Two Soviet self propelled guns which until yesterday had completely escaped my attention. Special because they were based on the PzKpfw III chassis. The SG-122 was accepted for service in July 1942, but not many were produced and it was quickly drawn from service again as its performance was disappointing. More use was made of the SU-76i, which saw more than 200 converted from PzKpfw III and Stug III chassis captured at Stalingrad. Battlefield.ru have some information on both AFVs : http://www.battlefield.ru/sg122.html http://www.battlefield.ru/su76i.html The SG-122 : The SU-76i :
The Russian SU-76 was widely hated by the Russian troops. Why stretch it further and put it on a PZ III chassis?
Why was it hated? It was the second most produced Soviet AFV! As far as I know the 76.2mm gun was widely loved for its great range, accuracy and versatility. I saw the SU-76i for the first time in a computer game, Panzer General III. I thought it was odd, maybe a field conversion or whatever, and didn't think much of it. But 200 converted is quite impressive!
The SU-76 had a host of problems, ranging from lack of mechanical reliability in the early models, to the driver sitting next to the engine with no bulkhead between (what fun, eh?), to no overhead protection, to lack of armor. It was originally designed for artillery support, not anti-tank duty, so some of the criticism was because it was pressed into service as a vehicle it wasn't designed for.
Not really. The caliber was the same but that was it. Su-76i had F-22 gun that was simplified T-34 gun. Su-76 and SU-76M had ZIS-3 gun. SU-76i was designed and built as result of problems with SU-76 SP guns. It was a hurried job and quick fix messure for making cheap infantry support wheicles until SU-76's problems were solved. SU-76M (SU-12) Basicly wheicle was never intended as tank hunter, motorised AT gun or assault gun (like StuG). It was SP artilery piece (somthing like Wespe) for direct and indirect infantry support (max range 17km) on divisional level, with possible use in AT role (the gun). It was designed as such. It was in line with Soviet military philosophy at the time that required large numbers of artilery in direct or indirect support in all aspects of attack. Open top combat comartment was considered as adequate for protection against arty shrapnel and infantry caliber bullets. It is true that it could be a death trap in case of hand granade explosin but it was a saviour in case of shaped charge hit (panzerfaust...). It was pressed in combat against tanks if need arised (prefarably in ambush situations). After modifications of original (SU-12 i.e. SU-76) when problems with engine instalation were fixed, they were quite reliable ( SU-12M i.e. SU-76M). They were simple to mentain and use. Ground pressure was small which allowed use of SU-76M where other such wheicles could not move (marshy ground). Engines (two ZIS-203 truck engines) were much less noisy than those of other wheicles (those who ever heard T-34 would know what i mean ) making them ideal for setting ambushes and sneaking up to the enemy. They were not so hated as one would assume from most known name Suka (bitch) or Suchka (little bitch). Colombina is an affectinate name and bare arse Ferdinand was a true soldiers name (miltary humor). Soviet soldiers were known for making up interesting names for their eqipment (LaGG, I-16 come to mind). On the other note: Does anyone have photo/drawing of radio and it's instalation in the SU-76M? I'm building UM kit (sweet little thing in 1/72). They ommited this detail. I'm also searching shape and position of a box mounted on right side of combat compartment in this wheicle. Plans for other kits (1/35: Alan, Dragon, MiniArt, Maquette) or PE sets (Eduard) would equally be usefull.
Battlefield.ru and their forum are down for last three days. Some other links with drawings: Drawings site http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries.htm SU-76/76M: Basic info: http://www.russianwarrior.com/STMMain.htm?1941vehicle_SU76.htm&1 Drawings: http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/SP_guns/SU_76M_bp.htm Photos: http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/SP_guns/SU_76M.htm Colour profiles: http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/SP_guns/SU_76M_pic.htm Walkarounds: http://www.weapon.df.ru/potroh/su76/index-e.html http://www.thetankmaster.com/english/afv/SU76M_1.asp http://www.thetankmaster.com/english/afv/SU_76_1.asp http://svsm.org/gallery/Su-76-family Drawings and text in Russian from Modelist - Konstruktor: http://mkmagazin.almanacwhf.ru/armor/su_76m.htm SU-76i Drawings: http://wargaming.net/tanks/MODELS/su76i_2.htm SU-76i article with photos: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v728/airsuba/Panzer III - Revell 72/ Walkarounds: http://www.thetankmaster.com/english/afv/su-76i.asp http://tanxheaven.com/nic/SU-76Imoscow05/SU-76i.htm
the su76 was in the same situation as the stugIII , its widespread presence on the battlefield made it the first recourse of local commanders and made those machines do duties for which they were not designed . as for being open top , there was quite a few fighting vehicles build like that including some of american design I thought than the twin truck engine model was discontinued as not worth the bother and being well night uncontrolable , an other nickname i've heard for the su76 " five friends and a coffin " altogether an cheap and cheerful rig with an impressive combat record fighting often out of its weight class .
SU-76 (SU-12) had two engines independently powering each track, same as early T-70 light tanks. This was almost impossible to synchronise and led to clutch and transmission faliurs. After ~150 machines were produced production was discontinued. They were brifley used on the front (Stalingrad area) but were later recalled to tank schools. SU-76M (SU-12M) had two engines driving the same shaft powering both tracks. It was the same arrangment as on improved T-70M light tank. engines were still rather difficoult to synchronise but it was much easier as on previous model. Other significant difference was that SU-76 had completly closed fightnig compartment and SU-76M had opened fighting compartment. Why they used unmodified T-70 power arrangment is a bit of a mystery. At the time (late 1942-early1943) same problems with early T-70 were already cured and production of T-70M was already well established. First time i hear of this one. SU-76 and SU-76M had 4 man crew(Commander, Gunner, Loader, and Driver). "Coffin for 6 brothers" was Lend-Lease supplied M3(s) Lee (S= srednyi=medium tank). Russians were realy unhappy with that one. Here you can download a great book on SU-76 and SU-76M (do it quick before link is outdated): Самоходное орудие СУ-76 (Бронетанковый Музей No. 08) http://www.farposst.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2743 Great drawings and photos of both versions and their details.
Thanks Tiso , this is most excellent I'm really interested in those humble machines " stug " and " su " while the glamor machines hog the limelights , those sp gun were produced in very large numbers and deserve more recognition .
P.S. I downloaded the ... .....Самоходное орудие СУ-76 (Бронетанковый Музей No. 08) ...... but adobe go hang when I trie to open it , all the other links were good .
Before you decompress the file, change the name of the pdf file contained in the zip/rar (double left click on zip/rar, then normaly click twice as with normal file name change, change the name in latin alphabet). Then it will work normally. I had the same problem before i figured it out. Cyrilic alphabet is obviously not to compatible with MS windows.
