The SU-122 emerged from the Soviet drive to field self-propelled artillery quickly on existing tank chassis. Its 122 mm howitzer emphasized high-explosive effect rather than dedicated antitank performance.
SU-122. Primary reference image for this archive profile. Source date: 2006-04-24 08:49:35.Public domainImage source
Rolemedium assault gun / self-propelled howitzer
Main weapon / system122 mm M-30S howitzer
Platform / layoutT-34-derived chassis
MediaPrimary image integrated
Development and design
A fixed armored superstructure replaced the T-34 turret and housed the adapted M-30 howitzer. The weapon’s separate-loading ammunition and limited internal space reduced rate of fire, but the heavy shell gave useful bunker and infantry-support capability. 1, 2
Operational use
SU-122s served in mixed self-propelled artillery regiments during 1943. The design’s production life was short as the T-34 chassis was redirected toward the more urgently needed SU-85 tank destroyer. 1, 2
Role and significance
The SU-122 is important because it shows the T-34 chassis supporting two distinct mission branches: assault artillery with a large howitzer and antitank work with high-velocity guns. 1, 2
Sources and further reading
Representative source set used for this profile. Primary image source and reuse terms are listed with the image.
