Difference between revisions of "SU-76M"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
 +
[[File:GarageImage_SU-76M.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''{{specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{specs|rank}} Soviet tank destroyer {{BR2}}. It was introduced in during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41.
 +
 
 +
The SU-76 is a fairly versatile Rank 2 assault gun, equipped with a very good gun for its BR of 2.3.
 +
 
 +
Overall, the Su-76M is to be played defensively, with the ability to carry out some sneaky, cautious flanks if given a decent opportunity, but it should never get into prolonged fighting up close. A two-versus-one situation is very unfavourable for this vehicle.
 +
 
 +
The further research will then lead you to its successor – a fully enclosed [[SU-122]], carrying more armour, but mainly the massive 122 mm howitzer.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
+
<!--''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
  
−
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 25 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 30 mm (30°) ''Lower glacis'' <br> 25 mm (35-89°) ''Driver's hatch'' || 15 mm || 15 mm (1°) ''Top'' <br> 15 mm (32°) ''Lower'' || 7 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Superstructure || 25 mm (27°) || 10 mm (21-24°) ''Left'' <br> 10 mm (18-19°) ''Right'' || 15 mm (1°) || N/A
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
* Suspension wheels are 10 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.
 +
* Belly armour is 7 mm thick.
 +
* The rear superstructure does not cover the entire crew compartment.
 +
* A 25 mm plate of armour separates the driver's and engine compartment to the rear fighting compartment.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
−
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
+
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''-->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
 +
|-
 +
! Weight (tons)
 +
!colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
 +
!colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 +
|-
 +
|rowspan="2" | 10.5 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 44 (AB)
 +
|-
 +
|40 (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|199
 +
|245
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|124
 +
|140
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|18.95
 +
|23.33
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|11.81
 +
|13.33
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
−
=== Main armament ===
+
<!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''-->
−
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
+
{{main|ZiS-3 (76 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | [[ZiS-3 (76 mm)|76 mm Zi-3]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="3" | 60 || -3°/+25° || ±15° || N/A
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 +
|-
 +
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 +
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| ''Arcade'' || 4.20 || 5.80 || _.__ || __._ || __._
 +
|-
 +
| ''Realistic'' || 4.20 || 4.90 || _.__ || __._ || __._
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| 9.0 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
  
−
=== Additional armament ===
+
===== Ammunition =====
−
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10m
 +
! 100m
 +
! 500m
 +
! 1000m
 +
! 1500m
 +
! 2000m
 +
|-
 +
| BR-350A || APHEBC || 80 || 78 || 71 || 63 || 56 || 50
 +
|-
 +
| BR-350SP || APBC || 105 || 104 || 85 || 69 || 57 || 46
 +
|-
 +
| BR-350P || APCR || 135 || 130 || 92 || 60 || 39 || 26
 +
|-
 +
| BP-350A || HEAT || 80 || 80 || 80 || 80 || 80 || 80
 +
|-
 +
| BR-350B || APHEBC || 98 || 95 || 87 || 77 || 68 || 60
 +
|-
 +
| OF-350M || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
 +
|-
 +
| Sh-354T || Shrapnel || 37 || 35 || 29 || 25 || 20 || 17
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="11" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
 +
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
 +
''in m:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
 +
''in mm:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 +
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 +
|-
 +
! 0%
 +
! 50%
 +
! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| BR-350A || APHEBC || 665 || 6.3 || 0.15 || 10.0 || 150 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 +
|-
 +
| BR-350SP || APBC || 680 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 +
|-
 +
| BR-350P || APCR || 950 || 3.0 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +1.5° || 66° || 70° || 72°
 +
|-
 +
| BP-350A || HEAT || 355 || 5.3 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 1,060 || +0° || 62° || 69° || 73°
 +
|-
 +
| BR-350B || APHEBC || 680 || 6.3 || 0.9 || 15.0 || 108.8 || +1.5° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 +
|-
 +
| OF-350M || HE || 680 || 6.2 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 621 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 +
|-
 +
| Sh-354T || Shrapnel || 680 || 6.2 || 0.5 || 8.0 || 85 || +0° || 62° || 69° || 73°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 +
! colspan="7" | Smoke characteristic
 +
|-
 +
! Ammunition
 +
! Velocity <br /> in m/s
 +
! Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 +
! ''Screen radius <br /> in m''
 +
! ''Screen time <br /> in s''
 +
! ''Screen hold time <br /> in s:''
 +
! ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 +
|-
 +
| D-350A || 680 || 6.5 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
−
=== Machine guns ===
+
===== [[Ammo Racks|Ammo racks]] =====
−
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
[[File:Ammoracks_SU-76M.png|thumbnail|right|x250px|Ammo rack layout of the SU-76M.]]
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br />ammo
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br />rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br />discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| '''60''' || 46&nbsp;''(+14)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+44)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+59)'' || style="text-align:left" | yes
 +
|}
  
