The ASU-85 Airborne Assault Gun in the War

[Matt Wiser]

A brand-new fact file: the Soviet Airborne's heavy assault gun, the ASU-85:




The ASU-85 Airborne Assault Gun in World War III



The ASU-85 was the divisional-level assault gun used by the Soviet VDV (Airborne Forces) during the war. Though dated, and lacking decent ammunition to use against tanks such as the M-60 and the M-1 series, or the British Chieftain and Challenger, the vehicle saw its most use in the infantry support role and also as a convoy escort. First seen by the West in 1962, and used in Czechoslovakia in 1968, the vehicle made its combat debut in Afghanistan in 1979 before being used in North America, serving from Day One to the end. Some examples also saw service in the Second Russian Civil War as well as in Mexican service postwar.


Variants:

ASU-85: Initial production variant armed with the D-70 85-mm gun and 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun, either SGMT or PKT. The gun could fire the same rounds as the D-48 85-mm antitank gun (HEAT, HVAP-T, and HE), with a combat load of 45 rounds. The machine gun had a combat load of 2,000 rounds. V-6 engine with 210Hp.

ASU-85M: Some vehicles refitted in the 1970s with the DshK 12.7-mm (.51 Caliber) heavy machine gun with 600 rounds, 85-mm load reduced to 39 rounds.


Users:

Soviet Union: The Soviet VDV had every division equipped with the vehicle, seeing combat in Alaska and the Lower 48, from Day One until the end. Gradually replaced by the 2S9 Nona 120-mm gun/mortar system on the BMP chassis, but not all VDV units were requipped prior to war's end. Some served on both sides during the Second Russian Civil War (44th Guards Air Assault Division for the Russian Republic, 106th Guards Air Assault Division with the Soviet Loyalists).

Poland: One battalion served with the 6th Pomeranian Air Assault Division until retired in 1976, but reactivated in 1985. Combat in 1989 Campaign.

Vietnam: The Vietnamese Army was equipped with the vehicle after 1975, and some saw combat in both the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979, and against border raids along the Sino-Vietnamese Border after 1985.

Mexico: Some surviving Soviet vehicles handed over to Mexican Army after the Armistice in 1989. Some survived to see combat in 2010 Baja War. None believed to have survived.


Captured Vehicles: A few examples of the vehicle were captured in the Lower 48, and were evaluated at Aberdeen Proving Ground. All since passed to museums. Others acquired upon the Soviet Surrender in the Northern Theater, and evaluated by both British and Canadaian Armies. All passed to museums either in the UK or Canada.