Photogaleries

ASU-85 gallery

Javier
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The ASU-85 is a powerful self-propelled assault gun to support the infantry with limited capacity as a tank destroyer. Its quality of being airborne was its main advantage over other vehicles of its time.
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Unfortunately for ASU-85, the casemate gun concept was outdated when it entered service, so it was soon relegated from the frontline Airborne Divisions.
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Although the first prototype was ready in 1953, it was not until 1961 when the ASU-85 entered into production. The first designation was SU-85, the same as another assault gun derived from the T-34 tank.
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The first design was open topped and the Ministry of Defense issued an order for the final vehicle to have an armored roof, which delayed its production for almost 3 years.
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PT-76 light tank chassis was chosen as the basis of the ASU-85 but without the amphibious capabilities. It had an internal layout similar to the tanks, driver in the front, central combat chamber and powerplant at the rear.
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The Soviet Airborne Divisions were trained to operate anywhere in the World, with snow, in deserts or in the taiga, so the ASU-85 self propelled gun was prepared to fight in such terrains.
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The 85mm D-70 (2A15) gun fires HEAT, HVAP.T and HE ammunition. They carried forty 85mm rounds and the gun could penetrate almost 200mm of steel armor at 1 km maximum distance.
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The “troop transport” is another of the “classic missions” of all Soviet vehicles, and the ASU-85 was no exception. Here we see a light infantry charge in the “old school” style.
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ASU-85 were distributed in assault gun batallions of 31 vehicles each. Likewise, each of the 8 Soviet Airborne Division of that time had one of these battalions.
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Unfortunately ASU-85 did not have much profusion in the Warsaw Pact’s Armies, being used only by Poland, (31 examples), and East Germany. The USSR used them in the Soviet-Afgan War.
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This is the ASU-85M or ASU-85 “M-1974” according to NATO designation, which mounted a 12.7mm DShK heavy machine gun, which reduced its ammunition capacity to only thirty-four 85mm rounds.

 

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