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| ASU-57 |
| Type |
Airborne Tank Destroyer / Assault Gun |
| Place of origin |
 Soviet Union |
| Service history |
| In service |
1951 |
| Used by |
USSR, Egypt, Vietnam, Yugoslavia |
| Wars |
1967 in Egypt |
| Production history |
| Designer |
uncertain |
| Manufacturer |
uncertain |
| Produced |
1951-1962 |
| Specifications |
| Weight |
3.4 tonnes |
| Length |
3.48m (5.75 with gun) |
| Width |
2.8 m |
| Height |
1.18 m (1.46 shield up) |
| Crew |
3+6 |
|
| Armor |
6 mm |
Primary
armament |
1x Ch-51 or Ch-51M L/73 57mm Gun |
| Engine |
4 cylinder water cooled gasoline
50hp (55hp with later engine) |
| Fuel capacity |
140 liters |
Operational
range |
250 km |
| Speed |
45 km/h |
The ASU-57 was a Soviet assault gun that could be deployed by parachute. It was lightly armored and armed with a 57mm gun. The ASU-57 saw service with Soviet airborne divisions and was replaced by the ASU-85. The ASU-57 was developed in the 1950s specifically for use by the Soviet airborne divisions (54 vehicles per division) and was designed to be parachuted with the troops, using pallets fitted with retrorocket systems to soften the impact on landing.
One main drawback is that its welded aluminum hull offers little protection for the crew. However for airborne troops such vehicles are invaluable, giving lightly armed soldiers, who are isolated behind enemy lines, mobile artillery support on the battlefield.
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