1K17 Szhatie
Why is this
vehicle in an SP Guns page? Simply because I don’t know where else put it, and
the closest the page is the closest match.
The Szhatie
(Compression) is essentially a heavy-duty, but relatively low-power, laser
system mounted on a 2S19 Msta-S chassis. Though first prototypes of the Szhatie
appeared on Soviet proving grounds in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was not
known outside of Russia until after Soviet Union dissolved.
Rumors, rough drawings, and approximate (and wildly varying)
specifications were known to US, Canadian, and NATO intelligence services, there
was not enough information during the cold war to fill more than a thin folder.
Two prototypes were eventually built and continually modified and improved, but
in the end, the Szhatie was deemed too expensive to maintain and operate, and in
the late 1980s, one was put into the Army Technology Museum near Moscow and the
other scrapped. The situation may
have remained the same, but in 2016, the Russians appear to have to put the
Szhatie into a very low LRIP. This
version appears to be much more powerful than the original model.
The first was delivered to the Russian Army in 2017.
When the
existence of this vehicle was discovered, there were anguished, outraged cries
in Geneva and The Hague, mainly that it must violate one or more Conventions.
Despite continual analysis of the documents (which continues to this
day), none of the diplomats and lawyers have been able to pin down which
Conventions the Szhatie was violating. (I’m guessing that in the near future,
new Conventions will be added to the Main Documents.) Mr Putin seems to have
taken this for a tacit permission to develop an even more powerful version of
the Szhatie.
At first, the
purpose was to produce a vehicle which could blind thermal viewers and image
intensifiers and other optics in a wide arc in front of the vehicle. It achieved
this by focusing the light through 30 kilograms of artificial rubies, which
produced a laser beam that could be shot through up to 12 emitters.
Each emitter was composed of a mirror and prism system that focused 13
laser tubes into each emitter, producing a single output at the emitter. The
Russians also know that anyone looking through optics when the beam was fired
would at least temporarily, if not permanently blinded.
Estimates of the laser battery’s output varies with source, but most
sources put a full battery discharge at 15 kilowatts.
However, the gunner of the Szhatie may elect to not fire one or more
lasers, with each emitter not fired increasing power output by 2 kilowatts.
The divergence of the full-output beam is about 10 degrees, with less
emitters having correspondingly less divergence.
The effects of the emitters is hard to quantify, but a 15 kW beam will
burn out or temporarily blind (50/50 chance) fire control optics, thermal, image
intensifying, and CCD optics equipment.
It can also (roll of 12 on d20) cause spontaneous launching of laser
decoys and actuation of their sensor systems. At max output (22kW Using only one
emitter), the effects include (roll 8 on d20) setting personnel on fire,
blinding them, causing them to believe they are about to be set on fire and
doing a stop-drop-roll. Such a beam
also has a penetration of 20/10/5/3; if ERA is struck, the block is ruined and
penetrated without the ERA going off. (NERA gives normal protection.) As
composite armor contains materials that are ablative, they also halve the
results of the beam’s penetration.
Spaced armor does not have its normal effect, it merely acts as more armor for
the beam to penetrate. It is also possible that external fuel tanks, crew
equipment or other equipment stowed on the surface of the vehicle, or items like
boards or plastic may also catch on fire (Roll 12 on d20).
Using the
emitters does require a roll to hit – but only a 1, 2, or 3 is actually a
“miss.” Catastrophic Failure means
that 1d6 emitters are blown (depending upon how many emitters were used in the
attack), and a 2 or 3 means that the power generation batteries failed to
transmit the required power to the emitters.
The commander is also the gunner of the Szhatie.
The Szhatie is
also useful against aircraft and UAVs.
The emitters are also very vulnerable to ground fire, and particularly
automatic rifle, machinegun, and sniper attacks.
In addition, when figuring maintenance, the turret should be considered a
separate component, requiring the same amount of maintenance as the vehicle
itself.
