Difference between pages "FJ-4B VMF-232" and "ASU-85"

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{{Specs-Card
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{{Specs-Card|code=ussr_asu_85}}
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|code=fj_4b_agm_12b
 
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|cockpit=380038/1304952
 
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|market=FJ-4B VMF-232 (USA)
 
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}}
 
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{{About
 
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| about = gift jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
−
| other
 
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| usage-1 = the regular version
 
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| link-1 = FJ-4B
 
−
| usage-2 = other versions
 
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| link-2 = F-86 (Family)
 
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}}
 
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
+
<!--''In the description, the first part should 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 a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.''-->
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
[[File:GarageImage_ASU-85.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{break}}
 
{{break}}
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]] as the main reward for the Good Old S.U.M.M.E.R event 2018.
+
The '''{{specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{specs|rank}} Russian tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]]. It was designed to provide the VDV (''Vozdushno-Desantnye Voyska''), the Soviet airborne forces, with an air-portable self-propelled gun for independent fire support and anti-tank capability in support of paratroopers during airborne operations.
  
−
In the early 1950s, the US Navy realized during the Korean War that their straight-wing fighters were vastly inferior to the swept-wing [[MiG-15 (Family)|MiG 15s]] they flew against. Though the F7U and F9F fighters were under development, they were not ready for deployment requiring the Navy to look elsewhere for a usable swept-wing fighter. They looked to the Air Force’s [[F-86 (Family)|F-86]] Sabre as a stop-gap measure. Modifications were needed to make it aircraft carrier ready to include a stronger nose-wheel strut, all-moving flying tail without dihedral, outer wing panels folded upward and the windscreen was modified to aid the pilot’s visibility on approach for landing on the carrier. This version of the aircraft was designated as the FJ-2 Fury (completely different aircraft from the original North American FJ-1).  Even with modifications, the aircraft was unfit for carrier duty and was passed onto the US Marines for land-based duty.
+
== General info ==
 +
=== 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 helpful for survival in combat?''
  
−
The FJ-3 underwent development to rectify issues the FJ-2 had. Now outfitted with a more powerful engine, wing shape changed to provide more manoeuvrability and eliminated the leading edge slats and were reinforced to allow for four external pylons to allow for external fuel tanks, 500 or 1,000 lb bombs. The fuselage was enlarged to allow for more airflow to reach the engine and the fighter was outfitted with AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
+
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 +
The front upper glacis plate, while only 45 mm thick, is quite heavily sloped and can occasionally ricochet rounds. The mantlet is also quite thick and rounded, and it can also bounce the occasional lucky shot.  
  
−
The FJ-4 was a more aggressive approach compared to the FJ-3 with a much thinner wing and skin which was milled from solid alloy plates allowing for more strength, durability and aerodynamics. As the FJ-4 was built to be an all-weather interceptor, it required a considerable amount of fuel for operations and ultimately contained 50% more fuel than the FJ-3. To help conserve fuel, most of the protective armour was removed and the total ammunition count was reduced. Since weight was removed, an additional fuel tank was fitted within the fuselage, causing the “razorback” look to the rear deck of the aircraft just aft of the cockpit. Also, due to the stronger wing of this fighter, a total of six underwing stations were available allowing for more ordnance to be carried.  
+
However, the rest of the ASU-85 is very thinly armoured and vulnerable to even heavy machine guns. It is especially vulnerable to aircraft strafing.
  
−
The {{PAGENAME}} found in War Thunder is a solid multi-role US Marine aircraft which can fight air-to-air combat, ground-pound or both. The fighter features four 20 mm autocannons and then can outfit several different ordnance to its underwing stores. Bomb load-outs range from using 250, 500, 1,000 or 2,000 lb bombs effectively targeting from vehicles and pillboxes all the way up to bases.  FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets make short work of ground targets, but also can be deadly against any of the bomber aircraft it may intercept. Bullpup rockets can create a huge punch into a ground target, however, it requires the attention of the pilot all the way to the target to ensure it hits. The {{PAGENAME}} can also sport two AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles, which any smart pilot on the receiving end will immediately begin evasive manoeuvres when one of these are inbound because, at that point, nothing else matters!
+
'''Armour type:'''
  
−
== General info ==
+
* Rolled homogeneous armour
−
=== Flight Performance ===
+
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
−
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
+
 
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[[File:FJ-4B_extended_airbrakes.jpg|500px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' preparing for a carrier landing with flaps and air brakes fully extended slowing the approach to snag a deck cable at about 140 mph (225 kph).]]
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 45 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 45 mm (37°) ''Lower glacis'' <br> 50 mm ''Driver port''|| 6 mm || 6 mm (40°) ''Upper'' <br> 6 mm (18°) ''Lower'' || 6 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Superstructure || 45 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 100 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 13 mm (37-38°) || 6 mm || 13 mm ''Front'' <br> 6 mm ''Rear''
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Suspension wheels are 10 mm thick, tracks are 15 mm thick.
 +
 
