Stories about weapons. Strange SAU SU-100Y
Yes, not always the participants of our narratives were released in thousands of parties and therefore are known to all, or at least, to the masses. Many of these objects do not survive to this day, which in itself is an omission.
Today we will tell you about the self-propelled gun, which, fortunately for us, can be seen in Kubinka. In the exposition of the Military-historical Museum of Armored Weapons and Equipment. The vehicle, which is often confused with a tank KV-2. Moreover, it was this machine that defended Moscow in 1941. But information about the military route, exploits, and other merit has been lost.
Experimental SAU, which was the SU-100Y, by the beginning of the war was almost a museum exhibit. Yes, not having time to Finnish, the self-propelled gun released in one copy was transferred to Kubinka. There was no museum there at that time, but there was a research range for armored troops.
And then the war itself came to the self-propelled gun. And the SU-100Y went to the front in the literal sense. It was enlisted in the self-propelled artillery special purpose division and fought.
The latest reliable information about the combat use of this machine is the same as that of many soldiers. "I took positions in the area of the Kubinka station and fired at the enemy from closed positions."
So, today we will tell you about the SU-100Y. About a self-propelled gun that surprises most of those who learn its history. Not foreigners - Russians!
Let's start to amaze you. The name of the ACS that you read is completely untrue, but nonetheless exists. The machine is really called SU-100Y. Not Y, namely Y. SU-100 yummy! But that's not all. The 100 figure is not the caliber of a gun, as was customary at that time! This is the chassis!
So, SU-100Y was created on the basis of the T-100 tank. This is the fruit of competition (this word sounds strange in a story about the Stalin period of the USSR) tank KB.
When we wrote about the tests of Soviet heavy tanks during the 1940 winter campaign, the T-100 was among the three experimental vehicles. The tank was created, with great probability, precisely for action in the marshland. Many consider the length of the case to be the disadvantage of this machine.
Let's think about it. T-100 could pass where similar machines just stuck in the mud, in the swamps, in small rivers. The length of the body provides such a cross and speed. But she, the length of the car, played a negative role. The tank could not compete with other subjects in maneuverability. Here you can argue that more important.
But the main drawback of the T-100 was the engine. Carburetor GAM-34 ("mundane" version of AM-34, which was put, for example, on TB-3) which required expensive aviation fuel, in all respects lost to the KV diesel engine. The Soviet tank should be repaired "on the knee", and here is a machine that required engineers.
In short, engineers, designers, military could not say with certainty which tank we needed. KV and T-100 were questionable. And this gave hope to the tank design bureau for the production of their cars.
Exactly such sentiments were in factory number 185, where the T-100 was developed. And then there's the task personally from the head of the GABTU RKKA, D. Pavlov. The fact is that already at the beginning of the Soviet-Finnish war, the Red Army was faced with the problem of the lack of engineering machines.
Hence the demand of the Military Council of the North-Western Front for the creation of a special engineering tank (mid-December 1939). The order was sent to the factory number 185. Work has begun to boil.
At the end of 1939, using the T-100 base, the T-100Z tank was developed with an X-NUMX-mm caliber M-10 howitzer installed in the main turret and an engineer tank with an anti-sparring armor.
The T-100Z is the machine that commander Kulik actively promoted. And an engineering tank was intended for the construction of bridges, transportation of sappers and explosives, as well as evacuation of damaged tanks from the battlefield.
But then from the troops began to come demands about the need for a machine capable of hacking engineering fortifications of the enemy. Need howitzers or large-caliber guns that could destroy the bunkers and fortified areas. And howitzers were not in priority.
And after three weeks, the task of D. Pavlov appeared. Create on the basis of the tank T-100 tank or self-propelled gun of large caliber! The head of the GABTU Red Army demanded to put on the T-100 chassis 152-mm cannon or a gun of another caliber with high initial speeds, which will break the fortifications of the Finns.
KB plant number 185 could not dissipate the forces on the design of several machines at once. Therefore, the plant director N. Barykov was forced to apply to the Military Council of the North-Western Front with a request to cancel the December order. In early January 1940, this decision was made.
Describing the history of the creation of a sufficiently large number of vehicles and weapons of the Red Army of that time, one is struck by the ability of managers to make decisions and take responsibility for themselves. After all, under the pressure of democratic propaganda, we had a stable opinion that the majority of decisions were made at the highest level, and the initiative of any plan was punishable.
