I pretty much know the mechanical differences between the two tanks, but visually how can you tell them apart? I know the SU-100 had the very long 100mm naval gun and the M version had the 85mm gun ... is that it?

Thanks ahead of time for any help. My references are a bit short on this.


Jeff

Hi Jeff,

right the visual difference is, that the SU 100 has the longer gun.
This makes it easy to apart them.
I think from both SU`s existed M versions, also from the T 34/85.
I might be wrong, but I guess the M versions are post war types.

Hope that helps

Nils

The SU85M had the hull with cupola of the SU100. Or more likely, the early SU100 was built on the hull of the SU85M. Apart from the gun and internal stowage, the early SU100 hull was the same as the SU85M. In pictures is can be hard to tell the SU85M from the SU100. The give away is the mantlet of the SU85 has the round face where the bolts heads hold the mantlet on, and on the gun tube has a sharp step in it. On the SU100 the mantlet face where the bolts heads are is more hexagonal, with ridges, and the gun tube has a smooth taper with no step. Many SU85M are mistakenly called SU100. I found several pictures called SU100 on one site that are labeled SU85 on another. If you can't see the gun tube, this is the best way to tell the types apart.

I did a Google on SU85 and came up with some excellent pictures, including a series on an SU85M in a museum.

As far as I know, the russians first made the SU 85 but later decided that the hull could carry a bigger gun allso compared with the introduction og the T34 85, so work was begun on the SU 100 including upgrading to a better commanders cuppula as seen on the T34 85 and thicker armor.

Due to problems with the armorpiercing munitions for the 100 mm gun, a number of disignated SU 100´s was armed with the 85 mm and called the SU 85 M. Guns were needed at the front and the ever practical russians didn´t just leave unused hulls sitting around but put them to work.

when the problems with the ammunition was solved, production was turned to the SU 100.



Cheers

The Russian Battlefield has it that problems with manufacturing AP ammunition delayed the introduction of the 100mm gun, so 85mm guns were installed on hulls with the enlarged casemate intended for the SU-100 as an interim. Randall's guide to IDing -85Ms is spot on.

David

Thanks for the clarification on the hulls. I wasn't 100% sure what came first.

Which is the better SU85 kit Tamyia or DML?

Not strictly comparable AFAIK the Dragon model is an SU-85M and the Tamiya one (which has many of the problems of their T-34s) is definitely an SU-85.

David