 +
=== Mobility ===
 +
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 +
 
 +
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 298|rbMinHp= 186|<!--AoAweight=(optional) -->}}The ASU-85 is based on the [[PT-76B]] and uses the same engine. It is somewhat heavier, however, and the mobility thus suffers comparatively. With a top speed of under 50 km/h, the ASU-85 is relatively slow for such a lightly armoured vehicle, but it is adequate enough for repositioning when needed. The ASU-85 also has a fairly slow reverse speed and only one reverse gear, inherited from the PT-76B.
 +
 
 +
It should also be noted that the ASU-85 is ''not'' amphibious, unlike the PT-76B it is based on.
 +
 
 +
== 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 flexibility 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|D-70 (85 mm)}}The ASU-85 is armed with the '''85 mm D-70''', a significantly more powerful gun compared to the wartime Soviet 85 mm ZiS S-53 and D-5T guns and comparable in capability to the German 8,8 cm L/71 guns. The mounting has only 4° of gun depression due to the restricted size of the vehicle, but has a fairly generous amount of traverse for a casemate tank destroyer. It has a relatively low rate-of-fire for its calibre, reflecting the rather cramped crew compartment of the ASU-85.
 +
 
 +
The standard shell is the '''BR-372''' APBC shell with a lethal explosive filler. It has an excellent muzzle velocity and is accurate at long ranges. It will also easily penetrate most things that the ASU-85 may encounter. Anything that cannot be penetrated by the APBC shell will almost certainly be penetrable by the '''3BK7''' HEAT-FS round. Boasting 300 mm of penetration, it is capable of punching straight through a [[Tiger II (P)|Tiger II]]'s upper glacis and does not lose penetration over distance. However, it suffers the usual drawbacks of HEAT rounds (cannot go through obstacles like trees or fences) and is significantly less lethal than the APBC shell. The muzzle velocity is also lower, which can complicate aiming at long ranges.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
+
! colspan="6" | [[D-70 (85 mm)|85 mm D-70]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
+
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 152 m)
+
| colspan="3" | 39 || -4°/+15° || ±15° || N/A
−
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! AB
+
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1,058 || 1,029 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.5 || 33.3 || 28.1 || 26.4 || 750
+
! 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.
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
+
| ''Arcade'' || 4.2 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 152 m)
+
| ''Realistic'' || 4.2 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
−
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! AB
+
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1107 || 1090 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 30.2 || 31 ||42.8|| 35 || 750
+
! 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.
 +
|-
 +
| 11.2 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
====Details====
+
===== Ammunition =====
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| 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''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10m
 +
! 100m
 +
! 500m
 +
! 1000m
 +
! 1500m
 +
! 2000m
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="5" | Features
+
| BR-372 || APBC || 230 || 227 || 214 || 199 || 186 || 172
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Combat flaps
+
| OF-372 || HE || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 11
−
! Take-off flaps
 
−
! Landing flaps
 
−
! Air brakes
 
−
! Arrestor gear
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓    <!-- ✓ -->
+
| 3BK7 || HEATFS || 300 || 300 || 300 || 300 || 300 || 300
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
! 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:''
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="5" | Limits
+
! 0%
 +
! 50%
 +
! 100%
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
+
| BR-372 || APBC || 1040 || 9.3 || 1.2 || 15 || 85 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
−
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps<br>(km/h)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! +
+
| OF-372 || HE || 1010 || 9.7 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 740 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
−
! -
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 620 || ~10 || ~4
+
| 3BK7 || HEATFS || 925 || 7.2 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 1,590 || +0° || 65° || 72° || 75°
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
−
|-
+
[[File:Ammoracks_ASU-85.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] on the ASU-85.]]
−
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Ailerons<br>(km/h)
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
−
! Rudder<br>(km/h)
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
−
! Elevators<br>(km/h)
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br /> rack empty
−
! Radiator<br>(km/h)
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br /> rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th<br /> rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
| < 750 || < 690 || < 680 || N/A
+
|| '''39''' || 33&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+20)'' || 13&nbsp;''(+26)'' || 7&nbsp;''(+32)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+38)'' || style="text-align:left" | No
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
Front empty: 26&nbsp;''(+13)''<br />Sides only: 33&nbsp;''(+6)''
 +
 +
=== Machine guns ===
 +
<!--''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.''-->
 +
{{main|SGMT (7.62 mm)}}
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
+
! colspan="7" | [[SGMT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm SGMT]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
+
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Optimal altitude
+
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
−
! 100% Engine power
+
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
−
! WEP Engine power
+
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 152 m || 3,410 kgf || N/A
+
| colspan="4" | 2,000 (250) || 600 || N/A || N/A
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
=== Survivability and armour ===
+
== Usage in battles ==
−
''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
+
<!--''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 instead 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).''-->
−
 