 
== Usage in the battles ==
 
== Usage in the battles ==
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
 +
As is common with Tank Destroyers, the SU-76M needs to be handled with care. Not only does it not have a rotating turret, it has an open top and practically no protection from behind. Therefore, when an engagement's complexity evolves and the Su-76 is surrounded, there is little that can be done to survive. One well placed hit to its rear will knock out a good part of the exposed crew, even machine guns can do the job of eliminating both loader and gunner.
 +
 
 +
Therefore, it is crucial to remain at a distance from the enemy, perhaps even seek the cover of trees for protection against low-level attack aircraft, and to only ever give the front side to an enemy. The fact that this vehicle does not have a turret not only means that it is not effective when fighting more mobile enemies attempting to flank, it also means that placing your armour at an angle is not a viable strategy to increase relative armour thickness and stay more protected, since the gun's limits for horizontal traverse mean that any significant angle of the hull towards an enemy will make make it harder to keep the enemy in sight. What can be done is to fire a shot and, immediately after, angle the hull ''whilst reloading'', to then return to facing the enemy to fire another shot. However, hiding whilst reloading is the most sensible choice.
 +
 
 +
Unfortunately, the SU-76 has fairly poor mobility, handling, and a vastly different gun when compared to its smaller and more mobile cousin, the Zis-30. You could compare the Zis-30s gun to a nail. It's gun will pierce through anything at its rank, making most tanks armour seem like paper, but sometime its internal damage will be minimal and confined to the area that it penetrates. The gun on the SU-76 is more like a hammer. The sheer force of the shells will cause huge amounts of trauma to a target upon penetration. The SU-76 is also more well armoured than the Zis-30 and provides much more protection to the gunner crew, especially from smaller caliber rounds (Unless fired from the rear). Given its poor gun depression and velocity, the SU-76 should be used as a mobile brawler and ambusher. It is well suited to performing ambushes in urban areas. The high HE filler of the 76mm shell makes it capable of OHK'ing nearly all enemy armour at its 2.3 BR. A minor issue with the SU-76 is that it has no defensive machine gun, meaning that responding quickly to SPAA is difficult.
 +
 
 +
The gun in itself is what makes the SU-76M a good vehicle, all its other characteristics are less than impressive. The variety of ammunition is a definite pro for this SPG, its APCR and HEAT shells being effective even at higher ranks, giving this humble tank destroyer the ability to down hightier tanks like the [[Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1]]. Recently, the much more effective late-war BR-350B ammunition has been added to the SU-76M's ammunition options. It features noticeably more penetration and a better fuze in exchange for somewhat less explosive mass. Despite this you will often kill most enemies in one shot when you penetrate. Once unlocked, the SU-76 is quite capable of dealing with any tank it is likely to see from the front, though you may have to swap ammunition often to deal with different targets.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
−
 
 
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
* Good gun
−
 
+
* Good selection of ammunition
 +
* Decent HE filler in the AP shell
 +
* Mobile
 +
* Low profile
 +
* Adequate penetration with BR-350B shell
 +
* Access to APCR shell
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
* Open topped
 +
* Weak armour, can be vulnerable to SPAAs
 +
* Gun performs poorly at long ranges
 +
* Vulnerable to starfing fighters
 +
* Easy prey when uptiered; much capable vehicles, such as the [[Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F2|Pz.IV F2]], [[Sturmgeschütz_III_Ausf._F|StuG III F]], and [[Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. M|Pz.III M]] are within the BR reach
 +
* Vulnerable to HE shells
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''-->
 +
===Development===
 +
During the interwar years, the development of self-propelled artillery was practically nonexistent in the Soviet Union. Those few projects, based on the chassis of [[T-26 mod. 1939|T-26 light tank]], such as SU-1, AT-1 or SU-26, were eventually cancelled, and the Red Army entered the Second World War entirely without a dedicated self-propelled gun.
 +
 
