Talk:SU-122

I would like to propose that the SU-100, SU-85 and SU-122 be merged into a single article. The vehicles are basically the same differing guns. Oberiko 15:35, 11 October 2005 (UTC)

This image is grossly incorrect for the SU-122. It is quite obviously an SU-85. The name of the image even calls it an SU-85. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.184.91.69 (talk • contribs)

Whoever named the file misidentified the vehicle. Click on the big picture and have a close look—the gun barrel is no more than two metres long. The SU-85's gun is much longer. —Michael Z. 2005-11-30 04:04 Z

Whoever made the image photoshopped it. Look at the mantlet, it is clearly the ball shaped mantlet of the Su-85. The Su-122's gun mantlet was brick shaped. Look: http://www.2iemeguerre.com/blindes/images/su122_PHOTO.jpg — Preceding unsigned comment added by USMA2010 (talk • contribs)

Like many other things on Soviet AFVs, I think the new mantlets were phased in, and possibly retrofitted to older vehicles during repair or refurbishment. I think I may be able to find a specific reference for the SU-122's mantlet; stay tuned. —Michael Z. 2006-02-08 19:02 Z

Zaloga (1984), p. 160–61 has pictures of SU-122s with both mantlet styles, including the caption for photo 233: "Late production batches of the SU-122 used the same ball socket mantlet of the SU-85." —Michael Z. 2006-02-08 20:22 Z

"Whoever made the image photoshopped it"—please assume just a bit of good faith before making unfounded accusations. —Michael Z. 2006-02-08 20:31 Z

Here is my rather solid proof:

http://wwiivehicles.com/ussr/tank_destroyers/su85/su_85_01.jpg

Su-85, exact same image. Note the long barrel, not to mention the fact that the cannon shown in ::the current image is both too long and too narrow to be based on the 122mm M-30 series. Compare ::that to what we can all identify to the Su-122 III.

http://www.weapon.df.ru/tanks/sovsau/medium/su122m.jpg --USMA2010

It's not photoshopped, it's just such a contrasty, over-jpegged scan that the white weather-cap on the muzzle completely disappears. But I think you are correct that it is an SU-85.

It is interesting what a difference a few degrees of angle makes in the apparent length of the gun, e.g. photos #2 and #3 at wwiivehicles.com. Also note the minor differences in the mantlet of the 122M and 122-3 at weapon.df.ru; I think the M was only a prototype; only the 122-3, with mantlet resembling an SU-85's, was built. —Michael Z. 2006-02-08 21:18 Z

The weather cap was a possibility that I considered at first, but then I noticed the next AFV down the line, definatly a Su-85. Its barrel was uncapped, so I didn't really think that one would have it on and the other wouldn't. When I found the exact same picture upon doing a Google image search for "Su-85 1944" I became suspicious. Thanks to whoever removed the image. I'm still fairly new to the whole Wikipedia editing experience, so I still need some practice before I can go off and do anything like that. Now, seeing as how the majority of Su-122 examples did in fact have the boxier style mantlet, I think it would be best if the next image to be displayed is an earlier production example.