S-51

S-51

USSR | SPG | Tier VII

Battle Tier

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Overview
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Well, the ones further down, of course.

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[Client Values; Actual values in

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Specifically, the mismatch in crew values caused by commander's 10% crew skill bonus. Outside of a crew of 1 commander only, 100% crew is a fiction. The client values, given for 100% crew, will normally be taken into battle with 110% crew skill members aside from specific functions, causing their actual performance to deviate from the expected client value. These differences are taken into account in tooltip boxes.

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1,400,000   Cost

35070 HP Hit Points

50.22/5218.91/52.5 t Weight Limit

Crew

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

Mobility

500600 hp Engine Power

30/8 km/h Speed Limit

1820 deg/s Traverse

9.9631.73 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio

YesYes Pivot

Armor

// mm Hull Armor

Armament

{{#ifeq:HIGH_EXPLOSIVE|ARMOR_PIERCING|| {{#ifeq:ARMOR_PIERCING|ARMOR_PIERCING|| HE/HE {{#ifeq:HIGH_EXPLOSIVE|ARMOR_PIERCING|| {{#ifeq:ARMOR_PIERCING|ARMOR_PIERCING|| HE/HE Shells

1120/1310/1210 1910/2270/2055 Shell Cost

600/800/440900/1200/600 HP Damage

38/48/21652/65/258 mm Penetration

| |}} | |}} 2.4 r/m  ▲ Standard Gun Reload Times Nominal: 25 s 50% Crew: 30.97 s 75% Crew: 27.04 s 100% Crew: 23.97 s Rammer: 21.57 s Vents: 23.44 s Both: 21.1 s Both and BiA: 20.64 s Both and Max Crew %: 19.78 s See Crew, Consumables, or Equipment for more information. | |}} | |}} 1.15 r/m  ▲ Standard Gun Reload Times Nominal: 52.3 s 50% Crew: 64.79 s 75% Crew: 56.57 s 100% Crew: 50.15 s Rammer: 45.14 s Vents: 49.04 s Both: 44.14 s Both and BiA: 43.18 s Both and Max Crew %: 41.39 s See Crew, Consumables, or Equipment for more information. Rate of Fire

| |}} | |}} 1440 ▲ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 1 (600 Damage): With wholly penetrating hits Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 1440 50% Crew: 1164 75% Crew: 1332 100% Crew: 1500 100% Crew Vents: 1536 Rammer: 1668 Both: 1704 Both and BiA: 1740 Both and Max Crew %: 1818 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 2040 50% Crew: 1764 75% Crew: 1932 100% Crew: 2100 100% Crew Rammer: 2268 Vents: 2136 Both: 2304 Both and BiA: 2340 Both and Max Crew %: 2418 See here, here, or here for more information. ▼ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 2 (800 Damage): With wholly penetrating hits Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 1920 50% Crew: 1552 75% Crew: 1776 100% Crew: 2000 100% Crew Vents: 2048 Rammer: 2224 Both: 2272 Both and BiA: 2320 Both and Max Crew %: 2424 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 2720 50% Crew: 2352 75% Crew: 2576 100% Crew: 2800 100% Crew Rammer: 3024 Vents: 2848 Both: 3072 Both and BiA: 3120 Both and Max Crew %: 3224 See here, here, or here for more information. ▲ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 3 (440 Damage): Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 1056 50% Crew: 853.6 75% Crew: 976.8 100% Crew: 1100 100% Crew Vents: 1126.4 Rammer: 1223.2 Both: 1249.6 Both and BiA: 1276 Both and Max Crew %: 1333.2 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 1496 50% Crew: 1293.6 75% Crew: 1416.8 100% Crew: 1540 100% Crew Rammer: 1663.2 Vents: 1566.4 Both: 1689.6 Both and BiA: 1716 Both and Max Crew %: 1773.2 See here, here, or here for more information. | |}} | |}} 1035 ▲ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 1 (900 Damage): With wholly penetrating hits Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 1035 50% Crew: 837 75% Crew: 954 100% Crew: 1080 100% Crew Vents: 1107 Rammer: 1197 Both: 1224 Both and BiA: 1251 Both and Max Crew %: 1305 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 1935 50% Crew: 1737 75% Crew: 1854 100% Crew: 1980 100% Crew Rammer: 2097 Vents: 2007 Both: 2124 Both and BiA: 2151 Both and Max Crew %: 2205 See here, here, or here for more information. ▼ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 2 (1200 Damage): With wholly penetrating hits Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 1380 50% Crew: 1116 75% Crew: 1272 100% Crew: 1440 100% Crew Vents: 1476 Rammer: 1596 Both: 1632 Both and BiA: 1668 Both and Max Crew %: 1740 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 2580 50% Crew: 2316 75% Crew: 2472 100% Crew: 2640 100% Crew Rammer: 2796 Vents: 2676 Both: 2832 Both and BiA: 2868 Both and Max Crew %: 2940 See here, here, or here for more information. ▲ Standard Gun Using Shell Type 3 (600 Damage): Theoretical Damage Per Minute Nominal DPM: 690 50% Crew: 558 75% Crew: 636 100% Crew: 720 100% Crew Vents: 738 Rammer: 798 Both: 816 Both and BiA: 834 Both and Max Crew %: 870 Advantageous Damage Per Minute First-shot DPM: 1290 50% Crew: 1158 75% Crew: 1236 100% Crew: 1320 100% Crew Rammer: 1398 Vents: 1338 Both: 1416 Both and BiA: 1434 Both and Max Crew %: 1470 See here, here, or here for more information. Damage Per Minute

