Stories about weapons. ISU-122: the difficult path of a front-line soldier
So, the heroine today is ISU-122. The ACS, which is often at museum expositions, stands next to the ISU-152 and the IS-2 tanks. And, let's be honest with ourselves, unfairly produces a less frightening impression than neighbors. The impression is complemented by the fact that the ISU-122 looks like the ISU-152, and the gun is exactly the same as on the IS-2 tank. Well, the natural question is: why bother with a machine that, by firepower, does not exceed the power of a prototype tank?
In principle, in most of the previously described self-propelled guns of the USSR and Germany, this is exactly what happened. ACS almost always equipped with a more powerful tool. It was this that provided artillery support for tank attacks. Self-propelled vehicles allowed tankmen to reach the frontiers of the effective work of their own guns. On a direct lead. To slip through that very area of inaccessibility of the enemy without significant losses.
Let's try to deal with this decision of designers SAU.
But you need to start from afar. From the distant 1942 year. It was in 1942-m military experts of the Soviet Union, the leading designers of armored vehicles were tasked to think over the development trends of the enemy tanks for subsequent years. At the end of 1942, a special commission was even created at the Central Research Institute-48.
Conclusions on the development of German armored vehicles were unequivocal. It is enough to quote a phrase from the report of the Commission of the TsNII-48 Commission (headed by professor, doctor of technical sciences A. S. Zavyalov):
If such new samples appear, we will hardly meet with the fact that the armor is significantly thickened.
Most likely, in accordance with the whole course of development of types of German tanks, we should expect strengthening of tank artillery, on the one hand, and an increase in tank maneuverability in off-road conditions and powerful snow cover, on the other hand. "
There is a fact that for some reason passed unnoticed by the Soviet command, but which could turn a design idea into a completely different plane. Experimental Tigers began to appear on the Soviet-German front in the autumn-winter of 1942.
Famous historical the fact of the capture of a Henschel-type tank No. 250004. The decryption of the waybill of this tank on January 25, 1943 (translator Bresker) proves that this vehicle made its first raid on September 21, 1942 (reconnaissance at 10:30 in the vicinity of p. Mga-Mountains). Why this has gone unnoticed by the Soviet command is still unclear.
We specifically focused on what ideas were central to the beginning of 1943. This will help to understand the logic of the appearance of MIS-122.
So, 1943 year. Tank builders are actively engaged in the development of a new heavy tank EC-1. In parallel, developed and two ACS. The decision was classic. Tank with 85 mm caliber gun (D-5T), tank fire support system (tank destroyer) with 122 mm gun (A-19) based on KV-14 and SAU with 152 mm howitzer gun (ML-20С) on the same base.
The creation of the tank was completed in November 1943. And already on the basis of the EC-1 was built ISU-152 (241 object). Next in line was an 242 object with a 122 mm cannon. The prototype was built a month after the 241 object.
And here the military intervened. The fact is that the EC-1, for all its merits, no longer suited the artillerymen with its weapon. The 85-mm gun was obviously not enough for a heavy tank. The machine did not have the advantage in battle over other tanks. This gun more suited the average T-34, which is what happened.
The gun intended for the ACS was installed on a new tank design - an 240 object (EC-2). It so happened that the 240 object (EC-2) was released even earlier than the 241 object (ICS-152) for testing. The 242 object is no longer needed in this way. It is because of the same type of gun with a tank. In the series went ISU-152. In practice, from December 1943 to April 1944, ChTZ produced only ISU-152.
And again the case helped. More precisely, the labor feats of workers CTZ. The plant produced armored hulls for ACS in large quantities. By April it turned out that for the production of ACS IMS-152 there simply are not enough guns ML-20С. And at the same time, a sufficient number of tank A-19 had accumulated in the warehouses (from the start of production, the EC-2 was named D-25T).
The Chelyabinsk tractor began to produce two self-propelled guns at once: ISU-152 and ISU-122. But this is not the end of the history of this car. It was a good continuation! And this continuation we can also see today. This is ISU-122C. This is not a whim restless designers of self-propelled guns, but a necessity.
No one has canceled the tasks that the SAU should perform even with the same guns as the tanks. At SU-122, the designers were able to achieve a slight increase in the rate of fire (from 2 to 3 rounds per minute) due to a more free-wheeling and fifth crew member. But the gun itself could not give more. Mixed piston valve.
Artillery designers took up the improvement of the gate. And at the end of the 1943 gun received semi-automatic wedge bolt. The gun was named D-25C. It almost immediately began to install on the EC-2. For ISU-122 there were no such guns.
But in the second half of 1944, the designers still managed to create a new prototype - an 249 object. The car even externally differed from ISU-122. The new gun was equipped with a muzzle brake. The mask has become more compact due to the reduction of the recoil devices of the gun. By the way, this reduction made it possible to increase the angle of the horizontal pickup of the gun.
I liked the car. I liked it so much that since September, CTZ began to produce three serial machines at once! ISU-1944, ISU-152 and ISU-122С!
