ASU-85 [USSR, TD-8]
Historical Reference:
The ASU-85 self-propelled artillery unit was developed at the Special Design Bureau of the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant (MMZ) under the leadership of N. A. Astrov. The first prototype of the semi-enclosed SPG was built by the plant in the second half of 1953, and in 1954 it successfully completed factory trials.
Based on the results, the vehicle’s design was improved, after which three more prototypes were produced. These successfully passed further trials in 1956–1957. By a decree of the USSR Council of Ministers dated August 6, 1958, the ASU-85 was adopted into service with the Soviet Army. At the request of the Ministry of Defense, to improve crew protection against the effects of nuclear weapons, MMZ produced an experimental ASU-85 in 1959 equipped with an armored roof over the fighting compartment. Serial production of the fully armored ASU-85 was carried out at MMZ from August 1961 to 1967. Initially, the ASU-85 was intended for combat operations alongside rifle units in both offensive and defensive roles, but from the mid-1960s these vehicles began to be widely issued to airborne units as a powerful anti-tank weapon.