The 2016
iteration of the Szhatie benefits from nearly 30 years of laser development.
For the most part, this manifests itself as an increase in laser power,
though Russian laser research does match Western laser research.
Using all the emitters gives a beam cluster of 21 kW, which allows for a
+2 in operation rolls. A full-power
one-emitter beam is at 28kW, again
yielding a +1 on operational rolls and a penetration of 30/15/8/4.
In either case,
the absolute damaging or blinding limit, whether 12 beams or one, is 3000
meters. It does have short, medium,
long, and extreme ranges, at a rate of 375/750/1500/3000 meters.
At any shot, if an emitter scores catastrophic failure, the emitter (roll
for each emitter that fired) is burned out and will not function until an
appropriate level of maintenance is reached. On a roll of 2, 1d6 emitters failed
to fire.
As noted above,
the chassis of the Szhatie is a 2S19 Msta-S chassis. However, the Szhatie uses
the 840-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine of a T-72A tank, and has a
battery-powered system that allows the Szhatie to power up to eight full
12-emitter shots. If the engine is
running, the batteries can charge off of the engine, but this takes 10 minutes
for each emitter to be powered, and 1.5 hours to charge enough to allow eight
further shots. The driver’s position is in the center of the glacis, with the
commander atop the turret, armed with a heavy machinegun or its equivalent.
The gunner is in the turret.
The firing and commander’s stations are of high technology, and the original
vehicle has only minimal night vision, while the 2016 model has somewhat better
optics and electronics. The
original Szhatie has inertial navigation; the 2016 version has GPS with a full
mapping module with screens for the commander and driver. The 2016 version is
also equipped with a better fire control system a vehicle state computer, and a
full BMS.
A laser system
based on the ZSU-23-4, with the guns replaced by laser emitters, has apparently
been developed. I do not have
enough information to stat this out right now.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Szhatie (1980’s Model) |
$38,908,710 |
D, A |
874 kg |
41 tons. |
2 |
48 |
Image
Intensification (D), Backup Day/Night Camera (D), Thermal Imaging (G/C) |
Shielded |
Szhatie (2016
Model) |
$55,697,508 |
D, A |
510 kg |
39 tons |
2 |
63 |
Image
Intensification (D, G/C), Day/Night Backup Camera (D), FLIR (G/C) |
Shielded |
0
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
Szhatie (1980’s
Model) |
143/100 |
40/28 |
1200+400 |
307 |
Trtd |
T6 |
TF10
TS36 TR10
HF70Sp HS11Sp
HR12 |
Szhatie (2016
Model) |
151/106 |
42/29 |
1200+400 |
292 |
Trtd |
T6 |
TF12Sp
TS40Sp TR10
HF70Sp HS11Sp
HR12 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
Szhatie (1980’s
Model) |
+1 |
None |
20kW Laser, NSVT
(C) |
Laser Ammunition
Special, 1000x12.7mm |
Szhatie (2016
Model) |
+3 |
Basic |
28kW Laser, Kord
(C) |
Laser Ammunition
Special, 1500x12.7mm |
ASU-57
Notes: This
vehicle was designed specifically for use by Russian airborne troops in the
mid-1950s, and used by the Russian Airborne until the advent of the ASU-85 in
1960. Nonetheless, they stayed in
ever-more-limited Soviet service until the mid-1970s. They were some of the
first Russian vehicles making extensive use of aluminum armor instead of steel.
They were not meant to be tank destroyers; it was recognized even then
that its low-caliber gun could not destroy the tanks of even that period in most
cases. Instead, the ASU-57 was
meant to provide fire support and anti-fortification firepower to airborne
infantry. The only country believed
to still be using the ASU-57 is Yugoslavia, in small numbers, though it is
possible that a few are still in service in Vietnam and with insurgents in
Libya.
The powerplant
of the ASU-57 was a problem; it was kept small to save weight and was, at 50
horsepower, underpowered for even the low weight of the ASU-57.
