from a place without the use of openers when the loader was lowered. A self-propelled ammunition ammunition consisted of 8 shots.
2. The main armament of ACS SU-5-2 was 122-mm howitzer obr.1910 / 30. (barrel length 12,8 caliber), which differed in the modified design of the cradle. The initial velocity of the projectile was equal to 335,3 m / s. Vertical guidance angles ranged from 0 to + 60 degrees, horizontally - 30 degrees without rotating the installation body. When firing, the calculation used a telescopic sight and a panorama of Hertz. The maximum firing range was 7 680 m. The use of a piston valve provided a decent rate of fire at the level of 5-6 shots per minute. Shooting was carried out from a place without the use of openers when the loader was lowered. Ammunition consisted of 4 projectile and 6 charges.
3. The main armament of ACS SU-5-3 was 152,4-mm divisional mortar arr. 1931 g. (Barrel length 9,3 caliber). The initial velocity of the projectile - 250 m / s. The vertical pointing angles ranged from 0 to + 72 degrees, the horizontal pointing angles were 12 degrees without rotating the installation body. When shooting calculation used the panorama of Hertz. The maximum firing range was 5 285 meters. The use of a wedge gate provided a firing rate of 4-5 per minute shots at elevation angles up to 30 degrees and 1-1,5 shots at elevation angles above 30 degrees. Ammunition consisted of 4 shots. When firing, 2 of the opener was used, which were installed outside the stern of the ACS.
To deliver ammunition to the SU-5 self-propelled gun on the battlefield, it was planned to use a special armored ammunition carrier.
The combat weight of SAU SU-5 ranged from 10,2 to 10,5 tons, depending on the modifications. The crew of the SAU consisted of a 5 man (driver and 4 member of the crew). Capacity of fuel tanks with a volume of 182 liter was enough to make 170 km. march on the highway.
The fate of the project
Factory tests of all three cars of the triplex were held from October 1 to December 29 1935 of the year. Total SAU passed: SU-5-1 - 296 km., SU-5-2 - 206 km., SU-5-3 - 189 km., While the last 1 in November 1935 of the year was sent to the parade in the capital. In addition to the mileage of the machine, they also tested and fired with the SAU SU-5-1 and SU-5-2 fired 50 shots, the SAU SU-5-3 fired the 23 shot.
According to the results of the tests, the following conclusions were made: “SAUs differ in tactical mobility, which allows them to move on and off the roads, the transition to the combat position for 76 and 122-mm SU-5 is instantaneous, 152-2 is required for the 3-mm version minutes (as shooting involves the use of stops). During the tests, the disadvantages of the machine were identified, which included: insufficient strength of the bracket that connected the cradle with the trunnion holder, as well as weak tires of the support wheels. All identified defects were not of fundamental importance and were easily fixed.
According to the plans in 1936, it was planned to manufacture a batch of SU-30 self-propelled guns from 5. Moreover, the military preferred the version of the SU-5-2 with the 122-mm howitzer. They refused SU-5-1 in favor of the artillery tank AT-1, and for 152-mm mortars, the SU-5-3 chassis was rather weak. The first 10 serial machines were ready for the 1936 summer of the year. Two of them were almost immediately sent to the 7 th mechanized corps for military trials, which lasted from June 25 to July 20 1936 and took place in the area of Luga. During the tests, the vehicles passed 988 and 1014 km. accordingly, firing 100 shots each.
According to the results of the military tests, it was found that the SU-5-2 ACS had passed military tests. SU-5-2 were quite mobile and durable during the campaign, having sufficient maneuverability and good stability in firing. As a rule, ACS were used for firing from open positions, acting as escort artillery. When making a number of additions to their design, these self-propelled guns should preferably be used by mechanized formations as a means of direct artillery support.
The main identified deficiencies of the car were as follows: insufficient ammunition, it was proposed to increase it to 10 projectiles. It was also proposed to increase the engine power, as the ACS was overloaded and strengthen the springs. It was proposed to move the silencer to another place, and equip the control compartment with a fan.
Part of these complaints from the military was eliminated during the production of the remaining 20 self-propelled guns, but it was not possible to increase the engine power and strengthen the suspension. A number of the latest machines, which were produced in the autumn of 1936, also received additional armor plates, which covered the seats of the gun crew from the sides. It was proposed to make changes in the design of the ACS SU-5 and the results of military tests, and then start their mass production, but instead in the 1937, the work on the “small triplex” program was completely curtailed. Perhaps it was connected with the arrest of one of the designers P. N. Syachentov.
Already produced SAU from the first batch entered service with mechanized corps and separate brigades of the Red Army. In the summer of 1938, these cars even took part in hostilities against the Japanese at Lake Hassan. SU-5 operated in the heights of Bezymyannaya and Zaozernaya as part of artillery batteries from the 2-th mechanized brigade of the Special Far Eastern Army. Due to the short duration of the hostilities that had already ended 11 August 1938, the use of self-propelled guns was very limited. Despite this, the reporting documents indicated that the ACS provided substantial support to infantry and tanks.
