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ASU-57


Airborne Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun (SPATG)


Soviet Union | 1951



"The ASU-57 self-propelled anti-tank gun carrier was the mainstay for Soviet airborne divisions for decades."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the ASU-57 Airborne Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun (SPATG).
1 x M-20E 4-cylinder gasoline-fueled water-cooled engine developing 50 to 55 horsepower driving a conventional track-and-wheel arrangement.
Installed Power
28 mph
45 kph
Road Speed
155 miles
250 km
Range
Structure
The physical qualities of the ASU-57 Airborne Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun (SPATG).
3
(MANNED)
Crew
16.4 ft
4.99 meters
O/A Length
6.8 ft
2.08 meters
O/A Width
3.9 ft
1.18 meters
O/A Height
7,379 lb
3,347 kg | 3.7 tons
Weight
Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the ASU-57 Airborne Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun (SPATG).
1 x 57mm autocannon main gun.
1 x 7.62mm machine gun (optional).
AMMUNITION:
30 x 57mm projectiles
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the ASU-57 family line.
ASU-57 - Base Series Designation
ASU-57KShM - Command / Staff Variant; increased communications equipment.
BSU-11-57F (2T2) - Proposed Gun Carrier for 107mm B-11; single prototype example completed.
ASU-57P (Ob.574) - Proposed Amphibious ASU-57; five prototype vehicles completed.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/02/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The ASU-57 was a Soviet-designed system meant to provide a self-propelled anti-tank gun option to airborne elements. The ASU was armed with a 57mm main gun (hence the "57" occurring in the designation) but was lightly armored and offered basic protection to the crew. The ASU-57 was fielded in large numbers during its production run but was later relegated to training duty with the arrival of the more capable ASU-85. 30 projectiles was provided for the main gun and it is reported that a rate of 10 rounds per minute could be achieved optimally.

Crew accommodations in the ASU-57 amounted to three personnel. The driver and loader were stationed to the right of the compartment, leaving the commander to the left. The hull was of welded aluminum and only 0.24 inches at its thickest. The crew sat in an open-air compartment with nothing more than a tarp to cover themselves from the elements. Besides the 57mm main gun, the crew was afforded a 7.62mm machine gun for self-defense. This machine gun could be removed for ground duty as well.

Weighing in at 3.5 tonnes, the ASU-57 self-propelled system could be airdropped by parachute with rockets assisting in cushioning the landing. Initially transported externally under the wings of a Tupolev Tu-4 bomber, the system was later carried internally in an Antonov An-12 aircraft and dropped by pallet.

Despite its compactness, the ASU-57 suffered from the minimal protection afforded to the crew. the 57mm main gun was also under-gunned when compared to the similar M56 American version mounting a 90mm main gun. The ASU-57 would eventually be replaced by the ASU-85, which featured far better armor protection and a larger caliber main gun.

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the ASU-57. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.

Total Production: 500 Units

Contractor(s): MMZ - Soviet Union
National flag of Egypt National flag of Ethiopia National flag of the Soviet Union National flag of Vietnam National flag of Yugoslavia

[ Egypt; Ethiopia; Soviet Union; Vietnam; Yugoslavia ]
1 / 2
Image of the ASU-57
Front right side view of an ASU-57 gun system
2 / 2
Image of the ASU-57
Rear right side view of the ASU-57 self-propelled gun

Going Further...
The ASU-57 Airborne Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun (SPATG) appears in the following collections:
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