(Later versions used an upgraded 55 horsepower engine, which was still
underpowered.) The engines are variants of those found in the GAZ-M-20 Pobeda
civilian car. The armor was designed to be useful only against small arms and
shell splinters and could be defeated by even 7.62mm AP rounds. The fighting
compartment was open-topped, which gave the crew good situational awareness, but
deficient protection. However, what
the Soviet Airborne was looking for at the time was low weight, and they got it.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Though small amounts of ASU-57s were found in Mobilization-Only units in
Russia, most ASU-57s are in active service in Yugoslavia or some African and
Asian Third World armies.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
ASU-57 |
$50,238 |
G, A |
277 kg |
3.35 tons |
3 |
3 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
ASU-57M |
$50,254 |
G, A |
279 kg |
3.35 tons |
3 |
3 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
ASU-57 |
113/79 |
31/22 |
140 |
22 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF4
HS2 HR2* |
ASU-57M |
122/85 |
34/24 |
140 |
24 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF4
HS2 HR2* |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+1 |
Basic |
57mm Ch-51 or
Ch-51M Gun, DTM or DShK (C) |
30x57mm,
2500x7.62mm or 1500x12.7mm |
*The fighting compartment is open-topped; the commander/gunner and loader have a
vehicle roof AV of 0.
Notes: Work on the design that would become the ASU-85 actually began shortly
after the adoption of the ASU-57, and was enabled by the rapid Russian progress
in heavier-lift aircraft and parachute-landing technology in the early 1960s.
The ASU-85 is based on the PT-76 light tank chassis, but the amphibious
capabilities are omitted and the ASU-85 has a different engine, the YaMZ-306V
horizontal six-cylinder diesel developing 210 horsepower. The more powerful
engine was meant to give the ASU-85 greater agility and speed, to increase its
survivability. Originally, the ASU-85 was to be open-topped like the ASU-57, but
shortly before production was to begin the MoD decided that the ASU-85 was to
have an armored roof. The delay
that was caused by this requirement meant that by the time production began in
1961, the ASU-85 was essentially obsolete.
In Soviet service, the ASU-85 would equip only VDV (Airborne) units; in
addition, the ASU-85 was exported only to East Germany and Poland in the Warsaw
Pact. Vietnam has 5 still in
service, and one has been seen in use by the Ukrainians in the current war.
Vietnam has expressed in an upgrade package proposed by the Belarusians in 2016,
consisting of a new 300-horsepower engine, upgraded night vision gear, the
addition of a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer, rearranged ammunition
stowage, and a refurbished gun. However, no upgrading work has been done to
date.
The ASU-85 consists of a
large, boxy chassis with a D-70 (2A15) 85mm gun mounted in the glacis plate
along with a coaxial machinegun.
The gun can be traversed 15 degrees to the left and right, but most laying of
the gun is done by pivoting the vehicle on its tracks.
Elevation ranges are -4.5 to 15 degrees. Sighting is done with a
telescopic sight in the daytime or with the WL channel of the searchlight at
night and an IR-sensitive sight along with the IR channel of the searchlight at
night.
Twilight 2000
Notes: This assault gun is one of the older vehicles that were still in active
Russian service in 2000, being introduced in 1960.