+
The ASU-85 is a veritable glass cannon that relies on stealth and/or distance in order to survive on the battlefield. It is very vulnerable if caught in the open, especially to planes due to the very weak roof armour. The 85 mm gun is capable of handling almost any tank likely to be encountered by the ASU-85. Unfortunately, the ASU-85 lacks the mobility of its predecessor, the [[ASU-57]], and thus has to adopt a more passive playstyle. The stock APBC round is excellent for ambushes, which tend to involve a lot of side shots where the lethality of the explosive filler is valuable, especially with the long reload time of the gun. The HEAT-FS round is better suited for medium/long-range fighting, since it does not lose penetration over distance.  
−
* 60 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot.
 
−
* 12.7 mm Steel plate behind the pilot.
 
−
 
 
−
The {{PAGENAME}} fighter has minimal armour to save weight, which allowed for more fuel tanks to be installed. The armour on the aircraft is limited to a 12.7 mm steel plate behind the pilot’s seat and a 60 mm bulletproof glass in the windscreen of the aircraft. This armour protection at best will help the pilot survive a pilot snipe, however, it will not do anything to protect the fuel tanks and jet engine which are all vulnerable to gun, rocket and missile fire.
 
−
 
 
−
== Armaments ==
 
−
=== Offensive armament ===
 
−
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 
−
{{main|Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 (20 mm)}}
 
−
 
 
−
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 
  
−
* 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (144 rpg = 576 total)
+
The ASU-85 has a rather unorthodox method of using its smoke screen. Unlike most vehicles, which use smoke shells, singular canisters, or canister clusters, the ASU-85 uses two large drum like structures at the rear. When deployed, these will drop away, so it is relatively easy to tell from close range whether or not an ASU-85 has smoke or not, and how many it has. Due to the orientation of the drums, the smoke screen will actually form ''behind'' the tank and take about 2-3 seconds to fully envelope the assault gun.
  
−
Like many of the contemporary fighters of the time, the {{PAGENAME}} was considered a ''gunslinger'' fighter. Fighter aircraft were flying much faster than aircraft a few years earlier and needed to have more manoeuvrability than ever before, one way to do this was to remove the guns from the wings and mount them in the fuselage. For the F4-J, wing-mounted guns would not work due to the fuel tanks already outfitted there. All four 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 cannons were mounted in the nose of the aircraft around the air intake for the engine. The benefits for mounting them here are huge, not only does it keep the centre of gravity tight, but it also relieves the pilot of having to set any convergence for them.
+
Common opponent weakspots:
  
−
For the pilot in the heat of battle, the less they have to remember and do allows them to focus more on the situation at hand and shooting down enemy aircraft (or evade if you are being shot at). Without having to calculate convergence, the pilot is free to fire from effectively 0 m - +800 m and know the rounds will fly true. This allows the {{PAGENAME}} pilot to pummel enemy aircraft within a few hundred meters or attempt to take pilot-sniping shots at longer ranges. The clustering of the four cannons allows for some serious damage to be inflicted especially if it connects with critical components such as an engine, oil/water cooler, pilot, control surfaces or even a wing. Due to the nature of this aircraft and the reduced ammunition load, the pilot must make every shot count or else they will be frequently waiting for a reload or heading back to base to reload.
+
* Tiger II [[Tiger II (P)|(P)]], [[Tiger II (H)|(H)]], [[Tiger II (10.5 cm Kw.K)|105 mm]]: Turret cheeks. HEAT-FS can penetrate the hull front.
 +
* [[Panther II]]: APBC can penetrate the turret face. HEAT-FS can penetrate the hull front.
 +
* [[T29|T29]]: Lower glacis. There are also weakspots in the gun mantlet, but they may be hard to hit at anything but close range.
 +
* [[Caernarvon|Caernavron]]: Turret ring and lower glacis.
 +
* [[Tortoise|A39 Tortoise]]: Area surrounding the hull machine gun port.
 +
* [[T95|T95]]: Cupolas may be penetrated but do not trigger the explosive filler of AP rounds.
 +
* [[Jagdtiger|Jagdtiger]]: HEAT-FS can penetrate the hull front and superstructure.
  