 +
The situation changed after the German invasion in 1941, and vehicles such as the [[SU-152]] or [[SU-122]], based on the [[KV-1 ZiS-5|KV-1]] and [[T-34 1941|T-34]] tanks respectively, were developed. In November 1942, the State Defense Committee then ordered the production of a light self-propelled gun, built on the chassis of a light tank and armed with a 76.2 mm gun. The [[T-70|T-70 light tank]] chassis was chosen, as the other light tanks, the [[T-50]] and [[T-60]], was already out of production. The chassis had to be modified for this role, so it was lengthened and had one additional pair of road wheels added to the design. The armament, the 76.2 mm divisional M1942 gun (also designated ZiS-3), was mounted in a fully enclosed case mate. The gun was positioned at the rear, with the transmission being mounted frontally. The vehicle was designated '''SU-76''' (Samokhodnaya Ustanovka, “Self-Propelled Gun“), and the production was issued to the No.38 Factory in Kirov and started in December 1942. However, after only a couple of hundred vehicles were produced, the production was halted due to serious mechanical problems and other issues. The power train consisted of two GAZ-202 automobile engines, with each powering one track. However, there was no synchronization gear, so the driver has to control both engines simultaneously, which was an extremely difficult task. This arrangement also caused strong vibrations, which were the cause of frequent engine and transmission failures. The second biggest issue was the enclosed crew compartment, as it was very cramped and offered only a little space for crew members to work properly. The vehicle thus had to be modified, firstly the roof of the crew compartment was removed, improving the access to the gun. The power train was also changed, receiving the more powerful GAZ-203 engines, each producing 85 horsepower, which were now mounted in tandem on the right side of the vehicle, propelling a single drive-shaft. The modified vehicle was designated '''SU-76M''', and its production was resumed in early 1943. More than 14,000 SU-76M’s were produced between 1942-1945, making it the second most produced armoured vehicle in Soviet Union after the T-34 tank.
 +
 
 +
===Combat usage===
 +
In its intended role, the SU-76M replaced earlier infantry support tanks and was very welcome to Soviet infantry units as it provided them with a light and mobile universal support weapon. The vehicle was meant to be part of three battlefield roles - a light assault gun, a mobile tank destroyer, or a mobile artillery gun as the weapon could be fired indirectly at a range of 17 km. The vehicle was fairly lightweight and produced low ground pressure, enabling it to pass through terrain unsuitable for heavier vehicles. Tts gun could utilize multitude of ammunition types, aside from standard high explosive ammunition, it could use fragmentation, shrapnel, incendiary and smoke rounds. As a tank destroyer, the gun was sufficient against German light and medium tanks such as [[Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. F|Panzer III]] or [[Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F1|Panzer IV]]. The introduction of the APCR and HEAT rounds then enabled SU-76M units to engage even heavier [[Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. D|Panther]] and [[Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. H1|Tiger tanks]] with some success, though crew manuals instructed the gunner to try to hit the tracks or gun barrels before these rounds were made.
 +
 
 +
The vehicle also proved itself effective in an urban environment, where it was used as an assault gun for direct fire against enemy strong points and fortifications. The open-topped casemate made the crew vulnerable to snipers and hand grenades, but it also made the communication between vehicle commander and any accompanying infantry easier. Plus, it was found that the open compartment actually helps against the German infantry anti-tank weapon Panzerfaust, where a closed space would ensure the death of the crew members from the blast concussion amplified in the closed space. The SU-76M's low ground pressure from its weight made it one of the only Soviet vehicles able to operate in swampy terrain, which was extremely helpful during the Belarus Campaign in 1944, allowing the vehicle to attack through swamps in raids. This allowed the Soviets to bypass German defensive areas on more suitable terrain with support of an assault gun accompanying the light infantry. One famous SU-76M user was Rem Nikolaevich Ulanov, who was famous World War II veteran and his crew called their SU-76 the "Columbina".
 +
 
 +
After the end of World War II, the SU-76M was phased out of production, but many of them were exported to other countries, such as China, Cuba, North Korea, North Vietnam or Czechoslovakia, where they would be used in conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam War against the US and their allies.
 +
 
 +
===Survivors===
 +
Due to the large quantity produced and usage after World War II, many are found in intact conditions today in various locations around the world. Some could even be found as war monuments for the Soviet and German memorials.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
[http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23su76 '''Skins''' and '''camouflages''' for the SU-76M from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== Read also ==
 
== Read also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/3291/current/ Official War Thunder forum article: [Vehicle Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> SU-76]
−
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
−
''ETC.''
 