We, precisely from these positions, cannot understand the shooting of General Pavlov in 1941. We can not understand much. Fulfilled the order. So the fault is the one who gave this order or did not give. And then, in 40, it wasn't like that.
How else to explain the decision of N. Barykov, just the plant director, to develop a new tank? Even before the approval of his request to cancel the order of the Military Council of the front! Agree, to create a new tank in a week is not realistic. But it is today. And then it was real.
Documentation on the new machine was transferred to Izhora plant already 8 (!) January 1940 of the year. So, designed and created by their own decision! Or (as an option, we did not agree) the shock group of engineers and designers in the shortest possible time reworked existing projects. The new car was named T-100 X.
Then another confirmation of the independence of the leaders of that time. The armor case at the Izhora plant was created by February 14. Initially, it was planned to install a naval tower with an X-NUMX-mm B-130 cannon on the tank chassis. But the car turned out technologically complex.
Designers of the plant created their own cutting. More simple and technological. Although they left a huge height for the tank. The machine with the new wheelhouse received a new name T-100Y. True car from the tank turned into SU. The new house was still.
Even the Kirov factory was noted when creating this machine. The fact is that the maritime cabin had a corresponding reservation. And that means a lot of weight. It was necessary to strengthen the suspension. This is exactly what they were doing at Kirovsky. They created a new torsion bar suspension. And again in the shortest possible time.
And here again the head of the GABTU RKKA Pavlov intervened in the work.
At a meeting of designers and factory directors, he proposed further strengthen the new machine in terms of weapons. Install an 203-mm caliber cannon or howitzer on the ACS. Even the name for the new car was ready T-100V. However, the project did not meet the enthusiasm of the designers and was not implemented.
From the shop new SU-100Y left 14 March 1940 of the year. And almost immediately was sent to the front for military trials. And then the unexpected happened. It turned out that the delivery of such a machine is also a problem. The car is very high. After cutting made to the height of a man!
In short, the war SU-100Y did not have time. So to call the shooting of Finnish fortifications for the sample participation in the war is problematic. But SU-100Y regularly destroyed everything that was provided as targets.
However, even such not entirely complete tests revealed, as it should be, the merits and demerits of SU-100Y. The gun had excellent armor penetration and accuracy. Shells had a high armor ’action. Preserved and high permeability of the T-100. In general, the car for its class is interesting. Tenacious.
However, low maneuverability and limited mobility were noted. The car went well ahead (32 km / h on the highway and 12 km / h over rough terrain), but crawled on a reverse gear like a turtle (4 km / h).
To the shortcomings of the gun, the military attributed the small angles of vertical and horizontal guidance.
In addition, it is noted that the gun ammunition is not sufficiently protected. Yes, and loading guns takes time. But most importantly, the size of the ACS, especially its height, made its use in the first and even second echelons problematic.
So ended the story of a single car, which then defended Moscow.
Experimental tank, experimental machine. But, in contrast to the T-100, miraculously preserved after many historical troubles.
And now we will look at SU. Watch, feel, pull and tell.
Let's start with the case. Almost completely copied from T-100. Reservations on a circle 60 mm. The bottom and the roof of the hull armored worse - 20 mm. On the roof of the hull in the area of the engine compartment and in the stern there are repair hatches. At the bottom of the hatch for the evacuation of the crew.
The cabin is completely closed, all-welded. Bronelistov thick 60 mm. Steel armor rolled.
Management department also corresponds to T-100. The driver's seat and dashboard are located in the center of the control compartment in the forward part of the hull.
Radio communication was provided by 71-TK-3 radio station with a whip antenna. For communication of crew members, TPU-6 was used.
We turn to the weapons. So, the gun B-13 IIc. Marine, was used on leaders, destroyers and coastal batteries. Caliber 130-mm. The length of the barrel 55 calibers. The initial velocity of the projectile over 800 m / s. 10-12 rate of fire per minute. The firing range is about 20 km.
True, this gun has one, but significant, advantage over similar tools. She used two types of shells. Armor-piercing PB-XNUMHA were the main projectiles of this gun.
But these were shells of a naval gun, designed to destroy ships, which have a completely different principle of booking. So it is not surprising that the B-13 projectiles pierced almost any enemy armor and its engineering structures.
