152 mm SpGH DANA explained

Vz. 77 DANA
Is Ranged:yes
Is Artillery:yes
Is Vehicle:yes
Service:1981–present
Manufacturer:ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom (SK)
Excalibur Army (CZ)
Production Date:1980–present
Number:750+
Weight:29.25t
Length:11.156m (36.601feet)
Width:3m (10feet)
Height:3.63m (11.91feet)
(with AAMG)
Crew:5
Caliber:152.40NaN0
Barrels:5580mm
Velocity:693m/s (HE)
Range:18.7km (11.6miles)
Max Range:20km (10miles)
Elevation:-4° to +70°
Traverse:±220°
Primary Armament:152 mm howitzer (approx. 36.6 calibre)
(60 rounds)
Secondary Armament:12.7 mm DShK
(2,000 rounds)
Engine:Tatra T2-930-34
Engine Power:253.7kW
Clearance:0.41m (01.35feet)
Vehicle Range:600km (400miles)
Speed:80km/h

The DANA (Dělo automobilní nabíjené automaticky (gun on truck loaded automatically) is a wheeled self-propelled artillery piece. It is also known as the Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 (ShKH vz. 77; self-propelled gun howitzer model 77). It was designed by Konštrukta Trenčín and built by ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom in the former Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). Introduced in the 1970s, it was the first wheeled 152 mm self-propelled artillery gun to enter service. It is based on a modified eight-wheel drive (8×8) Tatra 815 chassis with excellent cross-country mobility. Currently it is in service with the Czech Republic, Libya, Poland, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, and Ukraine.

Compared to tracked vehicles, wheeled vehicles have the advantages of being cheaper to build and easier to maintain with greater mobility. Tire pressure can be regulated to allow good mobility off-road and there is power-assisted steering on the front four wheels. It lowers 3 hydraulic stabilizers into the ground before firing, and has a roof-mounted crane to assist with ammunition loading.

The crew of the DANA consists of a driver (who operates the hydraulic stabilizers), the commander sitting in the front cabin, the gunner (aims the gun and opens fire) and loader operator (selects the appropriate amount of powder charges) are on the left side of the turret, the ammo handler (sets the shells' primers) is on the right side of the turret.

Original DANA had manual fire control and automatic reloader. The latest version, DANA M2, also has computerized automatic fire control, allowing reduction of crew to as few as only 2 persons.

Development

The DANA was designed in the late 1970s by Konštrukta Trenčín to provide the Czechoslovak People's Army with an indigenous self-propelled indirect fire support weapon without having to resort to purchasing the Soviet 2S3 Akatsiya SPG. Design work was completed in 1976 and the DANA project was handed off to production at ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom. It was accepted into service in 1981, and by 1994 over 750 units had been built. The DANA was also exported to Poland and Libya.

Design

The DANA was a significant departure from contemporary self-propelled guns such as the tracked Soviet 2S1 Gvozdika/2S3 Akatsiya or its western-made M109 howitzer as it used a wheeled chassis and featured an innovative automated loading system which was the first of its kind at the time of its introduction to service. The vehicle has a driving cabin at the front, an open-topped fighting compartment at mid-length and the engine compartment in the rear. The front crew cabin seats both the driver/mechanic and vehicle commander. The armoured turret is installed on a traversable mount adapted to the Tatra 815 wheeled chassis (8x8) and is divided into two halves, divided by the howitzer's recoil mechanism and a pathway for the reciprocating action during firing. The left half of the turret is occupied by the gunner and first loader and houses the various fire control optics, electro-mechanical gun laying controls, the automatic propellant charge feeding device, and an auxiliary ammunition magazine. The right side of the turret contains a mechanized projectile delivery system which is operated by a second loader at this position.

The DANA's primary weapon is a 152 mm howitzer with a monolithic barrel (with a fixed rifling pitch) equipped with one expansion chamber. The howitzer has a semi-automatic, vertically-sliding-wedge-type breech which opens to the left side. The recoil assembly consists of a hydraulic buffer, two pneumatic return cylinders and a controlling plunger which governs the displacement of the buffering system. The gun laying is carried out by an electro-hydraulic drive system or an emergency manual control.

DANA's unique feature is that its autoloader is able to load a shell and a cartridge in any elevation of the barrel.

As there is no gyroscopic or similar system for independent, automated and autonomous gun laying in the DANA, the gunner of howitzer uses a ZZ-73 panoramic telescope with a PG1-M-D collimator for indirect gun laying. This sight has a horizontal scale used to set the appropriate horizontal laying via aiming at reference points. This means that the DANA is not an autonomous system there needs to be an additional device to assist in gun laying (in fact, the firing positions of such artillery systems are usually prepared before the guns are positioned there). For direct fire engagements, the gunner uses an OP5-38-D telescopic sight.

