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

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1
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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
8 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
7

We’d like to note that in the future the T-34-85 in the research tree will be moved to Rank III, and a new T-34-85 with the STP-S-53 “Taran” stabilizer will be added to Rank IV in the tree. The premium T-34-85E will stay at Rank IV. Stay tuned!

Nice

9 Likes
8

The fastest a suggestion has ever made it to the game. 😭😂

9

After looking at the materials posted, I found that there was also a stabilizer designed for the 76mm gun, the T-34(STP-34). This sounds very promising and would be a great addition to the game.

10

If I remember correctly that stabilizer wasn’t built

11

Very cool. I wasn’t expecting it to be added that fast.

12

…

13

Man i wish they paired it up with the mod for the T-34-85M and added it as merge between those two mods because this alone doesn’t offer much

14

Also 1 plane stab works even better compared to the M4s gyro which only works till 24 kph, while 1p stab works till 40 kph. Dont believe me try out Type 59 which has same type of stab.