ASU-85 SOVIET AIRBORNE SELF-PROPELLED GUN Mod. 1970

Description

The ASU-85 ’airborne self-propelled gun’ is a soviet airborne self-propelled gun of the Cold War Era. Soviet Airborne Forces used the ASU-85 in airborne operations. Its primary role was light infantry support or assault, with limited anti-tank capability. The ASU-85 replaced the open-topped ASU-57 in service. It weighs approximately 13.78 tons and has a very low silhouette of just 2,1 meters. It is powered by one V-6 six-in-line water-cooled diesel engine with 240hp. It was designed on the PT-76 tank chassis, but lost amphibic capabilities. Armament consists of an SD-44 85mm gun carrying 40 rounds (4 rounds per minute) and one 7.62mm PKT co-axial machinegun. Effective range is around 260km (162 miles), and armour protection is up to 40mm. The vehicle was NBC-sealed and equipped with IR-sights for night fighting. The ASU-85 became possible with the introduction of the Mi-6 and Mi-10 helicopters and high-capacity multi-chute and retro-rocket systems for fixed wing-drops. It was first observed by NATO in 1962, and was widely used by Soviet and Polish airborne units. Here, in its late production version. (Scale : 1/35e)