2S1 Gvozdika
The 2S1 Gvozdika (Russian: 2С1 «Гвоздика», "Carnation") is a Soviet self-propelled howitzer introduced in 1972 and in service in Russia and other countries as of 2023. It is based on the MT-LBu multi-purpose chassis, mounting a 122 mm 2A18 howitzer. "2S1" is its GRAU designation. An alternative Russian designation is SAU-122, but in the Russian Army it is commonly known as Gvozdika. The 2S1 is fully amphibious with very little preparation, and once afloat is propelled by its tracks. A variety of track widths are available to allow the 2S1 to operate in snow or swamp conditions. It is NBC protected and has infrared night-vision capability.
| 2S1 (SAU-122) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Self-propelled artillery |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1972–present |
| Used by | see Operators |
| Wars | Soviet–Afghan War Iran–Iraq War Gulf War War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) Yugoslav Wars First Chechen War Second Chechen War Iraq War Russo-Georgian War First Libyan Civil War Second Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War Second Nagorno-Karabakh war Tigray War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Kharkiv Tractor Plant |
| Designed | 1956–1961 |
| Produced | 1971–1991 |
| No. built | more than 10,000 |
| Variants | see Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 16 tonnes (35,273 lbs) |
| Length | 7.26 m (23 ft 10 in) |
| Barrel length | 4.27 m (14 ft 0 in) |
| Width | 2.85 m (9 ft 4 in) |
| Height | 2.73 m (8 ft 11 in) |
| Crew | 4 |
| Shell | 122 x 447mm .R separate loading, cased charge |
| Caliber | 122 mm |
| Breech | Horizontal sliding-wedge, semi-automatic |
| Elevation | -3 to +70 degrees |
| Traverse | 360 degrees |
| Rate of fire | Maximum: 5 rpm Sustained: 1–2 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 680 m/s (2,200 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | Conventional: 15.3 km (9.5 mi) Extended: 21.9 km (13.6 mi) |
| Armor | 7–20 mm (0.28–0.79 in) |
Main armament | 2A18 122 mm (4.8 in) howitzer |
| Engine | YaMZ-238N diesel 220 kW (300 hp) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 500 km (310 mi) |
| Maximum speed | Road: 60 km/h (37 mph) Off-road: 30 km/h (19 mph) Swim: 4.5 km/h (2.8 mph) |
One was used in Series 21 of the British television series Top Gear (2002 TV series), as part of the fictional Top Gear Police Department.