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.

 

ASU-85

     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