SU-57B

SU-57B

ZiS-30

SU-122

SU-57B

ZiS-30

SU-122

USSR

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	2.7	2.7

Class:

Tank destroyer

Research:4 600

Purchase:16 000

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Description

The SU-57B is a rank II Russian tank destroyer with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.83 "Masters of the Sea".

This tank destroyer uses a 57 mm ZIS-4 for its main gun. It features a low profile, good top speed (40 km/h in RB) and great penetration for its rank, but weak armour on all angles. It is the first tank destroyer available at rank III for the Soviets available.

The overall design of the SU-57B allows for sneaky attacks, revolving around the 57 mm ZiS-4 gun that allows for engagement from medium range on unsuspecting enemies. Because of its low profile, this TD can use bushes and terrain to hide its approach. However, the trade-off is lackluster mobility, so it compares with the ZiS-30 that provides better mobility and speed and can reposition much faster. Despite all these limitations, when played right the SU-57B can score good scores, but only when properly positioned and not detected.

General info

Survivability and armour

The SU-57B has the best armour on the front (25mm), weaker armour on the sides (16mm) and weak on the rear (16mm). Regarding the crew protection, because of the number of crew members (4), the loss of 1 or 2 crew members is acceptable. But due to the thin armour (25mm front, 16mm sides and rear), the SU-57B can take one or two shots maximum before being put out of order. It is much better protected than the ZiS-30 and can sustain MG fire.

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	25 mm (38°) Front glacis 25 mm (24°) Lower glacis 25 mm (0-90°) Gun mantlet 25 mm (37°) Cheeks	16 mm (0-32°)	16 mm (40°) Top 10 mm (45°) Bottom	10 mm (72-85°) 5 mm (72°) Grille

• Belly armour is 6 mm thick.
• Suspension wheels are 10 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.

• 

  Su-57B Armour Analysis

• 

  Su-57B% 20Armour% 20Front

• 

  Su-57B% 20Armour% 20Side

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• 

Mobility

The SU-57B is sluggish at backwards speed and will have a hard time countering an opponent attempting to flank the SU-57B. The best bet is to flee when spotted. Fortunately, thanks to its great forward speed (43 km/h maximum), the SU-57B can still move quite easily.

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons)	Add-on Armour weight (tons)	Max speed (km/h)
9.5	N/A	43 (AB)
		40 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	148	164.4
Realistic/Simulator	92	98
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade
Realistic/Simulator

Armaments

Main armament

The main gun is ridiculously powerful for its hull. It features a ZIS-4 57mm that has a penetration rate similar to the ZiS-30 main gun. The position of the main gun is quite low and enemies will have a hard time detecting the silhouette of the tank. However, because of its long barrel, one must be careful not to stand out from cover or from the sides.

The recoil of the gun can be important and must be taken care of, as well as the dispersion effect. The relatively fast reloading rate of 6.5 seconds allows for a comfortable targeting and efficiency. Though, with the SU-57B able to hold a total of 72 rounds of ammunition, the SU-57B can shoot more freely without worry. However, keep in mind the 6.5 seconds initial reload time can be quite long when facing an opponent at close range.

57 mm ZiS-4
Capacity			Vertical guidance	Horizontal guidance	Stabilizer
72			-5°/+14°	±30°	N/A
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode	Stock	Upgraded	Prior + Full crew	Prior + Expert qualif.	Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade	4.2		__.__	__.__	__.__
Realistic	4.2	4.95	__.__	__.__	__.__
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock	Prior + Full crew	Prior + Expert qualif.	Prior + Ace qualif.
6.50

Usage in battles

The SU-57B is purely a tank hunter. With its 57mm ZIS-4 gun, and at a BR of 3.3, it can easily pierce almost any opponent in the game. Because of its weak armour, it is not capable of engaging too close and had to stay at a medium to long range.

Its APHEBC initial ammunition is effective at piercing enemy armour, but the next ammo modification is even better with the APHE round (BR-271K).

It also features a HE round that can be unlocked later, but it is preferable to stick with BR-271 or BR-217K rounds as they offer up to 142 mm of penetration which is excellent for its use and BR.

While in a tank hunter role, the SU-57B should take up a fighting style akin to a sniper, taking advantage of its very low profile (still not as good as the ASU-57, but almost). It excels at shooting from high vantage points or from the sides, but must be repositioned after each shot to avoid return fire.

With only 25 mm frontal armour at best and 16mm on the side and virtually none on the rear, a single shot would be fatal and leave the crew disabled at best. It is even susceptible to heavy MG fire from the sides and rear.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Great forward speed
• Great 57mm ZIS-4 main gun
• Very low profile ideal for sneak attacks and sniper attacks, similar to ASU-57
• Good reload time (6.5 seconds)

Cons:

• Sluggish acceleration
• Very weak rear speed
• Poor side mobility, don't expect to be able to turn around quickly
• Weak armour (25/16/16) and susceptible to rear and side shots or even Heavy MG

History

In 1943 the MVTU USSR design bureau proposed an 11 ton tank hunter prototype with two main gun variants:

1. The 75mm S-1 main gun
2. The 57 mm S-1-57 main gun

Both would be propelled with a diesel GMC-71 engine.

At the same moment, the GAZ design bureau was working on 2 designs. One named "GAZ-74b" which is the SU-57B with a long barrel, and an improved version with a 76 mm gun.The Su-57a was to be the tank hunter with the 76mm main gun. The Su-57B was not accepted for service because it was too costly pro produce and because of its newer diesel engine.

Later the GAZ-74d (SU-76d) would come out with a 76mm S-1 main gun and a frontal armor of 60mm. It will also be known later as "SU-80".

Media

SU-57B driving around Stalingrad

Napalmratte: SU-57B - A Bad Tank w/ a Great Gun

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

• [War Drawings] Russian Hetzer Tank Destroyer
• [Battlefield.ru] Russian 'Hetzer'