T-34-85 (STP-S-53) - A Stable Legend

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Hello !

Today, I’d like to suggest the addition of a T-34-85 equipped with the experimental 1-plane stabilizer STP-S-53. It’s a fairly well-known modification but a proper suggestion on the new forums had not been made yet.


Overview of the components used on the STP-S-53 “Taran” stabilizer.

History

Spoiler

Tank gun stabilizers picked the Soviets’ interest in the late 1920s / early 1930s. However, it was not until the 1940s that they were truly put to the test. Work began in the summer of 1943 on a stabilizer for the T-34’s 76 mm F-34 gun. While the advantage of a 2-plane stabilizer was already understood by the engineers, the complexity of the task meant that it would be more reasonable to keep a 1-plane stabilizer.

This resulted in the creation of a 1300 kg-heavy system that was never built. However, a refined version was built and trialed in a T-34 in February 1944.


Blueprints of what the F-34 stabilizer initally looked like, Fall 1943

As the T-34-85 soon came to be, it was deemed more useful to stop working on stabilizing the 76 mm gun. Work started on the aptly named STP-S-53 “Taran”, STP meaning “tank gun stabilizer” and S-53 being the name of the T-34-85’s “serial” gun. In early 1945, 5 tanks were equipped with the STP-S-53.

From April 10th to May 31st 1946, 4 tanks went through trials. Those trials showed that the tank was 2,5 to 3 times more accurate on the move with the stabilizer on, at a speed of up to 25 km/h.

Work was discontinued since it would have required reworking the T-34’s turret and 100 mm guns were seen as more promising by that time and worthy of attention.

A late production T-34-85 showing the modifications required to fit the STP-S-53.

Specifications

Crew : 5

  • Driver
  • Gunner
  • Commander
  • Machine-gunner
  • Loader

Armament

  • One 85 mm gun ZiS-S-53 with a 1-plane stabilizer (Ammo : 60 rounds)
    Sights : TSh-15
    Elevation : -5° / +22°

Dimensions

  • Weight : ~ 33 t
  • Length : 6.1 m
  • Width : 3 m
  • Height : 2.7 m

Mobility

  • Engine : V-2-34(M) (500 hp)
  • Top speed : 55 km/h / -9 km/h
  • Transmission : 5 forward / 1 reverse

Armor

  • Identical to the T-34-85 (ZiS-S-53)

Sources

  • Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2., p. 11, 61, 151
  • Отечественные бронированные машины 1945-1965 гг. M.V. Pavlov, I.V. Pavlov, p. 331
  • Tank Archives: Soviet Stabilizers
7 Likes
2

Reminds me of the experimental vehicle from White Tiger.

3

Pretty neat +1

4

Never knew they experimented with stabilizers on the T-34. Very cool! +1

5

+1, at 5.7 or 6.0. The stabiliser will be great, the gyro stabs are what makes the shermans so good, pair that with the russian 85, it will be awesome.

Also am I tripping or does the V-2-34M have 520 hp instead of 500?

4 Likes
6

+1 to stab T-34-85.

1 Like