The SU-85 is a Soviet self-propelled gun (tank destroyer) from the Second World War and the first years of the Cold War. The first prototypes of this vehicle were made in 1943, and serial production lasted from 1943 to 1944. About 2050 vehicles of this type were created in its course. The combat weight of this SPG in the basic version was up to 29.6 tons. The drive was provided by a single W-2-34 diesel engine with a power of up to 500 HP. The armament of the vehicle consisted of an 85mm D-5T cannon. Inside the vehicle, two 7.62 mm PPS submachine guns were usually carried.
The SU-85 self-propelled gun was developed on the basis of the SU-122, which in turn was structurally based on the T-34 medium tank. From the beginning, the new self-propelled gun was primarily designed as a tank destroyer capable of engaging the German Pz.Kpfw V and VI. Compared to the SU-122, the new Soviet self-propelled gun also received new weapons – the 85 mm gun. The SU-85 vehicles first entered service at the end of the summer of 1943 and served on the Eastern Front until the end of World War II. They turned out to be structurally successful vehicles, but their armament was inadequate to counter the Panther and Tiger tanks. Hence, in the course of World War II, the SU-100 was introduced into service. However, shortly after its completion, most of the SU-85 was withdrawn from the Soviet Army and was exported to socialist countries.
