History and Development of the ASU-57 Tank Destroyer (2024)

In June of 1946 the airborne forces wereseparated from the army and placed under the direct control of the Ministry ofDefense. This was because it was felt that they would be better used inthe strategic role instead of providing local support to the fronts orarmies. These units were then equipped with large numbers ofautomatic weapons, early RPG's, and anti-aircraft guns.

Specialized armored vehicles for use by theairborne troops were also designed. These initially used componentsof the T-70 light tank used during the Great Patriotic War. The first ofthese emerged in 1947 and was designated the K-73. It was followed by animproved model known as the ASU-76 in 1949. The vehicles were experimentaldesigns and neither was accepted for serial production. Work on anacceptable airborne anti-tank vehicle continued and eventually culminated in thedevelopment of the ASU-57 in 1951.

The ASU-57 was a light vehicle that differed from itspredecessors in that it was composed of aluminum rather than steel. Thisgreatly reduced the weight of the vehicle and enabled it to be mounted on apallet and air dropped from small cargo aircraft. Special breaking rocketswere often fitted to the pallet to help soften the impact on landing.

Its four-cylinder engine is a modified version an engine used ina civilian automobile called the M-20 Pobeda. The engine is mounted in theright-front of the vehicle behind the transmission which is located at the veryfront of the hull. Behind the engine compartment is the three man crewarea and 57mm main gun.

In the open-topped crew compartment the driver and loader (in arear facing seat) are seated on the right side of the main gun, while thegunner/commander is seated on the left side of the gun. A hinged armoredpanel with vision blocks is located in the front of the crew area and can beraised to provide protection from shrapnel. Similar panels were placed onthe sides of the crew area. This crew compartment can be covered with atarpaulin which is stored in the rear of the vehicle.

The fuel tank is located behind the gunner/commander along witha number of rounds for the main gun which are stored vertically stored.Additional ammunition (also stored vertically) is located behind the loader'sposition. Three other troops can also ride on the rear of the vehiclebehind these storage positions. An unditching beam is often carried on theright side of the hull.

When the ASU-57 entered service in 1951 it was the lightestairborne vehicle in the Soviet inventory, and the only self-propelled anti-tankgun in the world capable of being dropped by parachute. It was first seenby Western observers during the 1957 May Day parade in Moscow.

No variants of the ASU-57 were ever fielded over the course ofproduction which continued until 1962, although some were equipped with machineguns for self defense. During the Cold War the tank destroyer was exportedto Egypt, Vietnam, and Yugoslavia. They were first used in battle byEgyptian forces against the Israeli's in the 1967 war.

By the 1970's several factors began working against theASU-57. The first of these was the increasing thickness of tank armorwhich reduced the effectiveness of the 57mm main gun. The second factorwas the success of anti-tank guided missiles which were both smaller and morepowerful.These developments led to the creation of the BMD which enteredservice in the mid-1970's. The ASU-57 was gradually phased out as airborneunits received the new vehicle. By the late 1980's the Soviets hadwithdrawn all ASU-57's from active service.

During the Cold War each of the three regimentsof a Soviet Airborne Division was equipped with a battalion of ASU-57 tankdestroyers. The battalion is further divided into three batteries of sixASU-57's giving the regiment a total of 18 of the vehicles. Tactically thebatteries could be deployed either as individual batteries supporting theregiment, or could be kept together for use by the regiment at the battalionlevel. In combat the vehicle would be dropped from transports such as theAn-12 'Cub' which can carry two of the vehicles giving the paratroopers ameasure of anti-tank defense.

When it was introduced the ASU-57 was well suitedto its role as a light mobile anti-tank platform. Its small size and lightweight allowed the vehicle to be air dropped at a time when no other similarvehicle could do so. The vehicle was also more mobile than towed or recoilless anti-tankweapons used by regular Soviet army formations.

Despite these capabilities the vehicle remainedlittle more than a self propelled 57mm gun which became less effective as thearmor of main battle tanks grew thicker. It also suffered from a verylimited manual traverse and elevation system. The tiny vehicle also lackedNBC protection for the crew and its thin armor provided protection only fromsmall arms fire and shrapnel.

The ASU-57 was an attempt to provide the airborneforces with a self-propelled anti-tank weapon. It replaced the earliertowed guns, but was later replaced by the more capable BMD which mounted both aanti-tank missile and an infantry support gun. You can find out more about eachof these weapons systems if we have them on our site by clicking on the links below.