- Yes, as a tech tree vehicle.
- Yes, as an event vehicle.
- Yes, as a squadron vehicle.
- No
- 2.0
- 2.3
- 2.7
- 3.0
- 3.3
- 3.7
- I said no.
- SU-76i
- SU-76i Command Vehicle
- Sturmgeschütz SU-76i (r) (German captured)
- None
The SU-76I (the “I” stands for “Inostrannaya” or “Foreign”) was a Soviet SPG built on the chassis of captured German Panzer III and StuG III. It was armed with the 76.2mm S-1 gun. Approximately 181 standard vehicles and 20 command variants were produced during the war.
History:
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In early 1943, the SU-76 was suffering severe transmission failures. The issue was so critical that production was halted entirely until a fix could be found. Needing immediate fire support vehicles, the State Defense Committee (GKO) issued Decree #2758 on January 18th, 1943. This decree ordered Factory №37, №592, and the Kashtanov Design Bureau to create a stopgap SPG using the hundreds of captured Pz.III and StuG III chassis, available after the Battle of Stalingrad.
The result was the SU-76I . It was a significant redesign of the earlier experimental SG-122. Instead of the 122mm howitzer, engineers installed the 76.2mm S-1 (C-1) which was a simplified, cheaper version of the F-34 gun.
Initially, designers considered a semi open pedestal mount similar to Italian tank destroyers. However, this design left the crew dangerously exposed to shrapnel and small arms fire. The final design opted for a fully enclosed, welded casemate superstructure with a bolted roof plate.
The prototype was tested on March 6th, 1943, at Sverdlovsk. The gun have a -5°/+15° vertical guidance and ±10° horizontal traverse. The vehicle retained the Maybach HL120 TRM engine. The crew of four (driver, commander, gunner, loader) had access to PPSh submachine guns for defense, which could be fired through ports in the superstructure.
By November 1943, 201 vehicles had been converted. They saw combat on the Eastern Front, including at Kursk. As Soviet production stabilized (with the SU-76M), the SU-76I was gradually withdrawn in 1944 and relegated to training units.
Command variant: The command variant was fitted with the Pz.III cupola and the left-side ammo racks were removed to accommodate a high-power radio.
Beutepanzer variant: This one is particularly interesting. In late 1943, the Soviets knocked out a German SPG, and upon inspection, it was discovered to be an Su-76I. This makes it a double recapture.
Currently, only 2 vehicles survive : one serves as a monument in Sarny, Ukraine, and a restored example resides in the Poklonnaya Gora Museum in Moscow. Additionally, a replica is displayed at the UMMC Museum of Military Equipment near Yekaterinburg
Specification:
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Dimensions:
Length: 6 900 mm.
Width: 2 910 mm.
Height: 2 375 mm.
Clearance: 350 mm.
Weight: 22 500 kg.
Crews: 4 (driver, commander, gunner, loader)
Engine: 12-cylinder Maybach HL120 TRM, 296 bhp
Top road speed 50 km/h
Hull Armor Front 30 mm, sides 30 mm, rear 20 mm.
Upper Armor Front 35 mm, sides 25 mm, rear and roof 15 mm.
Armaments:
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76.2mm gun S-1 (C-1), (96 rounds): BR-350A (MD-5 fuze), BR-350B (MD-8 fuze), BR-350SP, BR-354P, BP-353A, OF-350M, Sh-354T, D-350A.
Vertical: -5°/+15°
Horizontal: ±10°
2x submachine gun PPSH, (994 ammo, 14 drums).
In game:
In game this would be a great low tier SPGs for USSR tech tree, it could be foldered with the SU-122 or a low tier event vehicle.
Photos:
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A whole album on the Sarny surviving example can be found here.
Sources:
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Weapon stories. SU-76i: the first assault
SU-76i - Tank Encyclopedia
https://www.tankarchives.ca/2013/12/su-76i.html
https://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/01/su-76i-in-combat.html
СУ-76И - уникальная самоходка в Сарнах: starcom68 — LiveJournal
SU-76i Red Army Soviet WW2 76.2mm Self Propelled Gun preserved in Moscow