| |}} 0.69 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 0.855 m With 75% Crew: 0.746 m With 100% Crew: 0.662 m With BiA: 0.647 m With BiA and Vents: 0.633 m Maximum possible: 0.607 m For more details, see Crew | |}} 0.83 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 1.028 m With 75% Crew: 0.898 m With 100% Crew: 0.796 m With BiA: 0.778 m With BiA and Vents: 0.761 m Maximum possible: 0.73 m For more details, see Crew Accuracy

| |}} 5.4 s  ▲ With 50% Crew: 6.689 s With 75% Crew: 5.841 s With 100% Crew: 5.178 s With GLD: 4.707 s With BiA: 5.064 s With BiA and Vents: 4.954 s With both and GLD: 4.503 s Maximum possible: 4.317 s For more details, see Crew or Equipment | |}} 6.3 s  ▲ With 50% Crew: 7.804 s With 75% Crew: 6.814 s With 100% Crew: 6.041 s With GLD: 5.492 s With BiA: 5.908 s With BiA and Vents: 5.779 s With both and GLD: 5.254 s Maximum possible: 5.036 s For more details, see Crew or Equipment Aim time

1212 deg/s Gun Traverse Speed

8° Gun Arc

-2°/+58°-2°/+58° Elevation Arc

3012 rounds Ammo Capacity

General

1515 % Chance of Fire

275 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 216.1 m With 75% Crew: 245.6 m With 100% Crew: 275 m With Recon and Situational Awareness: 288.9 m With Coated Optics: 302.5 m With Binocular Telescope: 343.75 m Maximum possible: 393.7 m For more details, see Skills or Equipment 275 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 216.1 m With 75% Crew: 245.6 m With 100% Crew: 275 m With Recon and Situational Awareness: 288.9 m With Coated Optics: 302.5 m With Binocular Telescope: 343.75 m Maximum possible: 393.7 m For more details, see Skills or Equipment View Range

| |}} 360 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 282.8 m With 75% Crew: 321.5 m With 100% Crew: 360 m With 100% Signal Boost: 432 m When affected by 100% Relaying: 396 m Maximum possible: 518 m For more details, see Skills or Equipment | |}} 625 m  ▲ With 50% Crew: 491.1 m With 75% Crew: 558.1 m With 100% Crew: 625 m With 100% Signal Boost: 750 m When affected by 100% Relaying: 687.5 m Maximum possible: 899.3 m For more details, see Skills or Equipment Signal Range

Values are Stock - click for TopValues are Top - click for Stock

SU-8

S-51

SU-14-2

VII

1400000

The S-51 is a Soviet tier 7 self-propelled gun.

Designed and built on the chassis of the KV-1S. The development of a prototype started in January 1944. The 203-mm B-4 howitzer was mounted on the restored hull of a KV-1S. From March 1944 through to the beginning of April, the vehicle underwent trials. Despite successful trials, the S-51 never entered mass production.