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
Line 51: Line 266:
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
 +
 +
{{USSR tank destroyers}}

Revision as of 16:32, 3 December 2018

SU-76M
ussr_su_76m_1943.png
SU-76M
USSR flag.png USSR
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
2.0 2.0 2.0
Class:
Research:5 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:6 300 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage SU-76M.jpg


The SU-76M is a Rank I Soviet tank destroyer Template:BR2. It was introduced in during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41.

The SU-76 is a fairly versatile Rank 2 assault gun, equipped with a very good gun for its BR of 2.3.

Overall, the Su-76M is to be played defensively, with the ability to carry out some sneaky, cautious flanks if given a decent opportunity, but it should never get into prolonged fighting up close. A two-versus-one situation is very unfavourable for this vehicle.

The further research will then lead you to its successor – a fully enclosed SU-122, carrying more armour, but mainly the massive 122 mm howitzer.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 25 mm (60°) Front glacis
30 mm (30°) Lower glacis
25 mm (35-89°) Driver's hatch 		15 mm 15 mm (1°) Top
15 mm (32°) Lower 		7 mm
Superstructure 25 mm (27°) 10 mm (21-24°) Left
10 mm (18-19°) Right 		15 mm (1°) N/A

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 10 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 7 mm thick.
  • The rear superstructure does not cover the entire crew compartment.
  • A 25 mm plate of armour separates the driver's and engine compartment to the rear fighting compartment.

Mobility

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons) Add-on Armor
weight (tons) 		Max speed (km/h)
10.5 N/A 44 (AB)
40 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 199 245
Realistic/Simulator 124 140
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 18.95 23.33
Realistic/Simulator 11.81 13.33

Armaments

Main article: ZiS-3 (76 mm)
76 mm Zi-3
Capacity Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Stabilizer
60 -3°/+25° ±15° N/A
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 4.20 5.80 _.__ __._ __._
Realistic 4.20 4.90 _.__ __._ __._
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
9.0 __.__ __.__ __.__


Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration in mm @ 90°
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
BR-350A APHEBC 80 78 71 63 56 50
BR-350SP APBC 105 104 85 69 57 46
BR-350P APCR 135 130 92 60 39 26
BP-350A HEAT 80 80 80 80 80 80
BR-350B APHEBC 98 95 87 77 68 60
OF-350M HE 9 9 9 9 9 9
Sh-354T Shrapnel 37 35 29 25 20 17
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
in m/s 		Projectile
Mass in kg 		Fuse delay

in m:

Fuse sensitivity

in mm:

Explosive Mass in g
(TNT equivalent): 		Normalization At 30°
from horizontal: 		Ricochet:
0% 50% 100%
BR-350A APHEBC 665 6.3 0.15 10.0 150 +4° 48° 63° 71°
BR-350SP APBC 680 6.8 N/A N/A N/A +4° 48° 63° 71°
BR-350P APCR 950 3.0 N/A N/A N/A +1.5° 66° 70° 72°
BP-350A HEAT 355 5.3 0.1 0.1 1,060 +0° 62° 69° 73°
BR-350B APHEBC 680 6.3 0.9 15.0 108.8 +1.5° 48° 63° 71°
OF-350M HE 680 6.2 0.05 0.1 621 +0° 79° 80° 81°
Sh-354T Shrapnel 680 6.2 0.5 8.0 85 +0° 62° 69° 73°
Smoke characteristic
Ammunition Velocity
in m/s 		Projectile
Mass in kg 		Screen radius
in m 		Screen time
in s 		Screen hold time
in s: 		Explosive Mass in g
(TNT equivalent):
D-350A 680 6.5 13 5 20 50
Ammo racks
Ammo rack layout of the SU-76M.
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
60 46 (+14) 31 (+29) 16 (+44) 1 (+59) yes

Usage in the battles

As is common with Tank Destroyers, the SU-76M needs to be handled with care. Not only does it not have a rotating turret, it has an open top and practically no protection from behind. Therefore, when an engagement's complexity evolves and the Su-76 is surrounded, there is little that can be done to survive. One well placed hit to its rear will knock out a good part of the exposed crew, even machine guns can do the job of eliminating both loader and gunner.