−
=== Suspended armament ===
+
=== Modules ===
−
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
−
{{main|LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)|LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)}}
 
−
{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|AIM-9B|AGM-12B Bullpup}}
 
−
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
 
−
 
 
−
* Without load
 
−
* 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (1,500 lb total)
 
−
* 6 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (3,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (2,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (4,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (4,000 lb total)
 
−
* 114 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
 
−
* 5 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B missiles
 
−
* 4 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs + 2 x AIM-9B missiles (1,000 lb total)
 
−
* 4 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 2 x AIM-9B missiles (2,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 2 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 2 x AIM-9B missiles (3,000 lb total)
 
−
 
 
−
The {{PAGENAME}} is an all-weather fighter/interceptor which includes multi-role capabilities also deeming it a fighter-bomber. While initially built for the Navy, this fighter saw most of its action with the US Marines and thus needed to be a multi-role aircraft which could combat both air and ground targets in support of US Marine operations.
 
−
 
 
−
The choice of payload can depend on the player's preferred role to take into battle:
 
−
 
 
−
;Ground attack
 
−
 
 
−
The {{PAGENAME}} has a wide variety of options for ground attack operations, especially in War Thunder. Stock aircraft are limited in the munitions they can carry, however as the pilot progresses, heavier ordnance becomes available. For this aircraft, there are choices between 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 lb bombs. The choice of bombs to be used depends on the map being played and the targets available on that map. For maps with many smaller targets such as light/medium tanks, trucks and anti-aircraft batteries, it is best to use the 250 lb bombs from lower altitudes, whereas when you begin to encounter targets with heavier armour they will require the larger bombs. When base attacking, it is best to utilise the 1,000 and 2,000 lb bombs.
 
−
 
 
−
Rockets, while listed as “Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets” can be effectively used against ground targets, predominantly clusters of vehicles or aircraft landing on runways to repair or during domination matches. Since the rockets are unguided, the pilot will typically need to fire off a salvo (+5) of rockets to chance at least one hits the target, however, due to the situation, it would not be improper to fire off 10 or more to ensure a hit. With 114 FFAR rockets, the {{PAGENAME}} will have plenty to spare, don’t hesitate to use them as the pilot going down in flames with almost a full load of rockets is probably kicking themselves for not using more.
 
−
 
 
−
This Marine version of the FJ-4 features a weapon not found with the Navy version. This weapon is the AGM-12B Bullpup guided rocket. The Bullpup is a large and powerful rocket which allows the pilot to guide it all the way to the target. The plus side is that the pilot can make inflight corrections and get the rocket on target, however, this also brings in a drawback, in that the pilot cannot alter the course at any time or else risk the Bullpup flying off course. This targeting run leaves the {{PAGENAME}} in a precarious position where it can easily be picked off by ground-fire or other fighter aircraft preying on inattentive (or in this case, hyperfocused) pilots.
 
−
 
 
−
;Air interceptor
 
−
 
 
−
The {{PAGENAME}} was initially built as an interceptor and has the tools to do just that. In combination with the four autocannons, there are options to equip the FFAR rockets which can effectively be used against larger and slower aircraft such as bombers. Mighty Mouse rockets while small and unguided (aim, fire and forget) may seem to be a less effective choice, never underestimate them in large groups. When going against bombers, FFAR rockets can be highly effective, especially since they only need to explode close to the target and still can cause damage. Since the {{PAGENAME}} can carry 114 of these rockets, they are more effective when fired in large groups or salvos. This reasoning is due to the unguided nature of the rockets, it may be easy for a target aircraft to avoid one or two, however, if 10 or more are fired, chances are the evading aircraft may actually manoeuvre into the flight path of one of the rockets.
 
−
 
 
−
For direct air-to-air combat, the {{PAGENAME}} has the option to outfit the coveted AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles. These missiles were the missiles of choice for pilots in the Vietnam War as they had a higher rate of success compared to the Sparrow and other missiles used. While not a 100% guarantee to destroy an enemy aircraft after fired, they will usually cause the pilot immediately take evasive manoeuvres which at times may include energy haemorrhaging turns which may set up the aircraft an easy target for the FJ-4’s autocannons.
 
−
 
 
−
;Multi-role fighter/bomber/interceptor
 
−
 
 
−
In regards to some maps, it is not always clear what the targets will be or if the match will end up fighter or bomber heavy. For this, there are several suspended armament load-outs which will cater to both bombing and aerial attack to include rockets/missiles, bombs/missiles and lots of bombs and missiles. Since the 20 mm autocannons are part of the offensive armament package, all loadout versions will include these weapons.
 
