152 mm SpGH DANA
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.
| Vz. 77 DANA | |
|---|---|
ShKH vz. 77 of Czech Army during a military exercise, 21 November 2013. | |
| Type | Self-propelled gun |
| Place of origin | Czechoslovak Socialist Republic |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1981–present |
| Wars |
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| Production history | |
| Designer | Konštrukta Trenčín |
| Designed | 1976 |
| Manufacturer | ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom (SK) Excalibur Army (CZ) |
| Produced | 1980–present |
| No. built | 750+ |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 29.250 t (32.243 short tons) |
| Length | 11.156 m (36 ft 7.2 in) |
| Width | 3 m (9 ft 10 in) |
| Height | 3.63 m (11 ft 11 in) (with AAMG) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Shell | HE, HEAT |
| Shell weight |
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| Caliber | 152.4 mm (6 in) |
| Barrels | 5,580 mm (18 ft 4 in) |
| Breech | Semi-automatic, vertical sliding-wedge |
| Elevation | -4° to +70° |
| Traverse | ±220° |
| Rate of fire |
|
| Muzzle velocity | 693 m/s (2,274 ft/s) (HE) |
| Effective firing range | 18.7 km (11.6 mi) |
| Maximum firing range | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Sights |
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Main armament | 152 mm howitzer (approx. 36.6 calibre) (60 rounds) |
Secondary armament | 12.7 mm DShK (2,000 rounds) |
| Engine | Tatra T2-930-34 253.7 kW (340.2 hp) |
| Ground clearance | 0.41 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 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.