Often nicknamed by the players as "The Unicorn" for its impressively long barrel when held upwards when aiming, right out of the box it has the SU-14-1's upgraded gun. It's rather slow when you first get it and performance will be sluggish, but once upgraded its mobility kicks in. Most players agree that the S-51 is superior to the SU-14-1 for these reasons -- its mobility (especially when relocating to avoid becoming a counter-battery target), its agility in running from danger, and faster traverse speeds in switching between targets. It also has a smaller profile than the SU-14, which helps it with camouflage.

The S-51 leads to the SU-14-2.

Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables

Modules

Guns

Tier	Gun	Penetration (mm)	Damage (HP)	Rate of fire (rounds/minute)	Dispersion (m/100m)	Aiming time (s)		Weight (kg)	Price ()
VII	152 mm BR-2	38/48/216	600/800/440	2.4	0.69	5.4		5720	92000
IX	203 mm B-4	52/65/258	900/1200/600	1.15	0.83	6.3		5200	235000

Engines

Tier	Engine	Engine Power (hp)	Chance of Fire on Impact (%)		Weight (kg)	Price ()
VI	V-2K	500	15		750	23050
VI	V-2-10	520	15		750	29000
VII	V-16	600	15		750	36500

Suspensions

Tier	Suspension	Load Limit (т)	Traverse Speed (gr/sec)	Rmin		Weight (kg)	Price ()
VI	S-51	52	18	0		12500	14600
VII	S-51 Bis	52.5	20	0		12500	19800

Radios

Tier	Radio	Signal Range (m)		Weight (kg)	Price ()
V	10R	360		100	3660
IX	12RT	625		110	33600

Compatible Equipment

              

Compatible Consumables

                      

Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:

+ Highest damage in tier with 203mm gun (tied with the SU-14-1)

+ 203mm gun has high vertical shell arc

+ Relatively mobile for artillery; can relocate easily

+ Stock gun has fast reload and good DPM; it is preferred choice of many players

Cons:

- Very narrow gun traverse

- Very long reload time with top gun

- Very limited ammo capacity with top gun

- Extremely slow aim time and ridiculous accuracy; shells usually hit the aiming reticle border rather than at the center.

- Entirely different play-style than the preceding KV-2, requiring SPG practice on other lines to be competent

Performance

Along with its counterpart the SU-14-1 the S-51 carries a massive-for-its-tier 203mm gun, but it pays dearly for that power. Like the G.W. Tiger (p) and SU-14-1 it has high damage for its tier (and is often overkill against tanks below its tier), but at the cost of low accuracy, long reload, and low mobility. Therefore many people prefer the stock 152mm gun for its much faster reload, higher accuracy, and better DPM. The ammo count is low -- only 12 rounds. Bad accuracy and long aim time (which are both considerably worse on the top gun) and -- worst of all -- very narrow gun traverse, means that you must pre-aim targets well in advance and choose your shots carefully, as you won't get many of them.

Early Research

• The vehicle can hold the best gun, radio and engine in stock form, so you don't have to get the suspension
• IF you want the 203 mm gun on this vehicle, you can research it first
• Get the radio as it extends the radio range
• Next, get the suspension; it gives you better turning speed and maneuverability and it's relatively cheap to research
• Finally, get the engine
• Even if you don't wish to use the 203mm gun, you should still research it. You will need it on the SU-14-2

Suggested Equipment

   

Gallery

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  S-51 front left view

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  S-51 front right view

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  S-51 rear left view

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  S-51 rear right view

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  S-51 front left view

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  S-51 front right view

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  S-51 back left view

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  S-51 back right view

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  S-51, map Malinovka

Historical Info

On end of 1943, the GAU began the re-designing of mobile heavy duty self-propelled artillery systems. Ten years earlier, it was supposed to arm a platform with the 203-mm howitzer model 1931, with production planned to resume at the factory "Bolshevik" in 1944. If it succeeded, WPRA would get a mobile devastating weapon. By order of the Commissar of weapons Ustinov in November 1943, a competition to develop self-propelled guns was announced, which received the semi-official title of "Knight".