−
 
 
−
== Usage in battles ==
 
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
 
−
 
 
−
===Manual Engine Control===
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
 
−
! colspan="3" | Radiator
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
 
−
|-
 
−
! Oil
 
−
! Water
 
−
! Type
 
−
|-
 
−
| Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable<br>Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable<br>Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable<br>Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable<br>1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
===Modules===
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
−
! colspan="1" | Tier
+
!Tier
−
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
+
! colspan="2" |Mobility
−
! colspan="1" | Survivability
+
!Protection
−
! colspan="3" | Weaponry
+
! colspan="3" |Firepower
 
|-
 
|-
−
| I
+
|I
−
| Fuselage repair
+
|Tracks
−
| Compressor
+
|
 +
|Parts
 +
|Horizontal Drive
 
|
 
|
−
| Offensive 20 mm
 
−
| FSBC mk.5
 
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
−
| II
+
|II
−
| New boosters
+
|Suspension
−
|
+
|Brake System
−
| Airframe
+
|FPE
 +
|Adjustment of Fire
 +
|Airstrike
 
|
 
|
−
| SBC mk.1
 
−
| AERO 7D
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| III
+
|III
−
| Wings repair
+
|Filters
−
| Engine
 
 
|
 
|
−
| New 20 mm cannons
+
|Crew Replenishment
−
| MBC mk.1
+
|Elevation Mechanism
−
| AGM-12B Bullpup
+
|Smoke Grenade
 +
|NVD
 
|-
 
|-
−
| IV
+
|IV
−
| G-suit
+
|Transmission
−
|
+
|Engine
−
| Cover
 
 
|
 
|
−
| LBC mk.1
+
|Rangefinder
−
| AIM-9B
+
|Improved Optics
−
|-
+
|3BK7
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
+
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''-->
−
 
 
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Relatively high top speed
+
* Excellent 85 mm gun
−
* Powerful fast firing cannons and payload options
+
* Competitive stock APBC round with explosive filler
−
* Superb ground attack potential
+
* Access to HEAT-FS with 300 mm of penetration
−
* Has AGM-12B Bullpups air-to-ground missiles
+
* Tiny profile
−
* Can land on carriers with ease
+
* Access to a coaxial machine gun
−
* Can equip 2 x AIM-9B air-to-air missiles along with bombs
+
* Access to night vision devices
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Very inaccurate guns when stock
+
* Slow gun elevation and traverse
−
* Slow acceleration (especially when stock)
+
* Slow reload for an 85 mm gun
−
* Carrying ordinance significantly reduces performance
+
* Lightly armoured everywhere besides the front, especially vulnerable to aircraft strafing
−
* Is not competitive against pure jet fighters
+
* Poor reverse speed
 +
* Mediocre mobility, considering the light armour
 +
* Poor gun depression
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
+
<!--''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 the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
−
The FJ-4 was the fourth modification of the Fury - the naval version of the F-86 Sabre, serving primarily with the USMC. Being initially conceived as an all-weather interceptor, the FJ-4 Fury had to incorporate several design changes compared to the previous fighter version in order to fulfill this new role. The most notable change was the increase in range and the installation of new, thinner wing with an increased surface area. To achieve the range increase, the aircraft underwent several structural changes which reduced its weight and allowed for additional fuel tanks to be installed. Additionally, a more powerful Wright J65-W-16A engine, producing 7,700 lbf of thrust, was installed on the production versions. Following successful test flights, production of the FJ-4 commenced in 1955 with first units entering service with the Navy in 1956. Over 150 FJ-4 Fury interceptors were built.
+
===Development===
 +
A new assault gun was requested by the Armed Forces sometime before 1953. Due to the success of the [[ASU-57]], they tasked the OKB-40 design bureau headed by Nikolaj Astrov to design the vehicle. The design, designated ''Object 573'', was ready for tests in the latter half of 1953. Constant changes and improvement was made from the span of 1956 to 1957. The design used the chassis of the [[PT-76B|PT-76]] amphibious light tank design, though it did not have the same amphibious feature and had a new engine propelling it. The armament was an 85 mm D-70 gun derived from the 85 mm D-48 anti-tank gun. The design could carry 45 rounds inside and could fire a variety of rounds up to 1 km away. Secondary armament for the vehicle was a GMT or PKT coaxial machine gun. The improved design was going to accepted and enter production in 1958 as the ''SU-85'' (despite the existence of [[SU-85|a vehicle of the same name]]), but this was again delayed when the Ministry of Defense ordered an armoured roof to be installed. The design was to enter production in 1961, but by then the design was rather outdated for army forces usage. Thus, when the vehicle entered production, it was taken up by the VDV, the Soviet Airborne Forces, and renamed the '''ASU-85'''. The ASU-85 was produced from 1959 to 1966, while staying in service from 1959 all the way to 1993.
 +
 
 +
===Usage===
 +
The Soviet airborne forces primarily used the ASU-85 as a light infantry support/assault gun. Advancements in air-drop techniques and the advent of helicopters made its air deployment a more viable option in the early 1960s. The Soviet Union deployed 31 ASU-85s to each of its airborne divisions in and assault gun battalion. The Soviet Union used the ASU-85 during the Soviet-Afghan War with the airborne troops stationed there.
  
