Airborne combat experience during WWII revealed a need for a light, maneuverable high velocity self-propelled gun. The Soviet's answer in the early 1950s was the ASU-57. Weighing in at only 3.3 tons the ASU-57 could be landed or parachuted from military transports of the day. At that time this vehicle was the only self-propelled gun capable of parachute insertion.

Equipped with a 50 HP engine and partially built of duraluminum, this light vehicle packed a punch with a high velocity 57mm antitank gun which was capable of piercing 100 mm armor at 1000 metres range. Its very small height enhanced survivability. With the conning armor lowered this vehicle came up only to the average mans waist. I wish I had time to do a figure to show scale.

The ASU-57 was very successful and exported by the Soviets to Yugoslavia, Viet Nam and Egypt. It served on into the 60s taking part in the 1967 war between Egypt and Israel.