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May 10, 2013

SU-203

Source: http://world-of-kwg.livejournal.com/193175.html
Author: Yuri Pasholok

Not a direct translation, redacted some parts for better comprehension

On 12.5.1943, to preliminary projects of self-propelled guns were sent to the representatives of the artillery committee of the Main Artillery Directorate (GAU - Soviet artillery command) and of the technical committee of People's Commissariat of Arms (NKV - basically Soviet ministry of defence). First of them was the SU-2-122 (twin barrelled 122mm on T-34 chassis), the second project recieved SU-203 factory designation. It was designed by OKB-172 in Perm (OKB - experimental construction design bureau). According to its description, the task was to develop a heavy SPG "based on KV-14", carrying a 203mm M-4 mortar.
It's worth mentioning that when working on it, the designers didn't have a "free hand". According to the documents, the project was initiated by Major-General A.A.Tolochkov, with whom the factory design bureau agreed upon the prerequisities and demands, that formed the backbone of the design.




The "based on KV-14" character of the development can be attributed to the fact that the head of the designer group was A.F.Smirnov (in the SU-2-122 and SU-203 plans he's mentioned as the leader of the project). From the original design the vehicle was to be based upon, only the gun mantlet and a part of armor remained, the rest was a brand new vehicle, based on KV-1S. Because the targetting mechanism for the M-4 mortar was too big to leave room on the left for the driver, he was moved to the right side of the hull.

The problem with the commander of the vehicle, who in the original SU-152 sat on the right from the gun was solved simply: he became also a gunner. Inside the hull, there was enough space to store only 20 rounds for the M-4 mortar (these rounds were just as big as the ones for B-4 - 100kg each).

The technical commitee decision about this project came very fast. It was found out that increasing the caliber does not always mean increasing the firepower. SU-203 was designed with the destruction of fortifications in mind and it turned out that the ML-20 (the SU-152 main gun) was better suited for this task. ML-20 could penetrate 1,4 meters of concrete, M-4 only 80cm. In other words: it was not worth the effort.

24 comments:

  1. "we need a bigger boat"

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  2. pff.. that would be quite of a derp tank

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    Replies
    1. wait wait.. it wouldn't have to be derp tank.. the penetration on B4 is enormous, it could easily be tier X TD xD


      although, highly unbalanced xD

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    2. M-4 fired at way lower velocity, I doubt that penetration for AP (anti-concrete shells actually, just as B-4, G-xxx is designation for anti-concrete shells) would be much more then 100-120mm.

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    3. I wonder if russians ever designed an HEAT shell for it.

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    4. No, why bother?
      HEAT is shitty in inflicting real damage inside fortifications vs only penetrating them. It can be also countered with fortification construction (Google Swiss post-war fortifications).
      Basically to demolish fortification you need to get lot of HE inside, hence anti-concrete was always way to go, with HESH for specific purposes (armored cupolas ETC).

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    5. damn.. and I hopped for something unique

      if there wasn't HEAT.. that doesn't stop WG from implementing it, like for the ELC :P

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    6. Oh, I'm sure WG can implement it. Direct fire artillery would be fun, but the reload times would be heinous.

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    7. Well, germans did develop giant HEAT warheads, I guess russians did not share the same love...

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    8. None else shared love due the above reasons.
      Germans avoided those issues by using huge HEAT (eg. 380mm).
      Where they also used HEAT (15cm sIG) there was simply no option for proper concrete piercing shell due the low velocity.

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  3. What?! Bigger not always better? Heresy!

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  4. That would be the king of the derps...

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    1. Are u joking?!

      King of the derps is clearly the Sturmtiger with his 380mm rocketmortar, deal with it!

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    2. This is the king, Sturmtiger is the undisputed god.

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    3. When Sturmtiger is the god, then Churchill AVRE is the king with his 290mm mortar.

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    4. .... "Anonymous May 10, 2013, 5:42:00 PM": dont know in wich way a 290mm mortar has a higher caliber than a 380mm rocket gun... :D

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    5. ... "Anonymous May 10, 2013, 5:42:00 PM": dont know in wich way a 290mm mortar has a higher caliber than a 380mm rocket gun... :D"

      God>King...

      Did u get it?!

      *facepalm*

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    6. In feel your pain Anon about Anon.

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  5. Tier 8 premium TD please!

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  6. Another bloody Derp is all we need! Still if one can't beat them .........!

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  7. between BT-42 and SU-203... derp guns everywhere!

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  8. This thing would actually work if WG decided to implement this... with the long-barreled artillery version of the 203mm. The way HE works in WoT work make the extra damage output useful... and we know what happens when AP shells are loaded.
    The longer-than-30-second-reload would however cut into the fun.

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    Replies
    1. It worked for the tier 5 KV-2, I'm sure it's doable as a gimmick premium.

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  9. http://forum.worldoftanks.eu/index.php?/topic/224795-suggestion-new-soviet-t8-premium-td/page__p__4314461#entry4314461

    there is the prem tank suggestion

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