−
Wishing to increase the strike capabilities of the new FJ-4, engineers of the North American company went back to the drawing board and once more applied several changes to the design, creating the FJ-4B. The FJ-4B version most notably featured a strengthened wing, offering an increased payload by adding two additional hardpoints to each wing, bringing the total up from two to six. Furthermore, the aircraft received air brakes under the aft of the fuselage, making dive bombing and landing easier. Of the original order for 221 FJ-4 Fury interceptors, the last 71 were modified into the FJ-4B fighter-bomber version. An additional order for 151 FJ-4B Furies followed in April 1956, bring the total of produced FJ-4Bs up to 222. Both the interceptor and fighter-bomber version of the FJ-4 served with the Navy and USMC until the early 1960s, before being phased out of active service and moved to the Naval Air Reserve. The FJ-4 was the last modification of the Fury and among the last mass-produced variants of the Sabre lineage.
+
The ASU-85 was only given out to Poland and Vietnam. Poland used the ASU-85s in the same manner as the Soviet Union, with 31 vehicles in each airborne divisions. The ASU-85 are still in service in the Vietnamese military, with interests on improving their technical performances in early 2016.<ref name="JaneASU-85">Fisher, Richard D., Jr. "DSA 2016: Vietnam May Update Soviet Era ASU-85s." IHS Jane's 360, 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 Sept. 2016.</ref>
  
−
''- From [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5555-development-fj-4b-fury-last-of-its-kind-en Devblog]''
+
The ASU-85 also serves as the genesis of other support vehicles using the derived PT-76 chassis. The most notable vehicle using a similar chassis was the [[ZSU-23-4|ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"]] anti-aircraft system.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!--''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''-->
 
<!--''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''-->
−
<div><ul>
+
Skin and Camouflages for the [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=ussr&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=tank_destroyer&vehicle=ussr_asu_85 ASU-85] in Warthunder Live.
−
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:FJ-4B_VMF-232_VU-7_camo.png|thumb|none|350px|'''''VU-7 Camouflage''''', given to owners who have completed 10 pilot's mark of distinction during the event. Standard sea pattern (Engine Gray/Orange-Yellow) with insignia of VU-7, Nord Island, USA, 1959]]</li><!--
+
{{Youtube-gallery|y2G4K-5ZvDw|The ASU-85 in Soviet Airborne service}}
−
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:New.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Info.]]</li>
 
−
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:New.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Info.]]</li>
 
−
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:New.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Info.]]</li>
 
−
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:New.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Info.]]</li>-->
 
−
</ul>
 
−
 
 
−
== See also ==
 
−
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
+
==References==
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''-->
+
'''Citations'''
 +
<references />
  
−
;Related development
+
'''Bibliography'''
  
−
* Canadair [[F-86 (Family)|Sabre]] (those Sabres manufactured with the designator "CL")
+
* [Http://www.janes.com/article/59688/dsa-2016-vietnam-may-update-soviet-era-asu-85s [World News<nowiki>]</nowiki> Vietnam may update Soviet-era ASU-85s]
−
* North American [[F-86 (Family)|F-86A/F]]
 
−
* North American [[F-86K (France)|F-86D]] Sabre
 
−
* North American [[F-100D|F-100]] Super Sabre
 
−
* North American [[FJ-4B|FJ-4]] Fury
 
  
−
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
+
== See also ==
 +
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
  
−
* Dassault [[Super Mystere B2|Super Mystère]]
+
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
−
* Grumman [[F9F-8|F-9]] Cougar
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
−
* Hawker [[Hunter F.1|Hunter]]
 
−
* Lavochkin [[La-15]]
 
−
* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-15]]
 
−
* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-17]]
 
−
* Saab [[J29D|J29]] Tunnan
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
−
* ''other literature.'' -->
+
* ''other literature.''-->
  
−
* [[wt:en/news/5555-development-fj-4b-fury-last-of-its-kind-en|[Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> FJ-4B Fury: Last of its Kind]]
+
* [http://warthunder.com/en/news/3733-development-asu-85-death-from-the-skies-en/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> ASU-85: Death from the Skies]
−
* [[wt:en/news/5722-development-agm-12b-bullpup-they-can-t-dodge-en|[Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> AGM-12B Bullpup: They can’t dodge]]
+
* [[Wikipedia:ASU-85|[Wikipedia<nowiki>]</nowiki> ASU-85]]
  