Ammunition

As of 2014, there are three main shell types used by Czech Army:

  1. 152-EOF, which means "high-explosive" with a maximum range of
  2. 152-EOFd, which means "high-explosive long-range" with a maximum range of
  3. 152-EPrSv, which means "high-explosive anti-tank" used for direct-fire at armored targets

General characteristics

Variants

VariantImageYearCrewCalibreMaximum rangeRate of fireChassisUsersNotes
Czechoslovak variants
DANA19795152.40NaN0----37 calibers18.7km (11.6miles)
25.5km (15.8miles) (DN1CZ shells)
5 rounds per minute
2 rounds per minute in manual mode---- 36 rounds carried in autoloader, up to 60 in total
Tatra 815 8x8
V12 engine Tatra T2-930-34 253.7kW



----Former operators:



ONDAVALate 1980s4152.40NaN0----47 calibers32km (20miles)6 rounds per minute
2 rounds per minute in manual mode---- 36 rounds carried in autoloader, 40 in total
Tatra 815 8x8
V12 engine Tatra T3-930-52 265kW
Prototype only.[1]
Slovak development
MODAN19994152.40NaN0----42 calibers20km (10miles)5 rounds per minute
2 rounds per minute in manual mode---- 36 rounds carried in autoloader, 60 in total
Tatra 815 8x8
V12 engine Tatra T3-930-52 265kW
Former:
[2]
M2000 Zuzana199841550NaN0----45 calibers39km (24miles)5 rounds per minute
2 rounds per minute in manual mode---- 36 rounds carried in autoloader, 40 in total
Tatra 815 8x8
V12 engine Tatra T3-930-52 265kW

[3]
A40 Himalaya41550NaN0----45 calibers39km (24miles)5 rounds per minute
2 rounds per minute in manual mode---- 36 rounds carried in autoloader, 40 in total
T-72 tank chassis
V-46 engine 573kW
Prototype only[4]
Zuzana 2201941550NaN0----52,9 calibers41km (25miles)
51.5km (32miles) (VLAP shells)
5 rounds per minute
2 rounds per minute in manual mode---- 40 rounds carried
Tatra 817 8x8
V8 engine Tatra T3D-928-70 325kW

[5]
Czech development
DANA M120115152.40NaN0----37 calibers18.7km (11.6miles)
25.5km (15.8miles) (DN1CZ shells)
5 rounds per minute
2 rounds per minute in manual mode---- 36 rounds carried in autoloaderl, up to 60 in total
Tatra 815 8x8
V12 engine Tatra T3-930-52M 265kW
[6]
DANA M220182 minimum (+1)152.40NaN0----37 calibers18.7km (11.6miles)
25.5km (15.8miles) (DN1CZ shells)
5 rounds per minute
2 rounds per minute in manual mode---- 36 rounds carried in autoloader, up to 60 in total
Tatra 815 8x8
V12 engine Tatra T3-930-52M 265kW

[7]
DITA20212 minimum (+1)1550NaN0----45 calibers39km (24miles) (HE BB shell)6 rounds per minute (including Multiple round simultaneous impact)---- 40 rounds carried in autoloaderTatra 817 8x8
V8 engine Tatra T3D-928-90 300kW
[8]
[9]
[10]
MORANA202231550NaN0----52 calibersIndirect fire: 41.5km (25.8miles) (HE BB shell)----Direct fire: 5km (03miles)6 rounds per minute (including Multiple round simultaneous impact)---- 45 rounds carried in autoloaderTatra 817 wide-body 8x8
I6 engine Cummins ISX 447kW
STANAG Level 2 Armor protection[11]
Prototype only.[12] [13]

Combat history

Used by Georgia against Russia during the Russo-Georgian War. Two Georgian DANAs were destroyed and three or four captured in 2008.

Used by Poland during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Five Polish DANAs had been used in Afghanistan in Ghazni Province since 2008.

Used by Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war against Armenia.[14]

Used by Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. An unknown number of 152 mm ShKH DANA M2 and 152 mm ShKH DANA vz. 77 were supplied by the Czech Republic in 2022.[15] [16]