In September, the 1939 of the year during the “liberation” campaign in Western Belarus and Ukraine, the battery SU-5, which was part of the 32 armored brigade, made an 350-km march, but did not participate in clashes with Polish forces. After this march, one installation was sent to the factory for the overhaul.
As of 1 June 1941, the Red Army had 28 ACS SU-5: 8 in the Western Special and 9 in the Kiev Special Military Districts, 11 on the Far Eastern Front. Of these, only 16 machines were intact. No information on the use of ACS data in the Great Patriotic War has yet been found. All of them, most likely, were abandoned due to malfunctions or lost in the first week of fighting.
Performance characteristics: SU-5-2
Weight: 10,5 t.
Dimensions:
Length 4,84 m., Width 2,44 m., Height 2,56 m.
Crew: 5 people.
Reservations: from 6 to 15 mm.
Armament: 122-mm howitzer obr.1910 / 30
Ammunition: up to 10 shots
Engine: inline 4-cylinder carburetor air-cooled from a T-26 tank with an 90 horsepower
Maximum speed: on the highway - 30 km / h
Power reserve: on the highway - 170 km.
According to the theory prevalent at the time, the availability of this triplex could fully cover the entire existing range of army tasks at the divisional level. For the development of all three systems, the design bureau of the plant experienced engineering Kirov (plant number XXUMX) under the leadership of P. N. Syachentov and S. A. Ginzburg. V. Moskvin was appointed responsible designer of this project.
Design features
The light tank T-26 arr. 1933, the production of which was established in Leningrad. Due to the fact that the existing tank layout was completely unsuitable for self-propelled guns, the T-26 case was significantly redesigned.
SU-5-1
Department of management, together with the controls of the ACS, the driver's seat, as well as the elements of the transmission remained in place in the nose of the car. But the engine compartment had to be moved to the center of the case, separating it from the remaining compartments of the self-propelled gun with armored partitions. The engine compartment was fitted with a standard petrol engine from a T-26 tank with an 90 horsepower, main friction clutch, shortened drive shaft, radiator, fan, oil and fuel tanks, which were separated by hermetic enclosures. The engine compartment of the SAU SU-5 was connected with a special pocket to the side openings, which served to emit the cooling air. On the roof of the engine compartment were 2 hatch for access to the spark plug, carburetor, valves and oil filter, as well as openings with armored blinds, which served to enter the cooling air.
The fighting compartment was in the stern of the car. Here, behind the 15-mm broneschit was located the armament of the ACS and the place to calculate (4 person). For damping recoil during fire, a special coulter, located in the rear of the machine, was lowered to the ground. In addition, additional side stops could be used.
Chassis has not changed in comparison with the serial tank T-26. Applied to each of the sides, it consisted of the following components: on 8 track rollers, which were assembled in 4 carts (first and second / third and fourth carts had a common suspension with damping on leaf springs), 4 supporting rollers. The directing wheel back, leading forward.
SU-5-2
All three ACSs had a single chassis and differed mainly in the weapons used:
1. The main armament of ACS SU-5-1 was the 76,2-mm divisional gun mod. 1902 / 30 (barrel length 30 caliber). The initial velocity of the projectile - 338 m / s. Vertical tool pointing angles ranged from -5 to + 60 degrees, horizontal - in the 30 sector of degrees, without turning the installation body. When firing, the calculation used a telescopic sight and a panorama of Hertz. The maximum firing range was 8 760 meters at an elevation angle of the 40 gun degrees. The gun's rate of fire was 12 shots per minute. Shooting was carried out from a place without the use of openers when the loader was lowered. A self-propelled ammunition ammunition consisted of 8 shots.
2. The main armament of ACS SU-5-2 was 122-mm howitzer obr.1910 / 30. (barrel length 12,8 caliber), which differed in the modified design of the cradle. The initial velocity of the projectile was equal to 335,3 m / s. Vertical guidance angles ranged from 0 to + 60 degrees, horizontally - 30 degrees without rotating the installation body. When firing, the calculation used a telescopic sight and a panorama of Hertz. The maximum firing range was 7 680 m. The use of a piston valve provided a decent rate of fire at the level of 5-6 shots per minute. Shooting was carried out from a place without the use of openers when the loader was lowered. Ammunition consisted of 4 projectile and 6 charges.
3. The main armament of ACS SU-5-3 was 152,4-mm divisional mortar arr. 1931 g. (Barrel length 9,3 caliber). The initial velocity of the projectile - 250 m / s. The vertical pointing angles ranged from 0 to + 72 degrees, the horizontal pointing angles were 12 degrees without rotating the installation body. When shooting calculation used the panorama of Hertz. The maximum firing range was 5 285 meters. The use of a wedge gate provided a firing rate of 4-5 per minute shots at elevation angles up to 30 degrees and 1-1,5 shots at elevation angles above 30 degrees. Ammunition consisted of 4 shots. When firing, 2 of the opener was used, which were installed outside the stern of the ACS.
