It should be noted that the armies of the countries — participants of the Warsaw Pact were mainly equipped with weapons and military equipment of Soviet production. However, countries which had the respective defense industry, it was not forbidden to develop their own samples for their own needs, and for other allied States. The only requirement was only the unification of ammunition.
In the mid 1970-ies in the design Bureau of machine-building enterprises in the Slovak city of Dubnica nad Vahom developed a new artillery system adopted by the Czechoslovak army under the designation of 152 mm ShKH vz.77 (152 mm samohydna kanonova houfnice vz. 77 — 152 mm self-propelled gun-howitzer of the sample of 1977). However, most popularity this vehicle launched the series in 1979, acquired under the proper name — “Dana”.
As a base for placing the weapons in the ACS used all-wheel drive chassis Tatra 815, seriously upgraded for this purpose. The chassis has a wheel formula 8×8, with two front steerable pairs of wheels. Suspension — independent spring. The wheel is equipped with control system of air pressure in the tires. In the front of the chassis is a low-profile armored cabin. There are jobs driver and commander. Aft of the chassis are the 12-cylinder V-shaped multi-fuel diesel Tatra 2-930-34 capacity of 345 HP.
Armament — 152mm gun-howitzer is mounted in a rotating turret consisting of two armoured half-towers, sealed and isolated from each other. On the left are jobs gunner and loader are located in tandem, behind them — mechanized laying of charges. In the right — second charging, and before him — mechanized laying shells. On the turret hatch of the landing of the second loader installed 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun DSHKM. Carriage gun-howitzer mounted between the open semi-towers. Over the gun barrel is placed a mechanism chambering.
A similar installation gun-howitzer excludes the impact of powder gases on the calculation while conducting intensive shooting. This shooting is provided in the automatic mode, when the shells and charges with the help of special mechanisms served on the line chambering. Spent cartridges are removed with a special Transporter. In automatic mode, “Dana” is able to produce 30 shots in 7 minutes, and within an hour — 90 shots. When manually loading the rate of fire is 2 RDS./min. ammunition — 60 rounds. Used for shooting high-explosive grenades from the Soviet gun-howitzer D-20, including Czechoslovakia. The maximum angle of elevation of the gun barrel is +70°, the declination of -4°. Despite the fact that the installation in the firing position posted by three hydraulic supports, to fire only in the sector 225°. Maximum range of fire high-explosive grenade weighing 43.5 kg is 18.7 km away. the unit can be deployed at the firing position for 2 minutes and leave it — after a minute after the shooting.
The engine allows the car to combat weight 29,25 t develop road speed of 80 km/h range — 800 km.
In the early 1980-ies of ACS “Dana” entered service in Czechoslovakia, Poland and GDR. Czechoslovak military leadership suggested “Dana” and the Soviet Union, however, this enthusiasm did not cause. From the point of view of firing opportunities of the “Dana” was identical (except rate of fire) Soviet self-propelled howitzer 2СЗ “acacia”, which already was in service with the Soviet Army. However, due to the use of a wheeled chassis “Dana” had a higher mobility on the roads, but offroad it is losing terrain crawler “Acacia”. This fact may not have a significant value in terms of the extensive European road network, but the USSR was an obvious disadvantage. Very serious shortcoming “This” was considered and the inability to loading with soil. In General, it was obvious that to adopt another artillery system that had no apparent advantages over the domestic, does not make sense. This opinion was ultimately confirmed in the Main rocket and artillery control and 3-m TSNII MO Union organizations, who were instructed to study the issue of expediency of purchasing “This”. However, in 1979, at the Rzhevsky artillery range experienced two of the sample “This”, which, as expected, showed no advantages over domestic counterparts. In 1983, the General staff was directed letter of GRAU USSR Ministry of defense rejected the idea of deliveries to the Soviet Union self-propelled guns “Dana”. However, in the same year, the command still decided to take a number of Czechoslovak self-propelled guns experienced in military service in the Soviet Union. To do this, in Czechoslovakia purchased six (according to other sources, 18 — division one) self-propelled guns. They were exploited in the USSR about a year, after which he was returned to Czechoslovakia. In 1985, the Soviet defense Minister S. L. Sokolov was sent to report on the results of the trial “This”. Despite the objections and doubts of most of our artillery, the Council of Ministers of the USSR issued October 25, 1986 decree “On procurement in Czechoslovakia in 1987 — 1989 152mm self-propelled gun howitzer “Dana”. Maybe the Soviet leaders wanted to support the Union producer.