We proceed to inspect the car in detail. First of all, it must be said that this is a classic Soviet machine of the time. Department of management and combat department are located in front. Transmission and engine compartment in the back.
The armor case was made of rolled armor of various thickness: 90, 75, 60, 30 and 20 mm. Bronelists were installed at rational angles of inclination. In general, such a reservation provided a good counter-shear protection. The foreheads of machines of different production times were booked in different ways. The first cars had cast armor. Later - welded forehead.
The gun is not located along the centerline of the hull, but slightly shifted to the right from the axis of the machine. Installed on the installation of frame type, almost identical to ISU-152. The wheel chocks are protected by a fixed cast casing and a movable cast mask. By the way, the mask, besides the main function, performs the role of a balancing device.
The crew was placed as follows. The driver in front of the left. Behind him, to the left of the gun, was the gunner. To the right of the gun - the commander. For gunner place loader. For the commander of the place of the castle. Sometimes the crews were formed from 4-x people. In this case, the castle also performed the duties of the loader.
On the roof of the cabin there were two hatches. But for landing and disembarking intended only right. The left hatch is designed to display an extension of the panoramic sight. The main landing hatch for the crew was a rectangular double hatch at the junction of the roof and rear sheets of the armored wheelhouse.
Provided in the ISU and emergency hatch for the evacuation of the crew. Located in the bottom of the car. The remaining hatches are intended for access to the units and assemblies of the machine, refueling fuel and ammunition.
A-122C guns were used on ISU-19. And the guns were different. The first cars are equipped with a 122-mm cannon arr. 1931 / 37 Modification C dealt with the transfer of controls to one side of the instrument for ease of targeting, equipping its bureaucracy with a receiving tray for easy loading and installation of the electric trigger. Piston slide, identical with the towed gun.
Since May, 1944, at the SAU installed 122-mm self-propelled gun mod. 1931 / 44 The barrel of this gun was already different from A-19.
The following types of ammunition are used for firing A-19 or D-25С guns:
- high-explosive fragmentation grenade OF-471Н with screw head;
- high-explosive frag whole-body short gun grenade OF-471Н;
- high-explosive fragmentation solid-body long gun grenade OF-471;
- high-explosive steel howitzer grenade OF-462;
- armor-piercing tracer sharp-headed projectile BR-471;
- armor-piercing tracer with a ballistic tip BR-471B;
- Concrete gun cannon G-471.
For firing at an ACS, two devices were installed at once: the Hertz panorama and the CT-18 telescopic sight (for direct fire).
However, it should be said that the device CT-18 somewhat reduced the firing range. The fact is that the calibration of the device was calculated only for 1500 meters. Therefore, it was impossible to use it for longer distances. Saved panorama Hertz.
The crew, besides the aiming instruments, had enough observation instruments. All landing / landing hatches were equipped with Mk IV periscopes.
Now, according to the logic of the material, it is necessary to talk about the chassis, engine compartment, chassis. However, today we decided not to. Just because they described all this in sufficient detail in the materials on the EC-2 tank.
Therefore, the next part will be about the combat use of the machine. Let's start with one fairly well-known interview given to the front correspondent by the commander of the 309 SAP, Lieutenant Colonel Kobrin. Just quote a passage from this material:
Rybalko has changed a little in the face - jaws set on his cheeks. Commanded by Klymenkov, who stood nearby: "Prohibit the way German tanks fire!" - "There is a ban!" - answers Klimenkov and - to the car.
And what do you think? The first projectile from a thousand and eight hundred meters lit the lead tank, the second began to creep out because of it — he hit it, the third climbed — he broke it, and then the fourth ... He stopped the Nazis, they backed off, thinking that whole battery
Incredible? Meet Rybalko, ask him how it was, he will confirm. Then right there, on the battlefield, Klimenkov was screwed to the jumpsuit by an order of the Patriotic War of the first degree ... "
Now there will definitely be a skeptic who will speak about personal courage and preparedness of the crew. Is this an indicator of the quality of the car? Let's say right away - yes, this is an indicator of the quality of the car.
ISU-122 at the beginning of their use in the troops had almost the same task as ISU-152. The tactics of combat use was identical. But what is good on paper does not at all mean good in life.
Remember the soldier's nickname "Hypericum", which received ACS ISU-152? Received deserved. The fascists did not have machines that could withstand a missile hit from the ML-20. But the problem was not the power of the gun, but the very possibility of hitting the tank. A short barrel did not give a guaranteed hit.
ISU-122 also had a gun with a longer barrel. And the number of shells in this ACS was one and a half times more. Even enough, compared to 152-mm, a light projectile with a corresponding initial shot speed, had not only a piercing, but also a huge stopping effect.
Even "Elephanta" stopped by the impact of the ISU-122 projectile! They didn’t stop at armor penetration, this, alas, 122-mm guns could not, but because the suspension, transmission or engine broke after the impact. By the way, for fans of statistics. The data given in various sources on the reservation of German heavy vehicles at the end of the war do not take into account one important detail. German armor in 45 and 43 were very different in quality.