It was being quickly replaced by the 2S9, but there are still a large
number of them in service with Category 2, 3, and Mobilization Only units at the
time of the Twilight War. The Belarusian Upgrade Package does not exist in the
Twilight 2000 timeline.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
ASU-85 |
$315,093 |
D, A |
469 kg |
15.5 tons |
4 |
9 |
Active IR (G,
C), WL/IR Searchlight (G/C) |
Enclosed |
ASU-85M |
$277,496 |
D, A |
467 kg |
15.65 tons |
4 |
9 |
Active IR (G,
C), WL/IR Searchlight (G/C) |
Enclosed |
Belarusian
Upgrade Package |
$306,563 |
D, A |
473 kg |
15.8 tons |
4 |
10 |
Thermal Imaging
(G, C), Image Intensification (D, G, C) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
ASU-85 |
106/74 |
29/21 |
250+285 |
62 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF10
HS4 HR4 |
ASU-85M |
105/74 |
29/20 |
250+285 |
62 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF10
HS4 HR4 |
Belarusian
Upgrade Package |
137/96 |
38/27 |
250+285 |
89 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF10
HS4 HR4 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
ASU-85 |
+1 |
Basic |
85mm D-70 Gun,
PKT |
45x85mm,
2500x7.62mm |
ASU-85M |
+1 |
Basic |
85mm D-70 Gun,
PKT, DShK (C) |
39x85mm,
2500x7.62mm, 600x12.7mm |
Belarusian
Upgrade Package |
+3 |
Basic |
85mm D-70 Gun,
PKT, DShK (C) |
43x85mm,
2500x7.62mm, 600x12.7mm |
SU-100
Notes: The
SU-100 actually began development as the SU-85, armed with an 85mm D-5 gun, but
the SU-85 idea was rendered obsolete by the advent of the 85mm D-5-armed T-34-85
tank in 1943. Work began on the
SU-100, armed with the 100mm D-10S gun, as a tank able to mount the D-10S has
not been invented yet. Work started in 1944 and by March of that year working
prototypes were made and production quickly followed.
The SU-100 was able to make quick work of the German Panther tank at a
range of 1500 meters and below, but like most Soviet tank destroyers, the SU-100
suffered from thin armor from all aspects. The SU-100 could be found in
frontline service in some countries over 40 years later, and continues in
reserve service to this day in some Third World countries. Vietnam and North
Korea continue to use them in main line service, and they have been seen in in
current conflict in Yemen.
Like other
Russian assault guns, the SU-100 has no turret and an enlarged fighting
compartment. Hatches for the
commander and driver are located on the roof; the commander’s hatch is on the
right side in a sponson, and has an inscribed mil ring to aid in calling for
covering artillery fires. All other
crewmembers use the commander’s hatch.
The sights use a x4 telescopic optic, with a night vision channel. Power
is provided by a 500-horsepower Kharkiv V-2 12-cylinder diesel engine, coupled
to a rather balky transmission; trained SU-100 drivers were valuable. The SU-100
proved to be hampered by its lack of any machinegun, and one was added after
World War 2, particularly in Middle Eastern service, on the SU-100M variant
(which also had modifications to suit it better for hot weather and sandy
conditions, and a 530-horsepower engine).
The SU-100 is
noted for the positioning of the gunner’s sight, which is close to the gun
mounting and this makes it difficult for the gunner to angle his head to use the
sight effectively. The
war-emergency quality of welding is also deficient, and seams tend to burst when
hit; however, the armor itself is of better protection than earlier Soviet tank
destroyers. The gun has a narrow traverse angle of 12 degrees to either side. As
noted, the initial SU-100 models had no machineguns, and this made fighting off
enemy infantry difficult without supporting troops.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The SU-100 is still a common sight in Middle Eastern, Southeast Asian,
and Chinese service, as well as North Korean and African service.
It can also be found equipping Soviet Category 3 and Mobilization-Only
units.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
SU-100 |
$320,511 |
D, A |
651 kg |
31.6 tons |
4 |
19 |
Active IR (G, C) |
Shielded |
SU-100M |
$332,321 |
D, A |
651 kg |
31.7 tons |
4 |
19 |
Passive IR (G, C) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
SU-100 |
119/83 |
33/23 |
812+380 |
148 |
Stnd |
T6 |
HF18 HS9
HR9 |
SU-100M |
124/87 |
34/24 |
812+380 |
157 |
Stnd |
T6 |
HF18 HS6
HR6 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
SU-100 |
+1 |
None |
100mm D-10S gun |
44x100mm |
SU-100M |
+1 |
None |
100mm D-10S gun, PK (C) |
44x100mm, 2000x7.62mm |