SU-85

SU-85 (Stock)

Totals

414000 Cost

650 HPDurability

29.02 / 32.4 Weight

Crew

1. Commander
2. Radio Operator
3. Gunner
4. Driver
5. Loader

Armor

45/45/40Hull Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)

45/0/0Turret Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)

Maneuver

480 h.p.Engine Power

55 km/hTop Speed / Reverse Speed

33 deg/sTraverse Speed

Firepower

160 damage

125 mmAverage Penetration

6.2 Time for Complete Loading

44 deg/sGun Traverse Speed

Communication

210 mView Range

500 mSignal Range

T-34SU-85B

SU-85

SU-100

V

414000

Developed on the basis of the T-34 medium tank and the SU-122 assault gun. Produced from August 1943 through July 1944. The 85-mm D-5S gun allowed the SU-85 to effectively hit enemy medium tanks at distances of more than 1,000 meters and to penetrate the front armor of heavy tanks at shorter distances.

The SU-85 is a Soviet tier 5 tank destoryer

With a covered top, the SU-85 has much better survivability against HE damage than its predecessor, the SU-85B. Despite this, the weak armor and low HP of the SU-85 requires it to cling to its stealth in order to survive; one should avoid direct confrontation as long as possible. With decent accuracy, modest penetration, and respectable damage, the gun of choice for many players is the 85mm D5S-85BM. Worth noting is another possible weapon, the 122 mm M-30S, which can be devastating at close range with HEAT ammunition, and possibly HE in 8.6, although one must make sure to be fully aimed and not too far away, due to the extreme inaccuracy. Whichever weapon you choose, be extremely cautious of taking return fire.

Gun

Level	Gun	Average Penetration (mm)		Rate of Fire	Dispersion at 100 m	Aiming Time	Experience	Weight (t)
V	122 mm M-30S	30/140/20	450/270/200	3	0.55	2.3	3720	1600
V	76 mm S-54S	125/156/20	160/160/200	9.68	0.39	2.3	0	1390
VI	85 mm D-5S	120/161/43	200/200/300	8.33	0.43	2.3	4600	1500
VII	85 mm D5S-85BM	144/194/44	200/200/300	8.82	0.34	2.3	15500	1850

Engine

Level	Engine	Engine Power (h.p.)	Chance of Fire on Impact	Experience	Weight (t)
V	V-2	480	15	0	750
VI	V-2-34	500	15	5650	750

Level	Suspension	Load Limit	Traverse Speed (deg/s)	Experience	Weight (t)
IV	SU-85-II	32.4	33	0	7600
V	SU-85	32.4	35	2105	7600

Radio

Level	Radio	Signal Range (m)	Experience	Weight (t)
IV	_9R_USSR	500	0	80

Compatible Equipment

Compatible Consumables

Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Accurate
• Great camouflage
• Fast top speed
• Solid damage

Cons:

• Crippling view range
• Low armor
• Relatively long reload
• Modules get easily damaged
• Top cannon is very pricey to research

Performance

While it has low survivability, the SU-85's terrific camouflage values allow it to stay hidden at even close ranges. However, it is unable to engage targets at range without help; the horrible view range requires allied tanks to spot for you. Whilst not immediately evident, in actuality the 85mm D5S-85BM has respectable alpha damage, which can strip HP away from its peers at an alarming rate.

It is important not to overlook the great top speed the SU-85 offers. In many situations it can be a better asset than the StuG III's agility. You can get across the map very fast, allowing you to escape dangerous situations or get into position faster than most vehicles you will come across.

Early Research

From stock, the SU-85 can equip all of its gear without needing to research the suspension, so if you researched the SU-85 from the T-34 you can already equip the upgraded engine and radio. Otherwise, it is recommended you unlock the modules in the following order:

• Research the 85mm gun first
• Then get the 85mm D5S-85BM
• Then get the engine
• Get the suspension

Note that the 122 mm howitzer is only used by the SU-85. Unless you want to elite the SU-85 (or you want to use it), you can skip it entirely.

Historical Info

SU-85, Military Museum of Lubuskie, Poland

The SU-85 was a Soviet self-propelled gun used during World War II, based on the chassis of the T-34 medium tank. Earlier Soviet self-propelled guns were meant to serve as either assault guns, such as the SU-122, or as mobile anti-tank weapons: the SU-85 fell into the latter category. The designation SU-85 is derived as follows: 'SU' stands for the Russian: Samokhodnaya Ustanovka - self-propelled carriage, while "85" signifies the bore of the vehicle's armament, the 85 mm D-5T gun.

Development history

SU-85 at Czerniakow

Early in World War II, Soviet tanks such as the T-34 and KV-1 had enough firepower to destroy any German tank then available. However, in the fall of 1942, Soviet forces encountered the new German Tiger tank, with armor too thick to be penetrated by the 76.2 mm guns used in the T-34 and KV tanks at a safe range.[1] By spring 1943, the Soviets had also received reports of the new Panther tank, although the Panther was not seen in combat until July 1943, during the battle of Kursk. This new generation of German vehicles meant the Red Army needed a new and more powerful tank destroyer.