Operators

Current operators

Future operators

Former operators

References

External links

Web site: Self-propelled Howitzers: Self-propelled howitzer class artillery guns with 122, 152 and 155 mm calibre available . Excalibur Army.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ondava (152mm samohybná kanónová houfnice). Ondava (152mm self-propelled gun howitzer). cs. Valka.cz. 18 May 2005 .
  2. Web site: vz. 77/99 MODAN (152mm samohybná kanónová houfnice). Valka.cz. 23 November 2015 .
  3. Web site: vz. 2000 Zuzana (155mm samohybná kanónová houfnice). Valka.cz. 28 June 2015 .
  4. Web site: Zuzana A 40 Himalaya (155mm samohybná kanónová houfnice). Valka.cz. 23 November 2015 .
  5. Web site: ZUZANA 2 (155mm samohybná kanónová houfnice). Valka.cz. 11 June 2016 .
  6. Web site: DANA-M1M (152mm samohybná kanónová houfnice). Valka.cz. 30 August 2016 .
  7. Web site: DANA-M2 (152mm samohybná kanónová houfnice). Valka.cz. 24 June 2018 .
  8. Web site: Generaal Eichelsheim bezoekt aan Oekraïne leverende wapenfabrikanten in Tsjechië - Nieuwsbericht - Defensie.nl . 27 February 2024 .
  9. Web site: Czech company Excalibur Army Set to Deliver over 70 155mm DITA Self-P . 6 May 2024 .
  10. Web site: DITA (155mm samohybná kanónová houfnice). Valka.cz. 20 January 2021 .
  11. Visingr . Lukáš . 26 January 2023 . Houfnice Morana . Morana howitzer. Střelecká revue . 1 . 2023 . cs.
  12. Web site: MORANA (155mm samohybná kanónová houfnice). Valka.cz. 11 August 2023 .
  13. Web site: EA ! Samohybná houfnice MORANA. morana.excaliburarmy.cz.
  14. News: Náboženství stranou, v Karabachu zabíjejí i české a izraelské zbraně . Seznam Zprávy. Religion aside, Czech and Israeli weapons are killing in Karabakh.
  15. Web site: САУ Dana-M2, яку тестували в Україні, вже нищить рашистів у руках ЗСУ . Dana-M2 SPG, which was tested in Ukraine, is already destroying rashists in the hands of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. defence-ua.com . 17 April 2022 . uk.
  16. Web site: Vojenská pomoc Ukrajině – Na Ukrajinu odjely i houfnice Dana a raketomety RM-70 Grad . Military aid to Ukraine - Dana howitzers and RM-70 Grad rocket launchers went to Ukraine . www.echo24.cz . April 14, 2022 . cs . 14 April 2022.
  17. Web site: Czech Dana M1 152mm 8x8 howitzers RM-70 Vampir MLRS in service with Azerbaijan army. . Army Recognition . 23 September 2017 . https://archive.today/20170923105225/https://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2017_global_defense_security_news_industry/czech_dana_m1_152mm_8x8_howitzers_rm-70_vampir_mlrs_in_service_with_azerbaijan_army.html . 23 September 2017. 21 September 2017.
  18. Web site: Nakra . Daksh . 21 September 2017 . Exercise reveals Azerbaijani Army Dana SPH and RM-70 MRL . IHS Jane's 360 . 23 September 2017 . https://archive.today/20170923105108/http://www.janes.com/article/74290/exercise-reveals-azerbaijani-army-dana-sph-and-rm-70-mrl . 23 September 2017.
  19. Web site: Trade Registers . 2023-06-21 . armstrade.sipri.org.
  20. Web site: Wojsko Polskie – Uzbrojenie. Polish Army - Armaments . Militarium . https://web.archive.org/web/20130826233723/http://www.militarium.net/wojsko_polskie/uzbrojenie.php . August 26, 2013.
  21. Web site: Ukrajina nakoupí 26 českých samohybných houfnic DANA . Ukraine to buy 26 Czech self-propelled howitzers DANA. armadninoviny.cz . 14 November 2020 . cs.
  22. Web site: Słowacja przekaże Ukrainie nowoczesną artylerię . 2022-05-30 . defence24.pl . 30 May 2022 . pl.
  23. Web site: 2023-01-16 . Ukrajina si od Slovenska prevzala poslednú ôsmu húfnicu Zuzana 2 . 2023-01-22 . TV 2 . sk.
  24. Web site: Slovakia transfers two Zuzana 2 howitzers to Ukraine 'for Putin's birthday'.
  25. Web site: Generaal Eichelsheim bezoekt aan Oekraïne leverende wapenfabrikanten in Tsjechië. 27 February 2024 . General Eichelsheim visits arms manufacturers in the Czech Republic supplying Ukraine . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228122815/https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2024/02/27/generaal-eichelsheim-bezoekt-aan-oekraine-leverende-wapenfabrikanten-in-tsjechie . February 28, 2024.
  26. Web site: 2024-05-08 . Excalibur Army will supply Azerbaijan with more than 70 units of the 155/52 mm self-propelled gun "Zuzana-2" of Slovak production . 2024-05-09 . ВПК.name . en.
  27. Book: Cooper . Tom . Libyan Air Wars, Part 2: 1985-1986 . Grandolini . Albert . Delalande . Arnaud . Helion & Company Publishing . 2016 . 978-1-910294-53-6 . 13.
  28. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . 3 January 2023 . Gaddafi's Massive Artillery Force That Kept On Fighting A Year After His Death . Oryx Blog.
  29. Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies . International Institute for Strategic Studies . The military balance. 1991-1992. . 1991 . Brassey's . 978-0080413259 . London . 37.
  30. Web site: Trade Registers . 21 April 2023 . armstrade.sipri.org.