Guide to SU-85 from Vlad_St. Especially for WoTaFAQ.com

Hello to all tankers and fans of playing tank destroyers! Here is a detailed SU-85 guide, in which we will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of this vehicle, talk about combat tactics on it, discuss what perks the SU-85 crew needs, etc.

To begin with, I would like to say that it is with this Soviet tank of the 5th level that a serious game begins, you have got out of the “sandbox”, an even stronger and more interesting technique awaits you, and a lot now depends on your actions, so let’s move on to the guide itself.

TTX SU-85

The first thing we will talk about regarding this PT is the SU-85 characteristics. Like most cars of this class, this specimen does not have a large margin of safety. To this indicator we can add another sad factor - booking. The fact is that we almost don’t have it, and almost all the tanks with which we get into battles, and this is equipment from levels 5 to 7, can easily penetrate us in any projection.

The SU-85's visibility is also disgusting, we are practically blind, and the barrel goes down only 6 degrees, not bad, but not very good either. However, this machine also has good advantages, the main one of which is stealth. Standing in the bushes, the SU-85 practically does not glow, which allows us not to be afraid to shoot at someone else’s light, feeling very comfortable, and good mobility gives good opportunities for maneuvers, supporting directions, etc.

Modules

gun

As usual, the weapon deserves special attention, and this is another plus in the treasury of advantages of this machine. The fact is that the top tier 7 gun has a good armor penetration rate, fairly low one-time damage, but a high rate of fire and good accuracy. In total, the SU-85's guns give us quite decent performance and the ability to easily realize our 1,800 units of average damage per minute.

Crew

As in real combat, a lot depends on the crew. In this case, it includes five people. These include: commander and gunner, driver and loader, as well as a radio operator, very useful in WOT conditions. The SU-85 will only be effective if you properly develop your “personnel”.

Spend as much silver as possible on these purposes, as this is much better than donation. In any case, you should take advantage of every opportunity not to spend real money on upgrading both the tank itself and its crew.

Equipment for SU-85 World of Tanks

So, you have become familiar with the pros and cons of this machine, and now a reasonable question arises - “What equipment does the SU-85 need?” Since we are playing on a very inconspicuous PT with a low silhouette, the game dictates its own rules to us - for most of the battle we will stand in the bushes and shoot the enemy. But this does not mean that you need to stand in one place all the time, although more on that later.

So, the choice of equipment will be as follows: • - will allow you to recharge faster and increase our DPM; • — we need to somehow compensate for our disgusting review; • - now it will be even more difficult to see us, even after the shot. Of course, instead of a camouflage net, you can install one for yourself, because the SU-85 is already perfectly camouflaged, but this is purely everyone’s choice.

What to install?

We strongly recommend that you immediately install a rammer (necessarily a medium caliber), then get hold of a camouflage net and mount a high-quality stereo tube.

By the way, in World of Tank the SU-85 is a self-propelled gun, which is the last “frontier” at which the installation of a camouflage network is truly effective. Also perfect for successful battles is the aiming drive, which will allow you to slightly increase the low aiming speed.

In other cases, it is better to develop a ventilation system, since the camouflage abilities are clearly not worth it. In a word, this technique is an excellent development of this type of self-propelled guns. In general, the SU-85 (we have already discussed which gun to install) provides rather modest opportunities for its modernization.

Combat tactics and use of tank destroyer SU-85

Frankly speaking, combat tactics on the SU-85 are not particularly difficult, since we are a second-line tank. Our main task is cover. This means that throughout the battle we need to take advantageous positions from which a good shot opens, and when the allies expose enemy equipment, we are obliged to help them send the enemy to the hangar.

Look for points where you can hide in the bushes, this will increase the level of stealth, and you can safely deal damage without fear of getting hit back. However, standing in one place for the entire battle is not an option, because sooner or later we will still be discovered, and if not the enemy tank, then the enemy artillery will quickly explain the error of such tactics. Try to move in such a way as to bring maximum benefit to the team, push through directions or repel attacks, covering the base and allied artillerymen.

In the end, I would like to say that, undoubtedly, the SU-85 is worth taking, since this vehicle is not only strong in battle, but it also opens the way to a very interesting and one of the strongest branches of tank destroyers in World of Tanks.

Historical reference

In 1943, after the 85-mm D-5 gun was put into service, a project to modernize the SU-76I was developed in September. One of the main changes was the replacement of the 76-mm F-34 gun with an 85-mm D-5. Of course, the new gun was impossible to install on the old transmission. Therefore, it was decided to use the chassis of the captured Pz.Kpfw tank. III. With a quantity of 58 shells, the creators achieved a weight savings of 400 kg, reducing the load on the front rollers by 7%.

Unfortunately, the project was never published, because there simply weren’t enough captured rollers for the tank’s transmission.

SU-85B

In April–May 1943, tests were carried out on the SU-85B tank destroyer designed by the Molotov Gorky Automobile Plant. The vehicle was a modernization of the SU-85A and was equipped with an LB-2 artillery gun, a 160-horsepower engine and an SU-76M chassis. The conning tower, drive wheels, and spare parts boxes were redesigned. A single prototype was produced.

Vitality

Observation

Time for sequential reloading of each projectile into the magazine.

The modified system allows you to reduce the base reloading time for the next projectile when firing a loaded projectile after the corresponding indication

Technical characteristics are indicated for siege mode.

Technical characteristics are indicated for the spin-up turbine mode.

Specifications are specified for speed mode.

Charging time for the first and second guns on vehicles with a twin gun mount.

Technical characteristics are indicated for equipment with a crew training level of 100%.