−
{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
+
{{USSR tank destroyers}}
−
{{USA jet aircraft}}
 

Revision as of 22:14, 18 May 2020

RANK 6 BRITAIN
Rooikat 105 PACK
ASU-85
ussr_asu_85.png
ASU-85
USSR flag.png USSR
IV Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
6.3 6.3 6.3
Class:
Research:63 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:200 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage ASU-85.jpg


The ASU-85 is a Rank IV Russian tank destroyer with a battle rating of 6.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows". It was designed to provide the VDV (Vozdushno-Desantnye Voyska), the Soviet airborne forces, with an air-portable self-propelled gun for independent fire support and anti-tank capability in support of paratroopers during airborne operations.

General info

Survivability and armour

The front upper glacis plate, while only 45 mm thick, is quite heavily sloped and can occasionally ricochet rounds. The mantlet is also quite thick and rounded, and it can also bounce the occasional lucky shot.

However, the rest of the ASU-85 is very thinly armoured and vulnerable to even heavy machine guns. It is especially vulnerable to aircraft strafing.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 45 mm (60°) Front glacis
45 mm (37°) Lower glacis
50 mm Driver port		 6 mm 6 mm (40°) Upper
6 mm (18°) Lower 		6 mm
Superstructure 45 mm (60°) Front glacis
100 mm Gun mantlet 		13 mm (37-38°) 6 mm 13 mm Front
6 mm Rear

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 10 mm thick, tracks are 15 mm thick.

Mobility

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 49 6 15.9 298 401 18.74 25.22
Realistic 45 6 186 210 11.7 13.21
The ASU-85 is based on the PT-76B and uses the same engine. It is somewhat heavier, however, and the mobility thus suffers comparatively. With a top speed of under 50 km/h, the ASU-85 is relatively slow for such a lightly armoured vehicle, but it is adequate enough for repositioning when needed. The ASU-85 also has a fairly slow reverse speed and only one reverse gear, inherited from the PT-76B.

It should also be noted that the ASU-85 is not amphibious, unlike the PT-76B it is based on.

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: D-70 (85 mm)
The ASU-85 is armed with the 85 mm D-70, a significantly more powerful gun compared to the wartime Soviet 85 mm ZiS S-53 and D-5T guns and comparable in capability to the German 8,8 cm L/71 guns. The mounting has only 4° of gun depression due to the restricted size of the vehicle, but has a fairly generous amount of traverse for a casemate tank destroyer. It has a relatively low rate-of-fire for its calibre, reflecting the rather cramped crew compartment of the ASU-85.

The standard shell is the BR-372 APBC shell with a lethal explosive filler. It has an excellent muzzle velocity and is accurate at long ranges. It will also easily penetrate most things that the ASU-85 may encounter. Anything that cannot be penetrated by the APBC shell will almost certainly be penetrable by the 3BK7 HEAT-FS round. Boasting 300 mm of penetration, it is capable of punching straight through a Tiger II's upper glacis and does not lose penetration over distance. However, it suffers the usual drawbacks of HEAT rounds (cannot go through obstacles like trees or fences) and is significantly less lethal than the APBC shell. The muzzle velocity is also lower, which can complicate aiming at long ranges.

85 mm D-70
Capacity Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Stabilizer
39 -4°/+15° ±15° N/A
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 4.2 __.__ __.__ __.__ __.__
Realistic 4.2 __.__ __.__ __.__ __.__
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
11.2 __.__ __.__ __.__
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration in mm @ 0° Angle of Attack
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
BR-372 APBC 230 227 214 199 186 172
OF-372 HE 11 11 11 11 11 11
3BK7 HEATFS 300 300 300 300 300 300
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-372 APBC 1040 9.3 1.2 15 85 +4° 48° 63° 71°
OF-372 HE 1010 9.7 0.1 0.3 740 +0° 79° 80° 81°
3BK7 HEATFS 925 7.2 0.1 0.1 1,590 +0° 65° 72° 75°
Ammo racks
Ammo racks on the ASU-85.
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
39 33 (+6) 26 (+13) 19 (+20) 13 (+26) 7 (+32) 1 (+38) No

Front empty: 26 (+13)
Sides only: 33 (+6)

Machine guns

Main article: SGMT (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm SGMT
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
2,000 (250) 600 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The ASU-85 is a veritable glass cannon that relies on stealth and/or distance in order to survive on the battlefield. It is very vulnerable if caught in the open, especially to planes due to the very weak roof armour. The 85 mm gun is capable of handling almost any tank likely to be encountered by the ASU-85. Unfortunately, the ASU-85 lacks the mobility of its predecessor, the ASU-57, and thus has to adopt a more passive playstyle. The stock APBC round is excellent for ambushes, which tend to involve a lot of side shots where the lethality of the explosive filler is valuable, especially with the long reload time of the gun. The HEAT-FS round is better suited for medium/long-range fighting, since it does not lose penetration over distance.

