The DANA , also known as the Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 (ShKH vz. 77), is a 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer that was developed in the late 1970s to respond to a request for the Czech army for a new mobile artillery system. The vehicle was designed and manufactured by the Czech Company ZTS and entered in service with the Czech army in 1981.
Country users: Czech Republic, Libya, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine
Technical Data
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Armament
The Dana 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer is fitted with a fully enclosed armored turret mounted on the center of the chassis which is armed with one 152mm with a muzzle brake and fires the same ammunition as the Russian-made 152 mm 2S3 tracked self-propelled howitzer. The turret is fitted with a fully automatic loading system which loads the projectile and then the charge using an automatic rammer. The weapon can be loaded at all angles of elevation. The automatic loading system is hydraulic and is controlled by electrical elements and the gunner can select either single shots or fully automatic fire. The turret has a traverse of 225° to each side and the cannon has an elevation of +70° and depression of -4°. The vehicle can carry a total of 60 ammunition stored inside the chassis and the turret. It has a maximum firing range of 20 km with standard ammunition and 28 km with extended range ammunition. The right side of the turret roof is fitted with one 12.7 mm NSV machine gun which can be used against land and air targets.
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Design and protection
The design of the Dana 152mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer is divided into three main compartments with a crew cab at the front, the turret in the middle, and the engine at the rear. The Dana has a crew of five with the driver position on the left side in the front crew cab with the commander to his right each is equipped with a single hatch on the roof that opens forward There are two small windows at the front of the vehicle which can be covered by shutters. The other three members of the crew are located in the turret with the gunner and loader on the left and the ammunition handler on the right. There is one single door on each side of the turret. The Dana is fully protected against the firing of small arms and shell splinters.
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Mobility
The Dana 152mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer is based on a Tatra 815 8x8 truck chassis powered by one Tatra 2-939-34 air-cooled diesel engine developing 345 hp. coupled to a dual-range transmission with 5 speed, plus overdrive providing 20 forward and 4 reverse speeds. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 80 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 750 km. The vehicle is able to negotiate a trench of 2.1m, a slope of 30%, and a gradient of 62%. It can climb a vertical obstacle of 60 cm and cross a water depth of 1.4m.
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Combat Equipment
Standard equipment of the Dana 152mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer includes an indirect fire system, targeting data originates with the forward observer, passing through a fire direction center command post before reaching the individual Dana via radio. The fire control suite includes a ZZ-73 rocking bar sight collimated with the PG1 MD telescope for indirect fire. An OP 5-38-D sight enables the gunner to engage targets with direct fire as well. The Dana is also equipped with night vision, NBC (Nuclear, Bacteriologic and Chemical) protection system which is provided with filter ventilation and an air conditioning system that distributes fresh air to both the cab and the turret. Pressure for the hydraulic system of the self-loading system as well as for weapon elevation and turret traverse is supplied by a pump driven from the main engine, although manual backup systems are provided for all powered elements.
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