The second type of projectile is not less effective. This is PF-46. The high-explosive fragmentation action of the projectile is provided by a decent amount of explosives - 2,5 kg. For comparison, the X-NUMX-mm land D-122T has a charge weighing 25 grams. 160 projectile weight kg. Ammunition 36 shells and powder charges to them.
To combat the enemy's infantry, the ACS is equipped with three 7,62-mm DT machine guns. Machine guns are located on the sides of the machine and in the stern. The total ammunition 1890 machine guns ammunition.
The proximity of the SU-100Y to the sea emphasizes not only the gun, but also the engine. Exactly the same GAM-34 was installed on torpedo boats G-5. Power 890 hp Allowed, as we have said, to develop good speed for such a heavy car, but it required precise maintenance and tuning, and good gasoline.
Starter CT-70, hp power 15 was used for engine start. The same engine could be started using compressed air (this remained from the aviation essence of the engine).
The fuel was placed in four aluminum tanks with a total capacity of 1270 liters. This amount of gas provided mileage 210 kilometers on a paved road. Over rough terrain SU could go 50-70 kilometers.
The transmission includes a five-speed three-way gearbox. The box provides five speeds forward and one back.
Chassis fully borrowed from the T-100. Same 8 track rollers on each side. The same external depreciation. The same five supporting rollers. Front-down sloth, drive wheel in rear. Caterpillar finely ground, tsevochnogo gearing.
Well, traditional TTX heroine material:
Combat weight: 64 t
Crew: 6 people
Shell length: 10 900 mm
Case width: 3 400 mm
Height: 3 290 mm
Armament:
- 130-mm gun B-13-IIс
- 7,62-mm machine gun DT - 3 pcs.
Ammunition:
- gun - 30 shots;
- Machine guns - 1880 cartridges.
Engine:
Carburetor, 12-cylinder, V-shaped, 4-stroke, liquid cooling GAM-34BT (GAM-34), power 890 hp
Highway speed: 32 km / h
Cross-country speed: 12 km / h
Cruising (highway / rough terrain): 120 / 60 km
Overcoming ford: 1,25 m
Gradeability: 42 °
Breaking wall: 1,3 m
Overcoming ditch: 4 m.
Today we will tell you about the self-propelled gun, which, fortunately for us, can be seen in Kubinka. In the exposition of the Military-historical Museum of Armored Weapons and Equipment. The vehicle, which is often confused with a tank KV-2. Moreover, it was this machine that defended Moscow in 1941. But information about the military route, exploits, and other merit has been lost.
Experimental SAU, which was the SU-100Y, by the beginning of the war was almost a museum exhibit. Yes, not having time to Finnish, the self-propelled gun released in one copy was transferred to Kubinka. There was no museum there at that time, but there was a research range for armored troops.
And then the war itself came to the self-propelled gun. And the SU-100Y went to the front in the literal sense. It was enlisted in the self-propelled artillery special purpose division and fought.
The latest reliable information about the combat use of this machine is the same as that of many soldiers. "I took positions in the area of the Kubinka station and fired at the enemy from closed positions."
So, today we will tell you about the SU-100Y. About a self-propelled gun that surprises most of those who learn its history. Not foreigners - Russians!
100 - not the caliber, but the chassis!
Let's start to amaze you. The name of the ACS that you read is completely untrue, but nonetheless exists. The machine is really called SU-100Y. Not Y, namely Y. SU-100 yummy! But that's not all. The 100 figure is not the caliber of a gun, as was customary at that time! This is the chassis!
So, SU-100Y was created on the basis of the T-100 tank. This is the fruit of competition (this word sounds strange in a story about the Stalin period of the USSR) tank KB.
When we wrote about the tests of Soviet heavy tanks during the 1940 winter campaign, the T-100 was among the three experimental vehicles. The tank was created, with great probability, precisely for action in the marshland. Many consider the length of the case to be the disadvantage of this machine.
Let's think about it. T-100 could pass where similar machines just stuck in the mud, in the swamps, in small rivers. The length of the body provides such a cross and speed. But she, the length of the car, played a negative role. The tank could not compete with other subjects in maneuverability. Here you can argue that more important.
