152mm SpGH DANA

The DANA (the name being derived from "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); and 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 8x8 Tatra 815 chassis with excellent cross-country mobility. Currently it is in service with the Czech Republic, Libya, Poland, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Slovakia.

Vz. 77 DANA
ShKH vz. 77 of Czech Army during a military exercise.
TypeSelf-propelled gun
Place of originCzechoslovakia
Service history
In service1980–present
WarsWar in Afghanistan
South Ossetia War
Libyan Civil War
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Production history
DesignerKonštrukta Trenčín
Designed1976
ManufacturerZTS Dubnica nad Váhom
Produced1980
No. built750+
Specifications
Mass29.250 t (32.243 short tons)
Length11.156 m (36 ft 7.2 in)
Width3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height3.63 m (11 ft 11 in)
(with AAMG)
Crew5
ShellHE, HEAT
Shell weight43.5 kg (96 lb) (HE)
27.4 kg (60 lb) (HEAT)
Caliber152.4 mm (6 in)
Barrels5,580 mm (18 ft 4 in)
BreechSemi-automatic, vertical sliding-wedge
Elevation-4° to +70°
Traverse±220°
Rate of fire4 rpm (semi-automatic)
2 rpm (manual)
Muzzle velocity693 m/s (2,274 ft/s) (HE)
Effective firing range18.7 km (11.6 mi)
Maximum firing range20 km (12 mi)
SightsZZ-73 with PG1-M-D collimator (indirect fire)
OP5-38-D (direct fire)
Main
armament
152 mm howitzer (approx. 36.6 calibre)
(60 rounds)
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm DShKM
(2,000 rounds)
EngineTatra T2-930-34
253.7 kW (340.2 hp)
Ground clearance0.41 m (1 ft 4 in)
Operational
range
600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph)

Compared to tracked vehicles wheeled vehicles have the advantage 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 prior to firing, and has a roof mounted crane to assist with ammunition loading.

The crew of the DANA consists of the driver (operates the hydraulic stabilizers) and 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 turret.

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
DANAs during military parade in Prague, May 1985.

The DANA was a significant departure from contemporary self-propelled guns 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 as well as 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 a single 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 18 kilometres (11 mi)
  2. 152-EOFd, which means "high-explosive long-range" with a maximum range of 20 kilometres (12 mi)
  3. 152-EPrSv, which means "high-explosive anti-tank" used for direct-fire at armored targets

General characteristics
DANA in firing position
  • Length: 10.5 metres (34 ft)
  • Width: 2.8 m (9 ft)
  • Height: 2.6 m (8.53 ft)
  • Weight: 23,000 kg (50,706 lbs)
  • Performance:
    • Maximum Road Speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
    • Range: 600 km (373 mi)
    • Rate of Fire: 3 rpm for 30 minutes
    • Maximum Gun Range: 28 km (17 mi)
    • Fording: 1.4 m (4.59 ft)
    • Vertical Obstacle: 1.5 m (5 ft)
    • Trench: 1.4 m (4.59 ft)
  • Crew: 4 to 5
  • Armament:
    • Primary: 152 mm gun-howitzer, length: 5,580 mm (37 calibers)
    • Secondary: 12.7 mm MG DŠKM
  • Elevation: -4° to +70°
  • Traverse: ±45°
  • Powerplant: one V-12 air cooled diesel Tatra T2-939-34 engine delivering 345 horsepower (257.27 kW)

Variants

152 mm ShKH Ondava
152 mm ShKH Ondava

The ShKH Ondava is a development step started during the late 1980s with a longer 152 mm barrel (47 calibers), new muzzle brake (2 chamber), new loading mechanism etc. Max range is 30 km. The Ondava project ended with the velvet revolution and dissolution of the Czechoslovak state. Technical experience was carried over to the Zuzana project.

152 mm ShKH MODAN vz.77/99

The ShKH MODAN is a Slovak upgrade of DANA with longer range, higher accuracy and rate of fire. The upgrade consists of a new on-board control system that enables higher combat efficiency and reduction of crew from 5 to 4 members.

152 mm ShKH DANA-M1 CZ

The DANA-M1 CZ is a Czech upgrade of the DANA, developed by Excalibur Army from Prague. The upgrade package consists of a new fire control system, new navigation aids and a modified chassis with T3-930 engine.[1]

152 mm ShKH DANA M2

Further modernization by Excalibur Army which features a new more resistant cabin and the NBC filtration system.[2]

155 mm ShKH M2000 Zuzana

The Slovak ShKH Zuzana has been modified with a 155 mm gun (45 calibers) to conform to NATO standards. First adopted by the Slovak Army in 1998, the Slovak Army currently possesses 16 such units with plans to adopt more.[3] The M2000G is a version for the Cypriot National Guard with different signals equipment, 76mm smoke grenade launchers and an MG3 7.62mm machine gun instead of the NSVT of 12.7mm. It entered service in 2001.

155 mm ShKH A40 Himalaya

The ShKH Himalaya is an adaptation of the system to a tracked chassis required by export customers. It is essentially a tracked variant of ShKH Zuzana with the same 155 mm turret mounted on a T-72 chassis with S1000 engine.[4]

155 mm ShKH Zuzana 2

Initially known as Zuzana A1 and then Zuzana XA-1, this is the latest development of the Zuzana. It was unveiled for the first time in 2004. This model is fitted with a 155/52 ordnance and has other improvements such as a reworked turret and a different engine: the Tatra T3B-928.70 of 330 kW.[5]

Combat history
Polish artillery supporting Polish, US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan

Two DANAs were destroyed and two captured in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War.[6]

Five Polish guns had been used in Afghanistan in Ghazni Province since 2008.

Operators
Map of SpGH DANA operators in blue with former operators in red

Current operators

Former operators

References
  1. http://www.armyrecognition.com/idet_2011_daily_news_actualites_pictures_video/the_new_upgraded_czech_wheeled_self-propelled_howitzer_152_mm_dana-m1_cz_at_idet_2011_1205116.html
  2. https://www.excaliburarmy.cz/news/ea-introduced-latest-modernization-of-dana-m2-152-mm-howitzer-10
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 25, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 25, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Tanks 2010, p. 110.
  7. "Czech Dana M1 152mm 8x8 howitzers RM-70 Vampir MLRS in service with Azerbaijan army". Army Recognition. September 21, 2017. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  8. Nakra, Daksh (September 21, 2017). "Exercise reveals Azerbaijani Army Dana SPH and RM-70 MRL". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  9. "Large-scale military exercises started in Azerbaijan – PHOTO/VİDEO". Azeri Defence. September 18, 2017. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  10. "Azərbaycan yeni artilleriya sistemlərini təlimdə sınaqdan çıxarır – FOTO". Azeri Defence (in Azerbaijani). September 18, 2017. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  11. "Чехия: это не мы. Кто поставил Азербайджану "Вампиры" и "Даны"?". Вестник Мордовии (in Russian). September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  12. MILITARIUM - Wojsko Polskie - Uzbrojenie Archived August 26, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  13. Grohmann, Jan. "Ukrajina nakoupí 26 českých samohybných houfnic DANA". armadninoviny.cz (in Czech). Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  14. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/army-equipment.htm

"152 mm ShKH Dana vz.77". GlobalSecurity.Org. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
"MODAN - 152 mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzer". www.kotadef.sk. Archived from the original on August 13, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
"ZUZANA - 155 mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzer". www.kotadef.sk. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
"HIMALAYA - 155 mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzer". www.kotadef.sk. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.

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