Su-76 (Suchka)

History

On June 22, 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union and caught them off guard. Hitler's goal was to eliminate the Soviet Union as a military power, eliminate communism, and at the same time provide some living space for the German people. During the summer months, the Germans made significant advances in Soviet-held areas, inflicting heavy casualties on Soviet troops and materiel.

In this desperate time, the National Defense Council had to decide which war materiel should be prioritized and which types of vehicles should be mass-produced as soon as possible to stem the Nazi wave.

Since the heart and soul of Hitler's army were his tanks, it was only natural that the Soviets made progress in developing a powerful anti-tank system against German tanks. One such anti-tank weapon became the Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 76, better known as the SU-76. The weapon matches the chassis of the T-70 light tank - already in production but barely able to fight German tanks - and adds the powerful and proven 76.2mm 3" field gun as the main weapon. Since the field gun itself was an already mass-produced towed gun, it was natural to combine the weapon with an off-the-shelf T-70 chassis into an experimental model known as the OSU. 76.

Modifications were needed to support the extra weight of the new car, adding an extra wheel to each side of the chassis and widening the chassis itself. In production form, the OSU-76 is known as the SU-76.

After the first models were already in production, it was decided to change their centrally positioned main gun to the left. With a maximum armor thickness of 25mm, the new tank killer is nicknamed "Suchka" - meaning "little B%tch" - due to the thin armor on the rear of the vehicle. The original engines were underpowered and changed from the GAZ 203 series to two engines, although this created problems for the driver to control two engines at the same time instead of one. Its seat is next to the engine, and there are no bulkheads. The interior is covered but exposed so that the outside weather is a real factor for the crew.

Lightweight shock absorbers and rods allow for harsh vibrations and quick engine and transmission failures. This lack of comfort and shortcomings was undoubtedly due to the harsh Soviet mentality and eagerness to develop in response to the German onslaught.

Originally designed as an anti-tank weapon, the SU-76 and its main gun Zis-3 L/41 lost their sharpness with the increased armor protection of German tanks. It was then decided to change their role on the battlefield and provide direct fire support to the Soviet army. The most popular variant is the SU-76M, which has an open top.

As a close support vehicle, the open-top SU-76M naturally suffers from a lack of occupant protection. However, this design element has its advantages, as it allows for better communication on the battlefield through the use of hand signals from infantry and other SU-76M systems.

The convertible top also reduces the SU-76M's combat weight, directly increasing its top speed.

Both SU-76 variants are effective against German light and medium tanks and vehicles, and can even take down the fearsome Panther tank with flanking fire. Towards the end of the war, some of the SU-76's main guns were completely dismantled and then used as ammunition carriers and field rescue vehicles.

Some even turned into artillery tractors, towing the trusty 76.2mm Type 1942 field gun.

Other variants include the limited edition SU-76B with an enclosed crew compartment and the self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-37.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

62 x AP, APCR, shaped charge

Changes