155 mm SpGH Zuzana
| 155mm SpGH Zuzana | |
|---|---|
 155 mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzer model 2000 Zuzana on military exhibition IDEE in Trenčín, Slovakia | |
| Type | Self-propelled gun |
| Place of origin | Slovakia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1998–present |
| Used by | Slovakia Cyprus |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 28.450 t (31.361 short tons) |
| Length | 12.97 m (42 ft 7 in) |
| Width | 3.015 m (9 ft 10.7 in) |
| Height | 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in) |
| Caliber | 155 mm (6 in) |
Operational range | 41 km (25 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) |
Zuzana 155 mm Gun Howitzer is a Slovak artillery system with a 45-caliber gun and automatic loader for loading of both projectile and charge. It is an evolution of the 152mm SpGH DANA self-propelled howitzer.
The system has a long range, high accuracy and rate of fire, it can be prepared promptly for firing, and it has a high level of mobility ensured by a modified Tatra 8×8 chassis. The design of the gun means it can use any NATO standard 155 mm ammunition available on the market. The fire control system allows for a multiple-round simultaneous-impact (MRSI) mode. One of the unique features of Zuzana is that the gun is mounted externally in between two totally separated compartments of the turret. This makes the crew inherently safe from any potentially dangerous mechanics of the gun and autoloader plus the crew is protected from the gases generated during firing.
Variants
155 mm ShKH Zuzana
The original wheeled version adopted by the Slovak Army in 1998.
155 mm ShKH Zuzana 2
Updated version with a new 52-calibre gun, full 360-degree turret traverse, a new armored cab and further reduced crew of three enabled by automation. It has passed Slovak Army trials in December 2009.[1] Slovak army had ordered 25 vehicles (to be delivered in year 2021 and 2022).[2]
The new version is claimed to possess Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability.
155 mm ShKH Himalaya
1990's adaptation of the original system to a tracked chassis required by export customers. It is essentially a Zuzana turret mounted on a T-72 chassis. The tracked version so far did not achieve orders beyond initial evaluation units and further production is unlikely.
Technical parameters
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| Gun characteristic: | |
|---|---|
| Caliber: | 155 mm (6.10 in) |
| Barrel length: | 45 cal (52 in Zuzana 2) |
| Number of ammunition carried: | 40 projectiles/40 charges |
| Maximum range: | 39.6 km (25 mi) |
| Minimum range: | 5.6 km (3.47 mi) |
| Rate of fire: | 6 rounds per min. |
| Sustained rate of fire: | 5 rounds per min. |
| Loading of projectiles and charges: | fully automatic |
| Turret traverse: | ±60°(360° for Zuzana 2) |
| Elevation/Depression: | +70°/-3,5° |
| General parameters: | |
| Crew: | 4 (3 in Zuzana 2) |
| Chassis: | modified TATRA 8x8 |
| Vehicle length: | 12.97 meters (42.5 ft) |
| Vehicle width: | 3,015 mm (9.89 ft) |
| Total height: | 3,300 mm (10.82 ft) |
| Total weight of the system: | 28,450 kg (62,721 lbs) |
| Maximum speed: | 80+ km/h (50+ mph) |
| Maximum road range: | 750 km (466 mi) |
| Overcoming of obstacles: | |
| Trench: | 2000 mm (6.56 ft) |
| Vertical step: | 600 mm (1.96 ft) |
| Fording: | 1400 mm (4.59 ft) |
Operators
Current operators
Future operators
Ukraine : In April 2022 Ukraine started negotiations[3] to purchase 16 Zuzana units. In May 2022 Slovakia officially announced the transfer of 8 howitzers[4][5] to Ukraine. As of August 13, 2022 4 of them have been transferred to Ukraine.
See also
- G6 howitzer
- DANA
- EVA (howitzer)
- CAESAR
- Nora B-52
- ATMOS 2000
- Archer
- A-222 Bereg
- 2S22 Bohdana
- AHS Krab
- List of artillery
References
- ^ Roman Kment, 2010, 155 mm ShKH Zuzana 2. Obrana, XVIII, 5, s. 28-29 (Slovak)
- ^ Grohmann, Jan. "Slovenská armáda získá samohybné houfnice Zuzana 2". Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "Ukraine might be purchasing the Zuzana self-propelled howitzer from Slovakia". mil.in.ua/en/. 9 April 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-04-09. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "Zuzana: Slovakia officially announces transfer of ACS to Ukraine".
- ^ "Słowacja przekaże Ukrainie nowoczesną artylerię". defence24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- "ZUZANA - 155 mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzer". kotadef.sk. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
- "HIMALAYA - 155 mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzer". kotadef.sk. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
- "ZUZANA MV - Ammunition Re-supply Vehicle". kotadef.sk. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25. Retrieved December 12, 2007.