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Description
The SU-85 tank destroyer was the Soviet Union's first attempt to give greater mobility to the 85 mm D-5S gun. It was a good weapon against most of the German tanks, including Tigers and Panthers (if hit from short distance or from the side), but it was difficult to move around. Plans were to fit it in T-34's turret, but the existing one was too small.

While the new turret was being designed and manufactured, the D-5S was put on the T-34's chassis in a casemate-style superstructure. The first machines were actually SU-122 self-propelled guns, with their 122 mm howitzers replaced by the D-S5 guns; this quickened the production and allowed the SU-85s to be fielded in 1943, just in time for the battle of Kursk. When used from ambushed, the low-profile vehicles could pierce the Tiger's frontal armour from the distance of 1,000 m. On the other hand, it was less suitable for offensive operations, due to limited horizontal traverse (though the T-34's chassis and powerplant allowed it to turn virtually on a dime).

When the T-34/85 became aviable in sufficient numbers, it was felt that SU-85 should be up-gunned, so as not to carry the same gun as the tank. That's how the SU-100 came into being; a 100 mm D-10S gun was put on its chassis, creating one of the most powerful tank destroyers of that war, capable of destroying any German tank frontally, except for the King Tiger. SU-100 remained in service after the war, still being in use during Israeli-Arab Wars, the Korean and Vietnam War, and some were even spotted as late as during Yugoslav Wars. Some were also converted to armoured recovery vehicles, some of which remained in railway service until late 1990s.

The SU-85 is easily distinguishable from the SU-100 by the lack of pulpit-like extension below commander's hatch to the right-hand side of the vehicle; as well as by rectangular cover housing the periscopic sights. However, some improved versions also used SU-100's casemate and cupola.

Description
The SU-85 tank destroyer was the Soviet Union's first attempt to give greater mobility to the 85 mm D-5S gun. It was a good weapon against most of the German tanks, including Tigers and Panthers (if hit from short distance or from the side), but it was difficult to move around. Plans were to fit it in T-34's turret, but the existing one was too small.

While the new turret was being designed and manufactured, the D-5S was put on the T-34's chassis in a casemate-style superstructure. The first machines were actually SU-122 self-propelled guns, with their 122 mm howitzers replaced by the D-S5 guns; this quickened the production and allowed the SU-85s to be fielded in 1943, just in time for the battle of Kursk. When used from ambushed, the low-profile vehicles could pierce the Tiger's frontal armour from the distance of 1,000 m. On the other hand, it was less suitable for offensive operations, due to limited horizontal traverse (though the T-34's chassis and powerplant allowed it to turn virtually on a dime).

When the T-34/85 became aviable in sufficient numbers, it was felt that SU-85 should be up-gunned, so as not to carry the same gun as the tank. That's how the SU-100 came into being; a 100 mm D-10S gun was put on its chassis, creating one of the most powerful tank destroyers of that war, capable of destroying any German tank frontally, except for the King Tiger. SU-100 remained in service after the war, still being in use during Israeli-Arab Wars, the Korean and Vietnam War, and some were even spotted as late as during Yugoslav Wars. Some were also converted to armoured recovery vehicles, some of which remained in railway service until late 1990s.

The SU-85 is easily distinguishable from the SU-100 by the lack of pulpit-like extension below commander's hatch to the right-hand side of the vehicle; as well as by rectangular cover housing the periscopic sights. However, some improved versions also used SU-100's casemate and cupola.