But the main drawback of the T-100 was the engine. Carburetor GAM-34 ("mundane" version of AM-34, which was put, for example, on TB-3) which required expensive aviation fuel, in all respects lost to the KV diesel engine. The Soviet tank should be repaired "on the knee", and here is a machine that required engineers.
In short, engineers, designers, military could not say with certainty which tank we needed. KV and T-100 were questionable. And this gave hope to the tank design bureau for the production of their cars.
Exactly such sentiments were in factory number 185, where the T-100 was developed. And then there's the task personally from the head of the GABTU RKKA, D. Pavlov. The fact is that already at the beginning of the Soviet-Finnish war, the Red Army was faced with the problem of the lack of engineering machines.
Hence the demand of the Military Council of the North-Western Front for the creation of a special engineering tank (mid-December 1939). The order was sent to the factory number 185. Work has begun to boil.
At the end of 1939, using the T-100 base, the T-100Z tank was developed with an X-NUMX-mm caliber M-10 howitzer installed in the main turret and an engineer tank with an anti-sparring armor.
The T-100Z is the machine that commander Kulik actively promoted. And an engineering tank was intended for the construction of bridges, transportation of sappers and explosives, as well as evacuation of damaged tanks from the battlefield.
But then from the troops began to come demands about the need for a machine capable of hacking engineering fortifications of the enemy. Need howitzers or large-caliber guns that could destroy the bunkers and fortified areas. And howitzers were not in priority.
And after three weeks, the task of D. Pavlov appeared. Create on the basis of the tank T-100 tank or self-propelled gun of large caliber! The head of the GABTU Red Army demanded to put on the T-100 chassis 152-mm cannon or a gun of another caliber with high initial speeds, which will break the fortifications of the Finns.
KB plant number 185 could not dissipate the forces on the design of several machines at once. Therefore, the plant director N. Barykov was forced to apply to the Military Council of the North-Western Front with a request to cancel the December order. In early January 1940, this decision was made.
Describing the history of the creation of a sufficiently large number of vehicles and weapons of the Red Army of that time, one is struck by the ability of managers to make decisions and take responsibility for themselves. After all, under the pressure of democratic propaganda, we had a stable opinion that the majority of decisions were made at the highest level, and the initiative of any plan was punishable.
We, precisely from these positions, cannot understand the shooting of General Pavlov in 1941. We can not understand much. Fulfilled the order. So the fault is the one who gave this order or did not give. And then, in 40, it wasn't like that.
How else to explain the decision of N. Barykov, just the plant director, to develop a new tank? Even before the approval of his request to cancel the order of the Military Council of the front! Agree, to create a new tank in a week is not realistic. But it is today. And then it was real.
Documentation on the new machine was transferred to Izhora plant already 8 (!) January 1940 of the year. So, designed and created by their own decision! Or (as an option, we did not agree) the shock group of engineers and designers in the shortest possible time reworked existing projects. The new car was named T-100 X.
Then another confirmation of the independence of the leaders of that time. The armor case at the Izhora plant was created by February 14. Initially, it was planned to install a naval tower with an X-NUMX-mm B-130 cannon on the tank chassis. But the car turned out technologically complex.
Designers of the plant created their own cutting. More simple and technological. Although they left a huge height for the tank. The machine with the new wheelhouse received a new name T-100Y. True car from the tank turned into SU. The new house was still.
Even the Kirov factory was noted when creating this machine. The fact is that the maritime cabin had a corresponding reservation. And that means a lot of weight. It was necessary to strengthen the suspension. This is exactly what they were doing at Kirovsky. They created a new torsion bar suspension. And again in the shortest possible time.
And here again the head of the GABTU RKKA Pavlov intervened in the work.
At a meeting of designers and factory directors, he proposed further strengthen the new machine in terms of weapons. Install an 203-mm caliber cannon or howitzer on the ACS. Even the name for the new car was ready T-100V. However, the project did not meet the enthusiasm of the designers and was not implemented.
Advantages and disadvantages of SU-100Y
From the shop new SU-100Y left 14 March 1940 of the year. And almost immediately was sent to the front for military trials. And then the unexpected happened. It turned out that the delivery of such a machine is also a problem. The car is very high. After cutting made to the height of a man!
In short, the war SU-100Y did not have time. So to call the shooting of Finnish fortifications for the sample participation in the war is problematic. But SU-100Y regularly destroyed everything that was provided as targets.
