The Zuzana 2 is an upgraded version of the Zuzana 155 mm 45 caliber version of the Dana 152 mm 8x8 self-propelled gun-howitzer designed and manufactured by the Slovak Company Konstrukta – Defence.
Country Users: Slovakia, Ukraine
Technical Data
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Armament
The main armament of the Zuzana 8x8 wheeled self-propelled howitzer consists of one 155mm/52 caliber gun. This artillery vehicle is fitted with an automatic loading system that enables a maximum firing range in automatic mode of 5 rounds per minute or 5 rounds in one minute. It also has the capacity to fire 2 rounds per minute in manual mode. It carries a total of 40 projectiles and charges. Of the 40 charges carried, 30 are in the automatic magazine and 10 in the fixed magazine. Ammunition handling is fully automatic with ramming and loading of projectiles and charges. It has a minimum firing range of 5 km and a maximum firing of 41.5 km with ERFB-BB (Extended Range Full Bore – Base Bleed propellant), extended-range artillery ammunition. Four smoke grenade dischargers are mounted on each side at the front of the turret. It can fire all standard NATO 155mm ammunition and features both direct and indirect firing capabilities. The turret has a traverse of 360°, but only 60° to fire, with weapon elevation from -3.3 to +70°. the second armament of the Zuzana 2 includes one 12.7mm heavy machine gun mounted to the right side of the turret roof. In the firing position, the vehicle is stabilized by three hydraulic jacks. These are lowered on the ground, one at the rear and on either side between the second and third axles.
A 12.7mm machine gun is mounted on the top right side of the turret. -
Design and protection
The design of the Zuzana 2 8x8 wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer is very unique, the artillery weapon system is mounted in a fully enclosed turret mounted on a TATRA 815 8×8 truck chassis with the driver's compartment at the front and the engine compartment at the rear. The front and the side of the drive position are fitted with small bulletproof windows that can be protected with one shutter, vision to the front then being maintained through two vision blocks. There is one small hatch on the right side of the driver position and one circular firing port is provided on each side of the driver compartment. The turret is in two parts with the 152 mm ordnance being mounted in the aisle between them. Each half of the turret is fully enclosed and is provided with access doors, roof hatches, and vision devices. The hull and the turret provide protection against the firing of small arms of 12.7mm caliber and artillery shell splinters. The Zuzana 2 has a crew of four including the driver, commander, gunner, and loader.
Front view of the Zuzana 2 with the driver position -
Mobility
The Zuzana 2 8x8 wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer is based on 8x8 truck chassis developed by the Czech company Tatra. The vehicle is motorized with a TATRA T-3B-928.70 8 cylinders in V turbocharged diesel engine, developing 442 hp coupled to a TATRA gearbox TATRA 10 TS 180. The Zuzana 2 can run at a maximum speed of 80 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 600 km. The Zuzana 2 can cross a vertical obstacle of 0.6 m and a trench of 2 m. It can negotiate a grade of 60% and is capable of fording a maximum depth of 1.4 m.
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Combat Equipment
Standard equipment of the Zuzana 2 8x8 wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer includes an NRBC protection system, air conditioning system, a computerized fire-control system, a land navigation system, and sight with automatic leveling. It also features an onboard Fire Control System (FCS) to enable easy operation with digital maps. It provides target accuracy and computes firing data during loading and firing. It is installed with an inertial navigation system (INS), a muzzle velocity radar, and electronic equipment for providing target information. The vehicle is also fitted with a central tire inflation system..
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