SU-122P

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RANK 5 FRANCE
Somua SM PACK
SU-122P
ussr_su_122p.png
GarageImage SU-122P.jpg
SU-122P
Purchase:4 880 Specs-Card-Eagle.png
Show in game

Description

The SU-122P is a premium rank IV Soviet tank destroyer with a battle rating of 5.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.41.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull75 / 45 / 45
Turret75 / 45 / 45
Crew4 people
Visibility77 %

The armour and survivability of the SU-122P is poor. At its BR, the 75 mm sloped upper front plate is very much useless as most opponents you face have more than 150 mm of penetration which is more than enough to go through your front. You will also more frequently see tanks firing HEAT shells (eg. ST-A1, T114) who can just ignore your armour. The side armour is non existent. The only vehicles that cannot frontally penetrate you are SPAA (eg. M42, Kugelblitz) and lower tier tanks. These vehicles are however quite rare, and often the foes will not struggle to penetrate you.

Post-penetration survivability is bad, since the interior of the SU-122P is cramped and the crew members are closely sat. Late-war/Cold War heavy tanks/tank destroyers (eg. T30) usually fire explosive-packed large-calibre APHE which can always one-shot you easily. However enemies with HEAT shells might take a few more shots to finish you as the damage of HEAT are lower.

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 75 mm (52°) Front glacis
45 mm (60°) Lower glacis
45 mm Bottom 45 mm (48°) 20 mm
20 + 10 mm Engine vents
Superstructure 75 mm (52°) Front glacis
70 mm (52°) Driver's hatch
75 + 100 mm (spherical) Gun mantlet
45 mm (18-41°) Top 45 mm 20 mm
Cupola 45 mm 20 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB61 / 10 km/h
RB and SB56 / 9 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight31.6 t
Engine power
AB992 hp
RB and SB520 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB31.4 hp/t
RB and SB16.5 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 61 10 31.6 710 992 22.47 31.39
Realistic 56 9 442 520 13.99 16.46

The mobility of the SU-122P is on par with average medium tanks/tank destroyers at similar BR (eg. T-44, T25). While the top speed is 50 km/h, the average speed on common terrains (eg. grassland, dirt) is around ~30 km/h, which is usually enough to keep up with advancing teammates. The acceleration on soft surface or on a hill might feel sluggish, though. Hull traverse rate is adequate on all types of terrain, but a slight forward jerk might be required if the player wants to turn the hull quicker. The reverse speed is very slow at only -8 km/h while other late-war/Cold War-era vehicles are much faster. All in all, the SU-122P is not the fastest nor the most agile vehicle, but it will get to the places it needs to go in time.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB2 213 Sl icon.png
RB2 458 Sl icon.png
SB3 397 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts320 000 Sl icon.png
Aces800 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 050 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 120 / 190 / 250 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 172 / 172 / 172 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement ussr.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods tank ammo.png
122mm_APHE_ammo_pack
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods tank ammo.png
122mm_APCBC_ammo_pack

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition28 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
21.7 → 16.7 s
Vertical guidance-2° / 20°
Horizontal guidance-7° / 7°
Main article: D-25S (122 mm)

The SU-122P is equipped with a classic 122 mm D-25S cannon that is very capable even against Cold War vehicles. At this rank, the player should feel comfortable with the long reload of such gun and should master its ballistics and shell velocity. Plus the reload of ~18 seconds is much shorter than earlier tanks with 122 mm guns. If every shell counts, the 122 mm cannon is a very deadly terminator. The recommended ammo is of course the BR-471B and BR-471D. The former is a perfect option against late-WW2 vehicles such as Panther II, M26, etc, while the latter is more for super-heavy/Cold War tanks like the Tortoise, T30, etc. These shells all have great post-penetration damage and thus can generally one-shot most opponents.

This fantastic firepower is somewhat limited by the gun's aiming speed and traverse angles. The horizontal aiming speed of around 6 degree/s is somewhat enough for medium range engagements but will feel slow in close range battle against fast tanks like the M41 and AUBL/74. The vertical targeting speed is much slower, and the gun depression of only -2 degrees makes it one of the worst vehicle in game at fighting in sloped terrains. A tiny hill will lift the nozzle up from the target. Finally, the gunsight zoom remains the same 3.5x which is just enough for medium range combat.

Note that since the gun is mounted towards the right side of the SU-122P, so when you aim and shoot to the left the tank will turn slightly to the right due to the huge recoil.

122 mm D-25S Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 28 -2°/+20° ±7° N/A 6.16 8.53 10.36 11.46 12.19 21.71 19.21 17.70 16.70
Realistic 4.17 4.90 5.95 6.58 7.00

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
BR-471 APHE 205 201 182 161 143 127
BR-471B APHEBC 205 203 192 178 166 155
BR-471D APCBC 230 227 215 200 186 173
OF-471 HE 37 37 37 37 37 37
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
BR-471 APHE 795 25 1.2 19 246.4 47° 60° 65°
BR-471B APHEBC 795 25 1.2 19 246.4 48° 63° 71°
BR-471D APCBC 800 25 1.2 19 192.5 48° 63° 71°
OF-471 HE 795 25 0 0.1 3,600 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the SU-122P
Full
ammo
Ammo
part
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
28 Projectiles
Propellants
22 (+6)
19 (+9)
12 (+16)
14 (+14)
11 (+17)
(+24)
(+27)
(+27)
No

Notes:

  • The SU-122P uses two-piece ammunition, composed of propellant bags (orange) and projectiles (yellow). Both have separate racks.
  • Projectiles and propellant bags are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.