In May 1943, work was begun on both a new anti-tank gun and a redesign to the armament of the SU-122. Developers of the former put their efforts towards adapting the 85 mm heavy anti-aircraft gun, one of two types identified as best against the Tiger (the other being the 122 mm A-19). The SU-122, meanwhile, was rearmed with an existing 85 mm gun, the S-18, which was itself improved in the process. The production factory at Uralmash, which received the SU-122 design, attempted to reject the design as too expensive, since the larger gun breech meant that the entire hull would need to be modified, but it was required nevertheless to put the design into production.

Of the SU-85, several prototypes were rejected for design flaws, but after several changes, which included changing the gun to a D-5T, one was put into service as the SU-85.[1] At the same time, the 85mm D-5S, which had proven both effective and reliable, was modified to include a telescopic sight and a new ball mantlet design and retitled the SU-85-II.[1]

Description

SU-85 with Camo Net

The SU-85 was a modification of the earlier SU-122 self-propelled howitzer, essentially replacing the 122 mm M-30S howitzer of the SU-122 with a D-5T high-velocity 85 mm antitank gun. The 85 mm gun was effective against Panther and Tiger tanks at long range. The vehicle was small, highly mobile, and well armored.

Production history

SU-85 production started in mid-1943, with the first vehicles reaching their units by August. When the up-gunned T-34-85 medium tank entered mass production in the spring of 1944, there was no point in continuing production of a tank destroyer without superior firepower,[2] so SU-85 production was stopped in late 1944 after 2,050 vehicles had been produced. It was replaced on the production lines by the SU-100 tank destroyer, armed with the more powerful 100 mm D-10S gun. There were two versions: the basic SU-85 had a fixed commander's cupola with a rotating periscope and three vision blocks; the improved SU-85M had the same casemate as the SU-100, with a commander's cupola as used on the T-34-85.

Service history

SU-85 tank destroyer of the Polish 13th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment. This vehicle is missing its right first road wheel and its front fenders. The SU-85 entered combat in August 1943. It saw active service in Soviet, Polish, and Czechoslovak forces on the Eastern Front until the end of the war. It was obsolete by 1945, and was withdrawn from active service not long after the war to be exported to many Soviet client states in Europe and elsewhere. The SU-85 remained in service longer in North Korea and Vietnam.[3] The similar SU-100 remained in service much longer, and some SU-85 and SU-100 were converted and used as command and recovery vehicles.[4]

Variants

Former Soviet Union

Polish 13th SU-85

• SU-85-I - First SU-85 prototype, rejected for space concerns. Armed with 85 mm S-18 gun. [1]
• SU-85-IV - Second prototype also with a standard hull of the SU-122 but it had a larger ball mantlet, different from the one used in SU-85-I. Armed with 85 mm S-18 gun. [1]
• SU-85-II - Third SU-85 prototype with the new 85 mm D-5S gun, a new TSh-15 sight, and a new ball mantlet design. [1]
• SU-85 - Main production model armed with 85 mm D-5T gun.
• SU-85M - SU-85 with the casemate from the SU-100 tank destroyer, which was larger and could carry up to 60 rounds instead of 48. It also had the same commander's cupola as the one used in the T-34-85.[1]
• SU-85T - SU-85 converted into an ARV.
• SU-85-III - Fourth SU-85 prototype with a modified commander's cupola, with direct vision slots and covers.

Poland

WPT-34 (1960s) - Polish repair and maintenance vehicle with a superstructure replacing the casemate, a crane, a large-diameter telescoping snorkel for deep fording operations, as well as a large-spade type earth anchor in the rear. It was converted from SU-85 tank destroyers as well as T-34 medium tanks and SU-100 tank destroyers.

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Historical Gallery

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  SU-85 Cuba Display

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  SU-85 Cuba Display

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  SU-85 Cuba Display

• 

  SU-85M entering Berlin in May 1945

• 

  Su-85 crew posing for photo in the rare quiet moments of the was

• 

  Su85 fresh out of the factory

• 

  SU-85 tank destroyer in Polish Army Museum

• 

  Su85 side view

• 

  Su-85 in Usti nad Labem (Aussig), Czechoslovakia, 9 May 1945

• 

  Su85 in german service had designation JagdPz-85(r)

• 

  SU-85 tank destroyer of the Polish 13th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment.

• 

  SU-85 during delivery to the crews at the production plant.

• 

  SU-85 delivered to the crews at the production plant

• 

  Liberating Minsk during Operation »Bagration«, July 1944

• 

  Captured Su-85 in german service

Sources and External Links

References

• Perrett, Bryan (1987). Soviet Armour Since 1945, London: Blandford. ISBN 0-7137-1735-1.
• Zaloga, Steven J., James Grandsen (1984). Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two, London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-606-8.

Sources

1. a b c d e f g "The Russian Battlefield"
2. (Zaloga 1984:181, Perrett 1987:84)
3. (Perrett 1987:84)
4. (Perrett 1987:85)

External Links

• [Wikipedia]
• [SU-85 at WWIIvehicles.com]

USSR

Tank Destroyers

ja:Blitz:SU-85