The ASU-85 has a rather unorthodox method of using its smoke screen. Unlike most vehicles, which use smoke shells, singular canisters, or canister clusters, the ASU-85 uses two large drum like structures at the rear. When deployed, these will drop away, so it is relatively easy to tell from close range whether or not an ASU-85 has smoke or not, and how many it has. Due to the orientation of the drums, the smoke screen will actually form behind the tank and take about 2-3 seconds to fully envelope the assault gun.

Common opponent weakspots:

  • Tiger II (P), (H), 105 mm: Turret cheeks. HEAT-FS can penetrate the hull front.
  • Panther II: APBC can penetrate the turret face. HEAT-FS can penetrate the hull front.
  • T29: Lower glacis. There are also weakspots in the gun mantlet, but they may be hard to hit at anything but close range.
  • Caernavron: Turret ring and lower glacis.
  • A39 Tortoise: Area surrounding the hull machine gun port.
  • T95: Cupolas may be penetrated but do not trigger the explosive filler of AP rounds.
  • Jagdtiger: HEAT-FS can penetrate the hull front and superstructure.

Modules

Tier Mobility Protection Firepower
I Tracks Parts Horizontal Drive
II Suspension Brake System FPE Adjustment of Fire Airstrike
III Filters Crew Replenishment Elevation Mechanism Smoke Grenade NVD
IV Transmission Engine Rangefinder Improved Optics 3BK7

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Excellent 85 mm gun
  • Competitive stock APBC round with explosive filler
  • Access to HEAT-FS with 300 mm of penetration
  • Tiny profile
  • Access to a coaxial machine gun
  • Access to night vision devices

Cons:

  • Slow gun elevation and traverse
  • Slow reload for an 85 mm gun
  • Lightly armoured everywhere besides the front, especially vulnerable to aircraft strafing
  • Poor reverse speed
  • Mediocre mobility, considering the light armour
  • Poor gun depression

History

Development

A new assault gun was requested by the Armed Forces sometime before 1953. Due to the success of the ASU-57, they tasked the OKB-40 design bureau headed by Nikolaj Astrov to design the vehicle. The design, designated Object 573, was ready for tests in the latter half of 1953. Constant changes and improvement was made from the span of 1956 to 1957. The design used the chassis of the PT-76 amphibious light tank design, though it did not have the same amphibious feature and had a new engine propelling it. The armament was an 85 mm D-70 gun derived from the 85 mm D-48 anti-tank gun. The design could carry 45 rounds inside and could fire a variety of rounds up to 1 km away. Secondary armament for the vehicle was a GMT or PKT coaxial machine gun. The improved design was going to accepted and enter production in 1958 as the SU-85 (despite the existence of a vehicle of the same name), but this was again delayed when the Ministry of Defense ordered an armoured roof to be installed. The design was to enter production in 1961, but by then the design was rather outdated for army forces usage. Thus, when the vehicle entered production, it was taken up by the VDV, the Soviet Airborne Forces, and renamed the ASU-85. The ASU-85 was produced from 1959 to 1966, while staying in service from 1959 all the way to 1993.

Usage

The Soviet airborne forces primarily used the ASU-85 as a light infantry support/assault gun. Advancements in air-drop techniques and the advent of helicopters made its air deployment a more viable option in the early 1960s. The Soviet Union deployed 31 ASU-85s to each of its airborne divisions in and assault gun battalion. The Soviet Union used the ASU-85 during the Soviet-Afghan War with the airborne troops stationed there.

The ASU-85 was only given out to Poland and Vietnam. Poland used the ASU-85s in the same manner as the Soviet Union, with 31 vehicles in each airborne divisions. The ASU-85 are still in service in the Vietnamese military, with interests on improving their technical performances in early 2016.[1]

The ASU-85 also serves as the genesis of other support vehicles using the derived PT-76 chassis. The most notable vehicle using a similar chassis was the ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" anti-aircraft system.

Media

Skin and Camouflages for the ASU-85 in Warthunder Live.

The ASU-85 in Soviet Airborne service

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Fisher, Richard D., Jr. "DSA 2016: Vietnam May Update Soviet Era ASU-85s." IHS Jane's 360, 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 Sept. 2016.

Bibliography

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


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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