Therefore, it is crucial to remain at a distance from the enemy, perhaps even seek the cover of trees for protection against low-level attack aircraft, and to only ever give the front side to an enemy. The fact that this vehicle does not have a turret not only means that it is not effective when fighting more mobile enemies attempting to flank, it also means that placing your armour at an angle is not a viable strategy to increase relative armour thickness and stay more protected, since the gun's limits for horizontal traverse mean that any significant angle of the hull towards an enemy will make make it harder to keep the enemy in sight. What can be done is to fire a shot and, immediately after, angle the hull whilst reloading, to then return to facing the enemy to fire another shot. However, hiding whilst reloading is the most sensible choice.

Unfortunately, the SU-76 has fairly poor mobility, handling, and a vastly different gun when compared to its smaller and more mobile cousin, the Zis-30. You could compare the Zis-30s gun to a nail. It's gun will pierce through anything at its rank, making most tanks armour seem like paper, but sometime its internal damage will be minimal and confined to the area that it penetrates. The gun on the SU-76 is more like a hammer. The sheer force of the shells will cause huge amounts of trauma to a target upon penetration. The SU-76 is also more well armoured than the Zis-30 and provides much more protection to the gunner crew, especially from smaller caliber rounds (Unless fired from the rear). Given its poor gun depression and velocity, the SU-76 should be used as a mobile brawler and ambusher. It is well suited to performing ambushes in urban areas. The high HE filler of the 76mm shell makes it capable of OHK'ing nearly all enemy armour at its 2.3 BR. A minor issue with the SU-76 is that it has no defensive machine gun, meaning that responding quickly to SPAA is difficult.

The gun in itself is what makes the SU-76M a good vehicle, all its other characteristics are less than impressive. The variety of ammunition is a definite pro for this SPG, its APCR and HEAT shells being effective even at higher ranks, giving this humble tank destroyer the ability to down hightier tanks like the Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1. Recently, the much more effective late-war BR-350B ammunition has been added to the SU-76M's ammunition options. It features noticeably more penetration and a better fuze in exchange for somewhat less explosive mass. Despite this you will often kill most enemies in one shot when you penetrate. Once unlocked, the SU-76 is quite capable of dealing with any tank it is likely to see from the front, though you may have to swap ammunition often to deal with different targets.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good gun
  • Good selection of ammunition
  • Decent HE filler in the AP shell
  • Mobile
  • Low profile
  • Adequate penetration with BR-350B shell
  • Access to APCR shell

Cons:

  • Open topped
  • Weak armour, can be vulnerable to SPAAs
  • Gun performs poorly at long ranges
  • Vulnerable to starfing fighters
  • Easy prey when uptiered; much capable vehicles, such as the Pz.IV F2, StuG III F, and Pz.III M are within the BR reach
  • Vulnerable to HE shells

History

Development

During the interwar years, the development of self-propelled artillery was practically nonexistent in the Soviet Union. Those few projects, based on the chassis of T-26 light tank, such as SU-1, AT-1 or SU-26, were eventually cancelled, and the Red Army entered the Second World War entirely without a dedicated self-propelled gun.