Within weeks, some preliminary drafts were presented from plant № 100 NKTP, CB Uralmash, and TsAKB. The first of them, created under the leadership of J. J. Kotin, was a self-propelled gun carriage with trailer that, in some ways, resembled the French GPF 194, but with a more powerful gun. Draft CB UZTM had two options; a 203-mm howitzer B-4 on the chassis of the KV-1S (modernized draft SAC U-19) or two 152-mm howitzers on two SU-122 chassis. Before using its gun, it was supposed to connect both chassis; preparation to firing was about 30-40 minutes, versus 20 minutes with the Kotin design. It is clear that the development of plant number 100 and UZTM won't give adequate fire support due to its technological complexity. In order to build a single prototype, only TsAKB submitted a draft SAU under the symbol "S-51". The chassis of the KV-1S was considered for the base of the S-51, but it was quickly discovered that the length of the support-surface was insufficient and needed adjustment: a modified version with 7 or 8 rollers. However, NKTP was reluctant to change its production because the amount of modifications required was relatively large, and the number of issued ACS was unlikely to be exceed several tens of units. To this end, it was decided to establish a howitzer on the chassis of an unaltered KV-1S anyways, which was not the best solution. The chassis did not undergo any major change, except for the engine. The tank turret was dismantled, and a 203-mm howitzer B-4 was mounted on the open gun-carriage. Because the weight of the 203 mm howitzer was slightly heavier than the weight of a fully-loaded turret, the full combat-load weight was almost 50 tons. Thus, it was not expected to have good mobility.

The first prototype of the S-51 entered factory tests in February 1944, conducted under the reduced program. However, interest in high powered artillery was so great that it was still not finished was transferred to ANIOP. Here, all of the major disadvantages of the S-51 were revealed. Because of the high line-of-fire when firing, the self-propelled chassis was strongly swayed by inertia and would move to a lateral displacement. The elevation angle was relatively small, and the recoil was so strong that the crew could not hold on their seats. The severe recoil, large size and weight of its projectiles, and the extreme discomfort for the crew would require the installation of a rammer/loader. In addition, the chassis of the KV-1S proved it was clearly not a good platform on which to install guns of this calibre. After comparing all the data obtained in the COD, it was felt that the S-51 still be sent to production, but to no success. First of all, the issue of using KV-1S chassis was resolved in December 1942: the required amount of modifications for heavy self-propelled guns was only possible with the serious alteration of serial machines. Another important reason was the lack of the B-4 howitzer, which was not in production-scale numbers.

In return, engineers and design bureaus TsAKB plant number 100 had developed a version of an SPG on the chassis of a heavy tank, with the installation of a 152-mm howitzer BL-2. A prototype self-propelled guns, named S-59, was made in early 1944 on May-June, and underwent range tests. There is some discrepancy in the data on the type of equipment. According to factory records, S-59 received the chassis and body from the IP-85, but according to a report on the tests, the self-propelled gun had the "improved chassis of the heavy KV tank ". However, when firing a full charge, the S-59 began to have problems similar to that of the S-51, so mass production of the unit was not raised. As a result, this direction in the development of ACS fire-power ended.

Nevertheless, the projects of heavy self-propelled guns continued to appear until the end of the war. For example, on July 29 1944, head of the Leningrad branch TsAKB Igor Ivanov presented the "technical adjustment of the IEC preliminary draft of ACS", which was supposed to use the chassis of paired T-34 tanks and the 210 mm gun BR-17 or 208 mm howitzer BL-18 . Based on a draft presented a year earlier of the proposed CB UZTM, this ACS differed by a more simple design. This development by TsAKB aroused some interest in the leadership of the People's Commissariat of Arms, but the timing of the project was not realistic; a prototype self-propelled gun was required to be submitted not later than 30 September of that year, and thus failed at the challenge of Leningrad.

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Historical Gallery

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  S51 prototype

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  S51 prototype

Sources and External Links

External Links

• https://www.aviarmor.net/TWW2/tanks/ussr/s51.htm
• https://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/03/s-51.html
• https://yuripasholok.livejournal.com/3061335.html

USSR

Self-Propelled Guns

ja:Tank:R15 S-51