But back to Lieutenant Klimenkov. Klymenkov offered nothing new in the tactics of the battle. The actions of JSU-122 from ambushes at a long distance were provided for by the establishing documents of the Red Army. Another thing is that the car worked on the panorama of Hertz, judging by the distance.
To be objective, at that time, the EC-2 and ISU-122 were the only machines equivalent to the Germans. Only they could destroy German heavy tanks and self-propelled guns on the battlefield.
Do you remember the dispute between the commander of the SU-85 and the tank colonel from the film “In war as in war”? About the place of SAU in the combat order of the attackers? 200-300 meters behind the tanks. The same applies to MIS-122. Machines simply shot enemy tanks from short stops.
It is quite another thing when the attack choked and the tanks began to retreat. It was here that the heroism of the gunners was manifested. The ACS became just long-range weapons, which directly destroyed the advancing tanks or those objects that made further progress difficult. The withdrawal (or continuation of the offensive) in this case was carried out after the danger of losing the tanks had passed.
I want to talk about another episode of the war. More precisely, about a small war of one tank regiment. Yes, yes, it is tank! 81-th separate Guards heavy tank regiment. The war that came together in 12 days in March 1945 ... We have written many times about miracles in the war. Today, the miracle of instant retraining.
8 March 81 OGvTTP received an 20 ISU-122 of four marching batteries (at that time there was an 1 operational tank EC-2) and entered into battle with the enemy in the area south-west of Königsberg. During the 12 days of fighting, the regiment lost the killed 7 officers and 8 soldiers, the wounded 11 officers and the 13 soldiers and sergeants. During the battles, 10 ISU-122 burned down and 5 were damaged.
Tankers, having re-trained as self-propelled guns, captured the settlements of Eisenberg, Waltersdorf, Birknau, Grünau and reached the coast of the Baltic Sea. The regiment destroyed 5 tanks, 3 assault guns, 65 anti-tank guns, 8 BTR, 9 tractors and captured serviceable 18 guns and one “Panther”. The regiment while remained tank!
And one more fight of the Hero of the Soviet Union V. Guschina, who fought as a part of 387 SAP about the fight of 20 in January of 1945. And again just quoting. It’s better not to write:
Started to perform. At that time there was a strong fog, therefore the visibility was very poor. Our battalion commander and crew members had to open hatches to get a better look at where the enemy is. When approaching the city was a small farm. When we reached the hamlet, the enemy suddenly opened fire on us, as a result of which the battalion commander of the head vehicle was killed, and the second vehicle was damaged.
After that, take command. I order to make several shots at this fortified farm, after which, having made sure that the enemy was destroyed, I decided to break into the city.
Approaching, I saw that German tanks were coming to the right and left ... I take the immediate decision - to withdraw to the shelter, and then join the battle with the enemy. The second car also took with him.
I put the first car in which I was on the left, in the direction of the enemy. And put the second car on the right side. Not having been in this position for hours, I saw that German tanks were on the road for about two hundred meters. At that moment I opened fire on them. The first shell hit the front of the tank. The tank did not catch fire. Letting him go to 100 meters, again opened fire on him. From the second shell the tank caught fire. The Germans began to run out of the tank and scatter in different directions.
Without losing time, I transferred the fire to other tanks. They followed each other. The second tank also caught fire, then the third one. The fourth tank noticed us and began to direct fire on me. I immediately give the order: "Full gas, to the side!" And as soon as I had time to drive off, they started shooting at the place where I stood. I, using this time, immediately put fire on the next tank and burn it. And in the same way, I hit the German tanks 8 ... "
Well, the traditional performance characteristics of the heroine, ISU-122:
Combat weight, t: 46,0.
Length with gun, mm: 9850.
Width, mm: 3070.
Height, mm: 2480.
Ground clearance, mm: 470.
Engine: B-2-IC, 4-stroke diesel, 12 cylinders.
Power, hp: 520.
Fuel capacity, l:
- main tank: 500;
- additional tanks: 360.
Speed, km / h:
- maximum: 35 — 37;
- average country road: 16.
Power reserve, km: 145 — 220.
Obstacle obstacles:
- rise, degrees: 32;
- roll, degrees: 30;
- ditch, m: 2,5;
- wall, m: 1,0;
- ford, m: 1,3.
Reservations, mm (angle, degrees):
- forehead hull upper: 90 (60);
- hull board: 90 (0);
- body feed: 60 (41, 49);
- forehead felling: 90 (30);
- wheelhouse: 60 (15);
- feed chopping: 60 (0);
- mask: 120;
- Roof: 30 (90);
- bottom: 20 (90).
Crew, people: 5.
Artillery armament: 1 A-19С gun (Д-25С).
Caliber, mm: 121.92.
Type of loading: separate-sleeve.
Shooting range, m:
- maximum: 14300 (14700);
- direct fire: 5000;
- direct shot: 975.
Projectile weight, kg: 25.
Ammunition, shots: 30.
Additional armament:
- anti-aircraft machine gun 12,7-mm DShK with 250 ammunition rounds;
- PPSh submachine guns (2 pcs) ammunition 420 cartridges.
Information