Dana (weapon)

The DANA was the first wheeled 152mm self-propelled artillery gun to enter service and shocked the world when it was introduced in the 1970's. It is based on the 8x8 Tatra 815 truck, the best off-road truck at the time. Currently it is in service with the Czech Republic, Libya, Poland, Russia, and Slovakia.

Wheeled vehicles have the advantage of being cheaper to build and easier to maintain with greater strategic mobility. Tyre 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 stabilisers to be lowered into the ground before firing and has a roof mounted crane to assist with ammunition loading.

The crew of the DANA consists of the driver and commander sitting in the front cabin, the gunner and loader operator are on the left side of the turret, the ammo handler is on the right side turret.

Development History

The DANA was designed in the 1970's to fill the role of an indirect fire support weapon without buying the Soviet 2S3 Akatsiya self propelled artillery. It is a 152mm gun mounted on an 8x8 Tatra 815 truck, the best off-road truck at the time. It was a significant departure from traditional self-propelled guns as it used a wheeled carriage. It was accepted for service in 1981 and by 1994 over 750 units had been built. It was further developed with the addition of the 155mm gun and mounted on a T-72 chassis.

General Characteristics

• Length: 10.5 m
• Width: 2.8 m
• Height: 2.6 m
• Weight: 23,000 kg
• Performance:
  • Maximum Road Speed: 80km/h
  • Range: 600 km
  • Rate of Fire: 3 rpm for 30 minutes
  • Maximum Gun Range: 18 km
  • Fording: 1.4m
  • Verticle Obstacle: 1.5mm
  • Trench: 1.4m
• Crew: 4 to 5
• Armament:
  • Primary: One 152mm Gun
  • Secondary: 12.7mm MG
• Elevation: -4° to +70°
• Traverse: ±45°
• Powerplant: one V-12 air cooled diesel Tatra T930-34 engine delievering 345 horsepower

References

GlobalSecurity.Org http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/dana.htm. Retrieved May 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Text "title 152mm ShKH Dana vz.77" ignored (help)

• Hogg, Ian (2000). Twentieth-Century Artillery. Friedman/Fairfax Publishers. ISBN 1-58663-299-X