To deliver ammunition to the SU-5 self-propelled gun on the battlefield, it was planned to use a special armored ammunition carrier.
SU-5-3
The combat weight of SAU SU-5 ranged from 10,2 to 10,5 tons, depending on the modifications. The crew of the SAU consisted of a 5 man (driver and 4 member of the crew). Capacity of fuel tanks with a volume of 182 liter was enough to make 170 km. march on the highway.
The fate of the project
Factory tests of all three cars of the triplex were held from October 1 to December 29 1935 of the year. Total SAU passed: SU-5-1 - 296 km., SU-5-2 - 206 km., SU-5-3 - 189 km., While the last 1 in November 1935 of the year was sent to the parade in the capital. In addition to the mileage of the machine, they also tested and fired with the SAU SU-5-1 and SU-5-2 fired 50 shots, the SAU SU-5-3 fired the 23 shot.
According to the results of the tests, the following conclusions were made: “SAUs differ in tactical mobility, which allows them to move on and off the roads, the transition to the combat position for 76 and 122-mm SU-5 is instantaneous, 152-2 is required for the 3-mm version minutes (as shooting involves the use of stops). During the tests, the disadvantages of the machine were identified, which included: insufficient strength of the bracket that connected the cradle with the trunnion holder, as well as weak tires of the support wheels. All identified defects were not of fundamental importance and were easily fixed.
According to the plans in 1936, it was planned to manufacture a batch of SU-30 self-propelled guns from 5. Moreover, the military preferred the version of the SU-5-2 with the 122-mm howitzer. They refused SU-5-1 in favor of the artillery tank AT-1, and for 152-mm mortars, the SU-5-3 chassis was rather weak. The first 10 serial machines were ready for the 1936 summer of the year. Two of them were almost immediately sent to the 7 th mechanized corps for military trials, which lasted from June 25 to July 20 1936 and took place in the area of Luga. During the tests, the vehicles passed 988 and 1014 km. accordingly, firing 100 shots each.
According to the results of the military tests, it was found that the SU-5-2 ACS had passed military tests. SU-5-2 were quite mobile and durable during the campaign, having sufficient maneuverability and good stability in firing. As a rule, ACS were used for firing from open positions, acting as escort artillery. When making a number of additions to their design, these self-propelled guns should preferably be used by mechanized formations as a means of direct artillery support.
The main identified deficiencies of the car were as follows: insufficient ammunition, it was proposed to increase it to 10 projectiles. It was also proposed to increase the engine power, as the ACS was overloaded and strengthen the springs. It was proposed to move the silencer to another place, and equip the control compartment with a fan.
Part of these complaints from the military was eliminated during the production of the remaining 20 self-propelled guns, but it was not possible to increase the engine power and strengthen the suspension. A number of the latest machines, which were produced in the autumn of 1936, also received additional armor plates, which covered the seats of the gun crew from the sides. It was proposed to make changes in the design of the ACS SU-5 and the results of military tests, and then start their mass production, but instead in the 1937, the work on the “small triplex” program was completely curtailed. Perhaps it was connected with the arrest of one of the designers P. N. Syachentov.
Already produced SAU from the first batch entered service with mechanized corps and separate brigades of the Red Army. In the summer of 1938, these cars even took part in hostilities against the Japanese at Lake Hassan. SU-5 operated in the heights of Bezymyannaya and Zaozernaya as part of artillery batteries from the 2-th mechanized brigade of the Special Far Eastern Army. Due to the short duration of the hostilities that had already ended 11 August 1938, the use of self-propelled guns was very limited. Despite this, the reporting documents indicated that the ACS provided substantial support to infantry and tanks.
In September, the 1939 of the year during the “liberation” campaign in Western Belarus and Ukraine, the battery SU-5, which was part of the 32 armored brigade, made an 350-km march, but did not participate in clashes with Polish forces. After this march, one installation was sent to the factory for the overhaul.
As of 1 June 1941, the Red Army had 28 ACS SU-5: 8 in the Western Special and 9 in the Kiev Special Military Districts, 11 on the Far Eastern Front. Of these, only 16 machines were intact. No information on the use of ACS data in the Great Patriotic War has yet been found. All of them, most likely, were abandoned due to malfunctions or lost in the first week of fighting.
Performance characteristics: SU-5-2
Weight: 10,5 t.
Dimensions:
Length 4,84 m., Width 2,44 m., Height 2,56 m.
Crew: 5 people.
Reservations: from 6 to 15 mm.
Armament: 122-mm howitzer obr.1910 / 30
Ammunition: up to 10 shots
Engine: inline 4-cylinder carburetor air-cooled from a T-26 tank with an 90 horsepower
Maximum speed: on the highway - 30 km / h
Power reserve: on the highway - 170 km.
Information