Re: Russian weapons v4
Hi,
may be I can help with some info on SU-122.
Bronetankovaya tekhnika SSSR 1939-45, page 22: "Self-propelled gun SU-122. Self-propelled gun for infantry support. Based on chassi of medium tank T-34 with 122mm howitzer M-30. Accepted for service on December 2, 1942. Serial production in UZTM (Sverdlovsk). From December 1942 to August 1943 built 638 pieces."
According to polish "monography" on SU-85/100/122 states, that there were 637 pieces. Other modifications of SU-122, though built in as much as 10 machines, were not accepted for service. Since August 1943 thus there were no serial SU-122 in production, until 1955. During 1955 and 1956 there was a small scale prodcution of about 95 SU-122-54, which are a completely different vehicle, than the old venerable SU-122.
About the new SU-122-54:
"Self-propelled gun SU-122 (object 600). The last soviet self-propelled gun for special purposes based on tank chassis, that was in serial production. Developed since 1949 as a tank destroyer. Accepted for service in 1954. Serial production ran in small series in 1955 and 1956.
SU-122 (sometimes designated in literature as SU-122-54) was quite modern self-propelled gun, measured by standards of fifties. Powerful gun, strong armor protection and not bad speed guaranteed it good fighting qualities.
It is not possible to determine the number of manufactured machines, but it is known, that factory No. 221 "Barricades" manufactured 65 guns D-49 in 1955 and additional 30 in 1956. In 1957 there was no production. Evidently accepting for service of first generation ATGM, which were much more effective anti-tank weapons, have made further production of SU-122 superfluous.
In the middle of sixties it became clear, that blunt nose projectile Br-471B does not penetrate either turret or hull front of American M60 or British Chieftain at any distance. It did not even penetrate front turret of American M48A2, and it came through hull front only under 100 meters..." (Bronetankovaya tekhnika SSSR 1945-95, part 2, page 15)
The main gun of these new SU-122 was D-49. As the same text states elsewhere "inner construction of gun barrel, ballistics and ammunition - the same as for D-25T."
To summarize - 637 SU-122 based on T-34 had M-30 and were in service from 1943 on (end date not known to me, as well as number that actually survived the war, if any). They were not modernized in any way, AFAIK.
95 new SU-122 based on T-54 had D-49 (essentially the same gun as D-25T) and were in service from 1955 on (end date 1970 or earlier - vehicles were disarmed and used as MTP-3 and other auxiliary machines).
Hope that helps a bit. I may look for further details, but I guess there is not much surprise waiting.
Regards,
badger45
BTW - many many thanks for continuous upgrades and patches. Unbelievable!
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