Self-propelled artillery “Dana”:
1 — cabin; 2,8,23 and loopholes for firing a personal weapon; 3 — the observation slit; 4 — 152-mm gun-howitzer; 5 — the mechanism of chambering; 6 — right polubashni; 7 — door for loading projectiles in mechanized packing; 9 — right bearing; 10 — a cover of the hatch access to the engine; 11 — the tower for the placement of sight; 12 — Luke loader; 13 — the boarding hatch of the driver; 14 — the boarding hatch of the commander; 15 — Luke the second loader, a turret; 16 — left polubashni; 17 — cover the viewing window of the driver; 18 light; 19 — cover the viewing window of the commander; 20 — rear view mirror; 21 — aft bearing; 22 — the boarding door on the left polubashni; 24 — the door to load the charges in mechanized laying.
On the left side undercarriage and armament conventionally not shown.
Czechoslovak self-propelled guns were planned to arm 211 th artbrigady, which was part of the Central group of forces stationed in Czechoslovakia. Thereby facilitated the decision of questions of logistics. In 1988, the “this” began to enter the army. Until the time of re-211 brigade consisted of four battalions equipped with the towed guns-howitzer D-20 and self-propelled 2S5 “Hyacinth”. With the beginning of the replacement of the material connection moved to a new state: now it consisted of five divisions, each of which had three artillery batteries vosmiruchevoj composition. Thus, the total number of ACS “Dana” in the brigade amounted to 120 units. In addition to the artillery brigade of the HLC is that the units entered artillery training center, located on the territory of the Belarusian military district.
According to the officers who served in the 211 brigade, artillery unit “Dana” was very sensitive to operating conditions, and for this reason there were many failures. Particular praise was awarded to the eight-wheel chassis, in any case, his agility, which was even higher than that of the BTR-70. Turning radius ACS was such that in narrow places — where, for example, the armored personnel carrier was required to pass in two stages, with a reverse gear — “Dana” took place without any problems.
In the Soviet Army “this” didn’t serve long. In 1990 began the withdrawal of formations and units of the HLC from the territory of Czechoslovakia. 211 brigade was included in the troops of the Moscow military district and relocated to the village of Mulino Gorky region. Materiel same brigade was sent to Kazakhstan, but data on the operation of ACS “Dana” in Kazakhstan.
ACS “Dana”.
It should be noted that in the Soviet Union around the same time attempted to create their own self-propelled gun on a wheeled chassis. As a base used chassis 8×8 15-ton prototype car KrAZ-4P-3130 with a multi fuel diesel engine YAMZ-202 capacity of 360 HP But these works on the creation of prototypes did not.
As for Czechoslovakia, before the beginning of the 1990-ies made about 750 self-propelled guns. Have been taken and attempt upgrading ACS due to the increase in the length of the gun barrel from 39 to 47 calibers. This option received the title of “Ondava”, but data on its serial production.
In the early 1990s, the Slovak designers, seeking to expand the market of your car has developed another upgraded version. ACS “Zuzana” is different from “This” mainly to the gun. She is armed with a 155 mm gun-howitzer with a barrel length of 45 calibers. For firing all standard NATO ammunition. Ammunition was reduced to 40 rounds, and a crew of up to 4 people. Improved fire control system. Anti-aircraft machine gun DSHKM replaced with modern NSV-12.7. On the front sheets of the tower mounted units smoke grenade. On some of the demo samples and mounted IR illuminator “Luna-4”, which indicates that the car the night sight for direct fire.
After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992, the Park self-propelled guns were divided between the Czech and Slovak armies. In particular, on 1 January 2008 in the Czech Republic there were 173 cars (115 of them — in storage), in Slovakia — 131 (12 — in storage). In turn, Poland had 111 artillery systems “Dana”.
As for deliveries to other countries, they know very little. It is known that in 2006 the Czech Republic has sold 12 ACS “Dana” in Georgia. Two years in a row over the installation was a kind of “nail” military parades in Tbilisi. Judging by the television personnel, in the night of 7 to 8 August 2008, they fired on sleeping Tskhinvali together with “grad”, by the way, also in Czechoslovakia — RM-70.
Another example of the self-propelled artillery mounted on a wheeled chassis was created almost at the same time as “Dana”, but far from Czechoslovakia — in South Africa. The development of ACS, which received the designation G6 Rhino (“Rhino”), began in the late 1970-ies in the state Corporation APMSKOR, and the first prototype appeared in 1981. The choice of wheeled chassis was due primarily to the terrain features of the region, as well as the need to have a large reserve of self-propelled military equipment, used ground troops.
curled in 1981. The choice of wheeled chassis was due primarily to the terrain features of the region, as well as the need to have a large reserve of self-propelled military equipment, used ground troops.
