ZSU-37

History

The ZSU-37 originated from the need for self-propelled artillery (SPAAG) in the Soviet Army during World War II (1939-1945). It is based on the chassis of the SU-76 self-propelled artillery system, which in turn originated from the T-70 light tank in 1942.

Development of the 12.5 ton vehicle began in 1943, and production began slowly until the end of the war in Europe, with very few operational vehicles produced at Plant 40 in Metgish. Post-war production continued, with 75 cars delivered between 1945 and 1948.

The ZSU-37 is armed with a 37mm M1939 (61-K) automatic cannon mounted on a cantilever on the tail of the T-70 fuselage. The hull was lengthened to accommodate the turret mount, allowing the sixth roadwheel to be mounted to the track assembly. The tracked track system retains the T-70 light tank's front drive sprocket and rear track idler and uses three track return rollers.

The vehicle's various fairings provide armor protection ranging from 6mm to 35mm, with dimensions including 17 feet long, 9 feet wide and 7 feet high. A typical operator has six people.

The ZSU-37 is powered by a liquid-cooled 12-cylinder GAZ-203 series gasoline engine - really just two paired 6-cylinder GAZ engines. Twin engines rated at 160 horsepower give the ZSU-37 a maximum speed of 28 mph and a range of 220 miles.

Torsion bar suspension allows off-road cruising at speeds below 20 mph and range below 140 miles.

In actual service, the limits of the ZSU-37 were quickly exposed. The chassis of the light tank did not have the required maneuverability, and the arrangement of its powerplant was not suitable for the range and speed expected in Soviet tank maneuvering.

In addition, armor protection was poor, and the open-air nature of the turret exposed the crew to a variety of battlefield hazards and inclement weather. The single 37mm gun - while powerful in other roles - is not suitable as a rapid-fire gun against incoming, moving air targets.

As a result, the ZSU-37 did not have a long service life and went down in history due to limited production. The Soviet Army adopted the ZSU-57-2 SPAAG with 2 x 57 mm guns, based on a greatly improved chassis and running gear of the famous T-54 (MBT) main battle tank.

The ZPU part of the name comes from the Russian word "Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka", which means "self-propelled anti-aircraft mount". The "37" in the name comes from the gun caliber.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Depends on ammo rack/attachment.

Changes