SU-85 Tank Destroyer (1943)
To help speed up production of the SU-85, the chassis of the T-34 medium tank was used along with an 85mm anti-aircraft gun armament.
The lackluster draw of the SU-122 led Soviet authorities to continue their search for a dedicated tank-killing system. As a starting point, and to facilitate grand scale production, the hull of the SU-122 (itself a copy of the T-34 hull) was utilized and an existing 85mm anti-aircraft cannon was fitted. Utilization of these components ensured that the new weapon system could be produced quickly and in the required numbers while keeping expenses under control. A prototype was made available in August of 1943, evaluated and accepted into production as the SU-85 to which 750 examples were delivered by the end of the year.
By this time, the original 76mm main gun of base T-34 tank models were proving rather ineffective against the new generation of German tanks. The 85mm gun proved the next logical step for the series and the new T-34/85 was born. In effect, the arrival of the T-34/85 rendered the dedicated SU-85 somewhat redundant which led to production of the latter wrapping up in September of 1944, completing the delivery of some 2,000 examples.
As the SU-85 was on its way out, its replacement became the SU-100 mounting the more powerful 100mm main gun. The SU-100 entered service the same month that the SU-85 was discontinued. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
SU-85
Tank Destroyer
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: State Factories - Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1943
Production: 2,050
Focus Model: SU-85
Crew: 4
Overall Length: 0.00ft (0.00m)
Width: 0.00ft (0.00m)
Height: 0.00ft (0.00m)
Weight: 0.0 US Short Tons (0kg; 0lbs)
Powerplant:
Maximum Speed: 0mph (0 km/h)
Maximum Range: 0 miles (0 km)
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Armament:
1 x 85mm D-5T main gun
Ammunition:
Not Available.
Variants:
SU-85-I - Prototype Designation; fitted with 85mm S-18 main gun.
SU-85-IV - Second Prototype; same armament as SU-85-I.
SU-85-II - Third Prototype; fitted with D-5S main gun; TSh-15 sight; revised mantlet.
SU-85 - Base Production Series Designation; fitted with D-5T main gun.
SU-85M - Superstructure of SU-100 tank destroyer; projectile carrying capability increased from 48 to 60 rounds; T-34-style commander's cupola installed.
SU-85T - Armored Recovery Vehicle Variant
SU-85-III - Fourth Prototype; revised cupola; direct vision slots with covers.
WPT-34 - Polish Designation for engineering vehicle based on the SU-85 chassis; amphibious capable.
Operators: Poland; Soviet Union
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