Main description

The 2S3-44M (or otherwise called Object 443) was a testbed platform for the 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artilery vehicle. The testbed was composed of using a T-44M chassis alongside a Object 303 turret. Although the chassis was considered to be used as a conversion variant for surplus, this never happened as focus shifted to a different chassis instead with better characteristics. The project was later cancelled, but the knowledge from research and testing passed to the final designs of the 2S3 altogether, making the 2S3-44M an important vehicle to the 2S3's development.

2S3

The SO-152 (Russian: ??-152), usually known by its GRAU designation 2S3 (Russian: 2?3), is a Soviet 152.4 mm self-propelled gun developed in 1968, as a response to the American 155 mm M109 howitzer. Development began in 1967, according to the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union from July 4, 1967. In 1968, the SO-152 was completed and in 1971 entered service. The fighting vehicle also received the added designation Akatsiya (??????), which is Russian for Acacia. Read more

T-44M

T-44M (1961) – T-44A modernization incorporating a drive train upgraded to match the one used in T-54 including the V-54 12-cylinder 38.88 liter water-cooled diesel engine developing 523 hp (390 kW), gearbox, tracks, 'starfish' road wheels and a conventional toothed drive sprocket, flush with the outer track edge. It had an increased ammunition stowage (from 58 rounds to 61 rounds), new R-113 and R-120 radio sets, a heater and infra-red night sight, TVN-2 night vision device for the driver as well as another fuel tank which increased the fuel capacity by 150 liters to 650 liters and 800 liters with additional fuel tanks.[13] The maximal road operational range of the tank increased to 420 km - 440 km.[13] The original fenders were replaced with T-54-style ones. The catwalk stowage was changed to the flat T-54 rectangular external fuel tanks with embossed circle and cross. Hence the T-44M had a different arrangement of additional fuel tanks and stowage boxes. There were four rectangular external fuel tanks as well as two smaller ones on the right fender and fastenings for four spare track chain links, one rectangular external fuel tank as well as two smaller ones and one stowage box. The tank received a mount for an antiaircraft machine gun. A T-54-style headlight cluster with two headlights was added to right hand side of the glacis plate and the T-34-style headlight on the left hand side of the hull was removed.

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