In front of the body SAU G6 is the separation of management, followed by power pack, and then fighting, including armored turret rotation. The body is made of welded armor plates that protect against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. The bottom has increased reservation against the action of the min.
G6 used on diesel engine air cooling capacity of 525 HP Automatic transmission provides six forward gears and two reverse. All — wheel- leading (wheel formula 6×6), front pair — controllable. Wheel suspension — independent torsion bar with hydraulic shock absorbers, while firing it off. Before that, with the help of the hydraulic system are lowered four feet (on the sides in the front and rear parts of the hull). Despite the significant combat weight 36.5 t, G6 self-propelled howitzer has good mobility. The maximum speed on the highway — 90 km/h, and on rough terrain 35 — 40 km/h. cruising range of 600 km.
In the armored tower are: commander, gunner and two loaders. For their entry and exit has a door on the right side and two hatches on the turret roof. In front of the tower on both sides of the gun are four-barrelled smoke grenade launchers. Commander’s cupola periscopes are equipped with a circular review. In front of the hatch charging mounted 12.7-mm machine gun for firing both ground and air targets.
The main armament ACS — 155-mm howitzer with a barrel length of 45 calibers. The turret weapon elevation from -5 to +75°, horizontal 80°. Drives guidance — electro-hydraulic. For ease of loading on the left side of the gate placed rammer shells. Powder charges in combustible cartridge placed in the charging chamber manually. A well-trained, the calculation provides a rate of fire of 4 RDS./min for 15 min.
For the firing of howitzers used shots with high-explosive, smoke, illuminating and incendiary shells. Ammunition — 47 rounds and 52 charges. Maximum range firing conventional high-explosive projectile is 30 km, and high-explosive with special pyrotechnic bottom nozzle — 39 km.
The fire control system (FCS), in addition to day and night sights, includes a laser rangefinder and electronic ballistic computer. It can connect to the battery LMS, getting there required the designation.
Mass production of the ACS began in 1988. Several machines were tested during the fighting yuarovskih troops in Angola. In the late 1990-ies the party G6 acquired army of the United Arab Emirates.
The creation of two quite successful examples of ACS on a wheeled chassis pushed designers in other countries to design similar systems. This has revealed one common trend is the rejection of the use of heavy multi-axle chassis and armor protection. In fact we are talking about replacing the usual gun carriage together with the wheel speed and the frame on a two – or three-axle truck terrain. Creators of captivating high mobility of such systems, and readiness for a rapid opening of fire.
One of the typical specimens of the new ACS system is ATMOS (Autonomous Truck-Mounted System), created by Israeli firm Soltam to the chassis of the Czechoslovak truck Tatra 815 (6×6 variant). Aft of the chassis are mounted the swinging portion and the upper machine 155 mm howitzer with a barrel length of 52 caliber. This tank destroyer was created in 2001 almost by ordering the Indian army, which manifests to such systems increased interest.
In the Netherlands tested the system MOVAT — 105-mm howitzer, mounted on a flatbed truck two-axle truck. And in France, eight artillery battery of ground forces rearmed Caesar self-propelled guns of the company GIAT Industries. 155-mm howitzer installed in the aft chassis all-wheel drive truck 6×6 Renault. The machine is equipped with light armored cabin, fire control instruments, as well as drawers to accommodate shells and charges. However, the machine itself carried them a bit. SAU Caesar can be transported by C-130 aircraft. The installation is in a condition of readiness to open fire for 2 minutes. It should be noted that the interest in developing such systems show the U.S. and other NATO countries.
M. BARYATINSKY
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The first attempts to improve operational mobility artillery through the installation of various caliber guns on tracked or wheeled chassis has been made at the beginning of XX century. There was a certain bias towards the latter, that was no accident. Crawler tractors, and then the tanks were not only much more difficult technically, but much more expensive. Tactics combat use of armored units in 1920 — 1930-e years have not yet been worked out. The role and place of self-propelled artillery clearly were not visible, and most self-propelled artillery as such did not exist. So developers saw significant advantages crawler front wheel. Moreover, the automotive industry in that period had developed rapidly. New impetus for the creation of self-propelled guns on a wheeled chassis gave the appearance of vehicles. The most successful design of this kind admittedly French SPG chassis truck-terrain vehicle Laffly, armed with 47mm anti-tank gun.