Compatible equipment

Useful perks for the crew

What skills should the crew develop in order to emerge victorious from all your battles? Let's list everything. Firstly, the sixth sense, repair and camouflage, as well as BB (non-contact ammunition stowage) are vital for the commander. As for the driver, he cannot be left without advanced repair, virtuoso, and camouflage skills. The BB should not be ignored either.

What specifications should the gunner develop? He will need a sniper, repairs and AP, as well as camouflage. What should a loader be able to do? Firstly, non-contact stowage of ammunition, repair and camouflage skills are required.

Radio operator. He will need the skill of repair and radio interception, as well as camouflage and BB.

Installing a new weapon

Our first candidate for installation is the 76 mm S-54S. Allows you to “delight” the enemy with as many as fourteen shells in just one minute. The gun is stock, but even if a conventional projectile is used, it provides a second level of armor penetration at medium distance. Accuracy is 0.39 meters per hundred meters, in one shot you can knock out 115/110/165 damage. Of course, in this case, a lot depends on the type of shells you use.

The 122 mm M-30S has much better qualities. Unfortunately, you can fire only five shots per minute, which in the event of a head-on meeting with the enemy will almost always be fatal to you. The high explosive is very similar to that of the Stug or Hetzer. If we talk about low-level tanks, then a direct hit for them is fraught with complete destruction and rupture. But the penetration depth is only 61 mm.

Article on the topic: Why the world of tanks game freezes

It should be noted that this parameter is an obvious flaw of the developer. In reality, the penetration of this kind of weapon is much better, so there is little resemblance to real combat. However, the game shouldn’t be blamed too much for this.

The more common weapon is the 85 mm D-5S model. The rate of fire is at least 13 shots per minute. Penetration depth - 120 mm, damage dealt - 160 strength units. At medium and close distances, such characteristics make it easy to take out medium and high-level tanks. Unfortunately, the accuracy of 0.43 per hundred meters will not allow you to knock out anything really serious from long distances.

The 85 mm D-5S-85BM gun has slightly better characteristics. The same caliber, but the rate of fire is already 10 shots in one minute. The most optimal weapon for ambush hunting. If you use a gold projectile, you can achieve 180 units of damage, and the accuracy is 0.34 meters per hundred meters. If you maneuver quickly, you can relatively easily destroy even medium and heavy tanks from relatively long distances.

Organizational and staffing structure

In the Red Army, the SU-85 entered service with self-propelled artillery regiments. Regiments were the main tactical unit of self-propelled artillery. The SU-85 self-propelled artillery regiments were equipped according to the state number 010/453 adopted in 1943.

Its detailed structure looked like this [4]:

• SAPO commander: Batteries: 1st battery (4 SU-85);
• 2nd battery (4 SU-85);
• 3rd battery (4 SU-85);
• 4th battery (4 SU-85).

Fundamental Notes

Note that among the equipment produced in the USSR there are many machines whose properties are almost identical in all respects. The aforementioned 85 model and the SU-100 are actually similar self-propelled guns.

Both of them are virtually no different from the famous SU-76. In almost reality, everything was exactly the same: these self-propelled guns belong to the same family, being equipment of the same stripe. Thus, if your account level can already make it possible to use the SU-85B, you are well prepared even for very severe battles.

Su-85I premium PT. WoT Blitz

Su-85I is a premium tier 5 tank in the Soviet vehicle branch. Historically, it is a Soviet anti-tank self-propelled gun based on a captured German chassis, which is indicated by the letter “I” in the name. Due to the inability to obtain trophies in the required quantity, as well as for technical reasons that could not be eliminated, the project was closed. What is the Su-85I in WoT Blitz, is it worth buying.

Advantages and disadvantages

By and large, all the strongest and weakest aspects of the PT_SAU SU-85I WoT can be seen from the information provided above, however, for ease of perception, we will still break everything down point by point.

Pros: •High DPM; •Good mobility and maneuverability; •Not bad visibility for a tank destroyer of this level; •Good stealth; •Preferential level of battles.

Cons: •Weak armor; •Uncomfortable accuracy and gun depression angle; •Weak armor penetration indicators; •Small margin of safety.

Game tactics

It's time to touch on one of the most important aspects of the guide and talk about what combat tactics are on the SU-85I. First of all, remembering that we have in our hands a real level 5 tank destroyer, not endowed with serious armor, but having a lot of other advantages, we should play from the second or even third line.

It would seem trivial, but the ideal option would be to take a good bush, turn on the stereo tube and shoot at your own or someone else’s light. However, there is one “BUT” here. Since the SU-85I cannon of the WoT tank was not very accurate, you need to stand not too far away, but also choose a place from where you can shoot so that your light bulb does not light up.

In other cases, you will have to rely on your allies, who will help you dismantle insolent enemies who are too close to you, or if there is only one such enemy and is not of a very high level, you can use your main advantage - high DPM.

The rest of the time we must play a support role, assist our allies as much as possible and deal as much damage as possible. Do not hesitate to load gold when a formidable enemy appears in the sight, and remember, the SU-85I World of Tanks is very afraid of landmines, especially from artillery.

Finally, it remains to be said that whether to take this PT or not is up to you, after all, the car is quite rare and not without flaws.

Camouflage and visibility

As a rule, camouflage allows you to relatively confidently destroy enemy equipment from 320 meters. But it’s better to keep a low profile and try to use the camouflage net to its fullest. Let enemy vehicles come to the minimum possible distance. If you use a high-quality weapon, you will have every chance of destroying the enemy before he can target your car.

The visibility of this self-propelled gun is one of its most optimal parameters. Therefore, you should not get out ahead of everyone, trying to get to the front of the battle. Considering the visibility of the vehicle, they will probably destroy you much faster than you can take aim. If you don't have enough visibility, use a stereo tube. Their importance is very high in the case when your allies cannot provide normal rear coverage.

Here is a review of the SU-85. We hope that you have gleaned all the most important information from it.