Usage in battles

Differences between non-volumetric shells and volumetric shells hitting a Tiger I

An important note when engaging tanks, especially Tiger I's, is that, with the implementation of volumetric shells, you can no longer expect your shells to pierce through small openings or right past an obstacle. The large 122 mm calibre of your shells will result in it catching on an armour plate's edge very often, losing all of its penetration. For example, a Tiger I has some edges that can absorb your shell unexpectedly, despite having flat armour. Thus you must always make sure that where you are aiming at is absolutely free of obstruction, or it may result in a non-penetration or a ricochet. This can be seen in the diagram to the right.

Specific Enemies Worth Noting

  • T28 - You can only penetrate the cupolas on top of the tank. If they're hidden or you are unsure about the shot, you can try hitting the cannon barrel and running away.
  • T34 / T29 - Turret cheeks can work, although it's best to go for the LFP because the ammo storage is very low in the tank. If you don't see the LFP, try going just below the turret ring, where the driver sits.
  • Tiger II (H) / Panther II - You can easily penetrate the turret cheeks with BR-471B.
  • Ferdinand - Go for the angled armour at the sides of the lower front plate (below the casemate, but above the lowest plates), this will disable Ferdinand's engine and/or driver, so you can flank and finish it off.
  • Panther tank (Family), versions A, D, F and G - You can penetrate the UFP
  • Tortoise - Shoot to the right of the gun of the Tortoise, when you see it head-on if shoot on the left plate there is a chance of a one-shot
  • Ho-Ri Production - You cannot reliably penetrate or damage this tank frontally. You can try disabling the cannon barrel and then flanking is your best option (or running).

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • One of the fastest reloading Soviet vehicles equipped with a 122 mm cannon
  • The D-25S cannon is more than enough to completely destroy almost anything its shells penetrate
  • Quicker and more agile than the ISU-122
  • Smaller target than the ISU-122

Cons:

  • Very poor gun depression
  • Limited gun traverse
  • Obsolete armour thickness, can easily be penetrated
  • Reload time is still more than twice as long as its usual opposition

History

There had been delays in the production of the SU-100 in autumn 1944, and so a new design was offered in the meantime. Uralmash's Design Bureau offered a tank destroyer on the same SU-100 hull, but with a 122 mm D-25S anti-tank gun. The 122 mm gun could be fitted without modification due to the commonality of the gun mounts.

Trials of the new tank destroyer, called the SU-122P, began in October 1944. Afterwards, it was sent to Government trials, passing all of them. It was recommended for service, but it never entered production, partially because of the long reload time of the 122 mm gun.


Archive of the in-game description

A new SPG, designated SU-122P, was designed in the spring of 1944. Its designers attempted to fit the previously developed SU-100 SPG with a powerful 122 mm D-25S cannon with the aim of increasing the SPG's firepower. Outwardly, this SPG differed from the SU-100 in that its barrel was longer and had a muzzle brake.

In September 1944, the SU-122P SPG underwent factory testing, which it passed successfully. In spite of this, the order to put it into mass production did not follow. There were several reasons for this decision. First of all, the 122 mm D-25S cannon's penetration was lower than that of the D-10S by 4-5 mm, and its ammunition capacity was reduced to 26.

Due to its separate loading, its rate of fire was reduced to 3-4 shots per minute, and the weapon's recoil was higher than that of the SU-100's, which negatively affected the undercarriage's durability. The previous issues of inadequate space in the fighting compartment had remained unsolved. In addition, SPGs with a similar cannon had already been designed based on the IS-2, which had a more suitable chassis, hull and cabin for heavy artillery weapons.

Only 1 experimental SU-122P SPG was produced.


Media

Skins

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

External links

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

USSR premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  BA-11 · RBT-5 · BT-7A (F-32) · T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-26E · T-126 · PT-76-57 · 2S38
Medium tanks  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34E · T-34-57 (1943) · T-34-85E · T-34-100 · T-44-122 · TO-55 · T-55AM-1 · T-72AV (TURMS-T) · T-80UD · Т-80U-Е1
  ▂M3 Medium · ▂M4A2 · ▂T-III · ▂T-V · ▂МК-IX "Valentine"
Heavy tanks  SMK · T-35 · ▂MK-II "Matilda" · KV-1E · KV-2 (1940) · KV-2 (ZiS-6) · KV-122 · KV-220 · IS-2 "Revenge" · Object 248 · IS-6 · T-10A
Tank destroyers  BM-8-24 · BM-13N · BM-31-12
  SU-57 · SU-76D · SU-76M (5th Gv.Kav.Corps) · SU-85A · SU-100Y · SU-122P · Object 120
SPAA  ▂Phòng không T-34 · ZUT-37