The situation changed after the German invasion in 1941, and vehicles such as the SU-152 or SU-122, based on the KV-1 and T-34 tanks respectively, were developed. In November 1942, the State Defense Committee then ordered the production of a light self-propelled gun, built on the chassis of a light tank and armed with a 76.2 mm gun. The T-70 light tank chassis was chosen, as the other light tanks, the T-50 and T-60, was already out of production. The chassis had to be modified for this role, so it was lengthened and had one additional pair of road wheels added to the design. The armament, the 76.2 mm divisional M1942 gun (also designated ZiS-3), was mounted in a fully enclosed case mate. The gun was positioned at the rear, with the transmission being mounted frontally. The vehicle was designated SU-76 (Samokhodnaya Ustanovka, “Self-Propelled Gun“), and the production was issued to the No.38 Factory in Kirov and started in December 1942. However, after only a couple of hundred vehicles were produced, the production was halted due to serious mechanical problems and other issues. The power train consisted of two GAZ-202 automobile engines, with each powering one track. However, there was no synchronization gear, so the driver has to control both engines simultaneously, which was an extremely difficult task. This arrangement also caused strong vibrations, which were the cause of frequent engine and transmission failures. The second biggest issue was the enclosed crew compartment, as it was very cramped and offered only a little space for crew members to work properly. The vehicle thus had to be modified, firstly the roof of the crew compartment was removed, improving the access to the gun. The power train was also changed, receiving the more powerful GAZ-203 engines, each producing 85 horsepower, which were now mounted in tandem on the right side of the vehicle, propelling a single drive-shaft. The modified vehicle was designated SU-76M, and its production was resumed in early 1943. More than 14,000 SU-76M’s were produced between 1942-1945, making it the second most produced armoured vehicle in Soviet Union after the T-34 tank.

Combat usage

In its intended role, the SU-76M replaced earlier infantry support tanks and was very welcome to Soviet infantry units as it provided them with a light and mobile universal support weapon. The vehicle was meant to be part of three battlefield roles - a light assault gun, a mobile tank destroyer, or a mobile artillery gun as the weapon could be fired indirectly at a range of 17 km. The vehicle was fairly lightweight and produced low ground pressure, enabling it to pass through terrain unsuitable for heavier vehicles. Tts gun could utilize multitude of ammunition types, aside from standard high explosive ammunition, it could use fragmentation, shrapnel, incendiary and smoke rounds. As a tank destroyer, the gun was sufficient against German light and medium tanks such as Panzer III or Panzer IV. The introduction of the APCR and HEAT rounds then enabled SU-76M units to engage even heavier Panther and Tiger tanks with some success, though crew manuals instructed the gunner to try to hit the tracks or gun barrels before these rounds were made.

The vehicle also proved itself effective in an urban environment, where it was used as an assault gun for direct fire against enemy strong points and fortifications. The open-topped casemate made the crew vulnerable to snipers and hand grenades, but it also made the communication between vehicle commander and any accompanying infantry easier. Plus, it was found that the open compartment actually helps against the German infantry anti-tank weapon Panzerfaust, where a closed space would ensure the death of the crew members from the blast concussion amplified in the closed space. The SU-76M's low ground pressure from its weight made it one of the only Soviet vehicles able to operate in swampy terrain, which was extremely helpful during the Belarus Campaign in 1944, allowing the vehicle to attack through swamps in raids. This allowed the Soviets to bypass German defensive areas on more suitable terrain with support of an assault gun accompanying the light infantry. One famous SU-76M user was Rem Nikolaevich Ulanov, who was famous World War II veteran and his crew called their SU-76 the "Columbina".

After the end of World War II, the SU-76M was phased out of production, but many of them were exported to other countries, such as China, Cuba, North Korea, North Vietnam or Czechoslovakia, where they would be used in conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam War against the US and their allies.

Survivors

Due to the large quantity produced and usage after World War II, many are found in intact conditions today in various locations around the world. Some could even be found as war monuments for the Soviet and German memorials.

Media

Skins and camouflages for the SU-76M from live.warthunder.com.

Read also

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


USSR tank destroyers
SU-76M  SU-76M · SU-76M (5th Gv.Kav.Corps) · SU-85A
SU-57B  SU-57B · SU-76D
T-34 Derivatives  SU-122 · SU-85 · SU-85M · SU-100 · SU-122P
Heavy Tank Derivatives  SU-100Y · ISU-122 · ISU-122S · SU-152 · ISU-152 · Object 268
SU-100P and Derivatives  SU-100P · Object 120
Wheeled  YaG-10 (29-K)
Airborne  ASU-57 · ASU-85
Rocket  BM-8-24 · BM-13N · BM-31-12
ATGM  IT-1 · Shturm-S · Object 775 · Khrizantema-S
Artillery  2S1 · 2S3M
Other  SU-5-1 · ZiS-30 · SU-122-54
USA  SU-57

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