Special Anti-tank Gun System

Since the appearance of tanks on the battlefield even during the First World War, the primary means of combating them has become a field artillery. Special anti-tank gun system appeared much later. In the armies, they received only in the thirties. They were rapid-fire cannons 20-47 mm. The low silhouette allow them to easily mask the area, and having to battle weight range of 300-500 kg, they were quite maneuverable in combat. Transporting guns by mechanical and horse traction.

At the beginning of the Second World War there were tanks with protivosnaryadnym booking. Therefore, the previous small-caliber guns were ineffective. Then the caliber of the guns began to rise: 75, 76, 88, 100 mm! Increased and the initial velocity of projectiles. At the same time greatly increased their fighting weight: 1,5-4 tons, so the instrument with great difficulty towed and mask on rough terrain. The logical step was the creation of installation of a self-propelled anti-tank guns on tracked chassis. This was first done in 1940, when based on the Legacy of German light tank T-1 installed 47-mm cannon. In 1941 we released a small amount of 57-mm guns on the chassis crawler tractor Komsomolets. It was easy or not fully armored vehicles. In 1942, in various armies of the belligerent countries, a large number of anti-tank installations caliber 75-76 mm on the basis of detachable from the production of tanks captured or obsolete machines. We have a SU-76 was originally produced from the end of 1942. The Germans they were 75 – and 76-mm SD on the basis of tanks T-II, 38 (t) and others, the British 76-mm “Archer” on the base of the tank “Valentine”, etc. All these easy and partly armored, open top and rear self-propelled guns had a small deflection guns.

However, the needed anti-GC, can accompany tanks in the battle to maintain their fire and repel the attacks of enemy tanks. So it took a fighting machine with a full protivosnaryadnym booking. They were built on the basis of basic let out tanks, but instead the tower SU had fixed the conning tower, in front of the compartment which is based on 75-100 mm gun with a limited angle of pickup. The armor and maneuverability are not inferior to the basic machine-tanks and, as a rule, the power of gun system superior to them.

In preparation for the summer offensive, the Nazi command were banking on new heavy tanks and self installation. The latter include fighter aircraft and tanks, “Elephant”, also known under the name “Ferdinand”. This machine was created on the basis of not adopting a Germanic army experienced heavy tank design FA Porsche. The fact is that, without waiting for test results of new heavy vehicles, the company “Nibelungen” produced 90 tank chassis Porsche. After the War Department rejected the tank, it was decided to use the available chassis for anti-SU, capable of fighting with our T-34 and KV. To do this in front of the former tank, now a stern, built a fully booked cabin, where he established a new 88-mm length of 71-caliber gun. Her Subcaliber shell (initial rate of IZO m / s) punched from 1000 m at right angles armor thickness of about 200 mm. “Elephant” in accordance with the design of F. Porsche had electric transmission: in the walls of its two engines were power generators, producing electricity. He had an electric motors, which drives the drive wheel of the machine. Four members of the crew served weapon. The driver and radio operator stationed in front of the machine.

Elephant in the two battalions of tank destroyers was thrown into battle on the northern fase Kursk Bulge (July 1943). They were very dangerous opponents tanks in battles with long distances, but proved to be extremely vulnerable in close combat. These slow-moving cars do not even have machine guns, only in late 1943, it established on the remaining machines in the frontal part of their body.

The response of our designers on the new German tanks was the SU-85, constructed under the direction of LI Gorlitskiy based on the average tank T-34. It entered service in August 1943. It strongly tilted in front of the compartment mounted 85-mm gun, the ballistic characteristics not different from the one that later was used on T-34-85. Fully armored vehicle, which retained its running and maneuvering characteristics of T-34, has become an important tool to combat enemy tanks and direct support of their tanks and infantry. In late 1944 it was replaced by the new SU-100 (see “TM” № 12, 1970) differs from the previous more powerful gun system (its armor-piercing projectile at 1000 m punched 160-mm armor) and the commander’s cupola.

In an effort to create a massive, easy and cheap fighter tanks, the German command in 1943, decided to use for this purpose, the base of obsolete tanks 38 (t). Production of a new self-propelled “Hettser” began in April 1944 and lasted until the end of the war. Were produced in total about 2600 pieces. “Hettser had a low building with a large inclination angles of frontal, side and stern armor plates. The engine capacity was increased, and compared with the base machine reinforced chassis. Thanks to successful structural solutions, enshrined in the 38 (t), “Hettser” maintained good mobility, although it turned out too heavy.

A slightly different design features of created in 1942-1944 years of the American tank destroyers. They had a main armament, set in a fully rotating tower, without its roof. Such, for example, M10, armed with 76-mm gun, and M36 with a 90-mm cannon. They were created on the base of the tank M4 Sherman with a slightly modified PNR Corps. Combat weight they amounted to respectively 29 and 27 tons, crew – 5 pers. Built, there were 6700 and 1300 pieces.

More interesting was the SU M18 “Witch”, manufactured by “Buick” in 1943 (built 2500 pcs.) On a specially designed base. Her hull is welded from rolled armor plates. Suspension individual, torsion. Engine air-cooling and power transmission unit is mounted on a special frame, so that could be easily removed from the body to replace or repair. M18 was in service with the U.S. Army until the end of the war.