However, even such not entirely complete tests revealed, as it should be, the merits and demerits of SU-100Y. The gun had excellent armor penetration and accuracy. Shells had a high armor ’action. Preserved and high permeability of the T-100. In general, the car for its class is interesting. Tenacious.
However, low maneuverability and limited mobility were noted. The car went well ahead (32 km / h on the highway and 12 km / h over rough terrain), but crawled on a reverse gear like a turtle (4 km / h).
To the shortcomings of the gun, the military attributed the small angles of vertical and horizontal guidance.
In addition, it is noted that the gun ammunition is not sufficiently protected. Yes, and loading guns takes time. But most importantly, the size of the ACS, especially its height, made its use in the first and even second echelons problematic.
So ended the story of a single car, which then defended Moscow.
Experimental tank, experimental machine. But, in contrast to the T-100, miraculously preserved after many historical troubles.
And now we will look at SU. Watch, feel, pull and tell.
Let's start with the case. Almost completely copied from T-100. Reservations on a circle 60 mm. The bottom and the roof of the hull armored worse - 20 mm. On the roof of the hull in the area of the engine compartment and in the stern there are repair hatches. At the bottom of the hatch for the evacuation of the crew.
The cabin is completely closed, all-welded. Bronelistov thick 60 mm. Steel armor rolled.
Management department also corresponds to T-100. The driver's seat and dashboard are located in the center of the control compartment in the forward part of the hull.
Radio communication was provided by 71-TK-3 radio station with a whip antenna. For communication of crew members, TPU-6 was used.
We turn to the weapons. So, the gun B-13 IIc. Marine, was used on leaders, destroyers and coastal batteries. Caliber 130-mm. The length of the barrel 55 calibers. The initial velocity of the projectile over 800 m / s. 10-12 rate of fire per minute. The firing range is about 20 km.
True, this gun has one, but significant, advantage over similar tools. She used two types of shells. Armor-piercing PB-XNUMHA were the main projectiles of this gun.
But these were shells of a naval gun, designed to destroy ships, which have a completely different principle of booking. So it is not surprising that the B-13 projectiles pierced almost any enemy armor and its engineering structures.
The second type of projectile is not less effective. This is PF-46. The high-explosive fragmentation action of the projectile is provided by a decent amount of explosives - 2,5 kg. For comparison, the X-NUMX-mm land D-122T has a charge weighing 25 grams. 160 projectile weight kg. Ammunition 36 shells and powder charges to them.
To combat the enemy's infantry, the ACS is equipped with three 7,62-mm DT machine guns. Machine guns are located on the sides of the machine and in the stern. The total ammunition 1890 machine guns ammunition.
The proximity of the SU-100Y to the sea emphasizes not only the gun, but also the engine. Exactly the same GAM-34 was installed on torpedo boats G-5. Power 890 hp Allowed, as we have said, to develop good speed for such a heavy car, but it required precise maintenance and tuning, and good gasoline.
Starter CT-70, hp power 15 was used for engine start. The same engine could be started using compressed air (this remained from the aviation essence of the engine).
The fuel was placed in four aluminum tanks with a total capacity of 1270 liters. This amount of gas provided mileage 210 kilometers on a paved road. Over rough terrain SU could go 50-70 kilometers.
The transmission includes a five-speed three-way gearbox. The box provides five speeds forward and one back.
Chassis fully borrowed from the T-100. Same 8 track rollers on each side. The same external depreciation. The same five supporting rollers. Front-down sloth, drive wheel in rear. Caterpillar finely ground, tsevochnogo gearing.
Well, traditional TTX heroine material:
Combat weight: 64 t
Crew: 6 people
Shell length: 10 900 mm
Case width: 3 400 mm
Height: 3 290 mm
Armament:
- 130-mm gun B-13-IIс
- 7,62-mm machine gun DT - 3 pcs.
Ammunition:
- gun - 30 shots;
- Machine guns - 1880 cartridges.
Engine:
Carburetor, 12-cylinder, V-shaped, 4-stroke, liquid cooling GAM-34BT (GAM-34), power 890 hp
Highway speed: 32 km / h
Cross-country speed: 12 km / h
Cruising (highway / rough terrain): 120 / 60 km
Overcoming ford: 1,25 m
Gradeability: 42 °
Breaking wall: 1,3 m
Overcoming ditch: 4 m.
Information