Czechoslovakia during the cold war capitalized on its reputed industry to continue working on its own designs, and producing improved versions of Soviet Tanks. Among these was a type of vehicle that was missing in the Soviet inventory: A wheeled self-propelled howitzer. The DANA (Dělo automobilní nabíjené automaticky - "gun on truck loaded automatically") was developed under the army name Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 (ShKH vz. 77; "self-propelled gun howitzer model 77") by Konštrukta Trenčín, built by ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom from 1976, ready in 1981 as the world's first wheeled 152 mm self-propelled artillery gun based on a Tatra 815 chassis with central tyre inflation system and power-assisted steering on the front four wheels, hydraulic stabilisers, roof-mounted crane, manual fire control, automatic reloader. After the end of the cold war, Slovakia and the Czech Rep. inherited its production and developed improved versions. The vehicle was exported to USSR, Libya, Azerbaijdan, Georgia, Poland, Cyprus, and recently Ukraine, seeing action from Chad to the present invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Development

Vz.77 revealed publicly in parade, 1985

The DANA was designed in the late 1970s by Konštrukta Trenčín. With the absence of a wheel self propelled howitzer, it was developed for the needs of the Czechoslovak People's Army which a rapid indirect fire support platform in alternative to the proposed Soviet purchase of the Soviet 2S3 Akatsiya SPG. Design work was completed in 1976. The prototype was heavily tested the same year, and an order was placed for a pre-production batch for further field tests at Dubnica nad Váhom. The Vz.77 was standardized in 1977 (hence the "model 77") and was accepted into service in 1981 with a production that went on for Czechoslovakia and Poland, and then for export until 1994 with over 750 built. After the collapse of USSR and split between the Republc Czech and Slovakia, development resumed on further upgrades and developments resulting in new vehicles and more exports to this day.

If the concept of a wheeled self proplled howitzer is well accepted today it was originated in the Czechoslovakian Vz 77, which demonstrated the advantage of a wheeled platform rather than a tracked one. It made sense for many reasons, starting with lower maintenance cost, quicker deployment and faster withdrawal to avoid counter-batter fire. It was intended to combat enemy artillery, mortars, infantry and entrenchments but also destroy communications, command posts and fortifications and support a ground assault thanks to its long range and good accuracy. Its official designation was ShKH vz.77 (Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77; "Motorized Howitzer Model 77") and first DANAs were delivered to the Czechoslovak People's Army in early 1980, first publicly displayed at an army parade in Prague, on 9 May 1980. It baffled at first NATO analysts that had nothing to compare at the time.

Indeed, the standard self propelled gun in NATO at the time was the M109, a tracked vehicle liked those created in WW2 and until then. The Soviet 2S1, 2S3 and 2S4 were the norm in the Warsaw Pact as well. But the Czech were confident they had the right chassis to support the weight of a fully traversable turret and it's location at its center would facilitate a greater elevation.

Design

General layout

The Tatra truck chosed for this has an armoured cab forward, with seats for the driver and commander behind bullet ptoof glass protected themselves by armoured shutters. There are no side doors but vision slits. The commander has access to radio equipment and enters, like the driver, through a forward-hinged half-moon roof hatch. Then followed the central turret, divided into two parts, frming a cradle into which was installed the howitzer. On the left were located the gunner and loader, connected via an intercom between them and the commander in cabin. The gunner has access to a periscope turret and the loader managed the hydraulically operated and semi-automatic 30-round ammunition conveyor. Both had also access hatches located on the side of the turret and in the roof.



Behind the howitzer is located the conveyor for removing spent casings. The right turret side is divided into three section. To the front are spaces for the crew's personal equipment, in the middle the semi-automatic conveyor for 36 shell and at the rear was seated the ammunition handler, starting and operating the conveyor and if needed, accessing and operating a defensive roof mounted 12.7 mm DŠK vz.38/46 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun and avec defend the vehicle against other tanks with an RPG-7 if necessary. At the rear of the truck is located the engine compartment, see below.

The howitzer could be ready to fire in two minutes following the vehicle's stopping, lowering hydraulic support legs burying into the ground to maintain the vehicle stable during firing. The largest legs are located on either side of the middle chassis, the two smaller ones on the rear sides. With standard ammunition this gun howitzer could hit a target up to 18,700 meters but 20,000 meters with boosted ammunitions, at a rate of four per minute.

Chassis, engine and drivetrain

The chassis is an eight-wheel drive Tatra T815 Koloss 8x8 heavy utility truck with a central inflation system. Inside the rear compartment in located the air-cooled Tatra T2-939-34 V12, 19 Liters engine delivering 345 horsepower (257.27 kW), a turbodiesel with 120 x 140 mm pistons. It is normally coupled with a 14 speed manual (14TS210L) gearbox. The cross country mobility is enhanced by the unique design using two opposing spiral bevel gears instead of the usual single set with differential gears being part of the input drive shaft rather than between output axles, a signature system which enable the use of 2, 3, 4 axles driven. The Tatra T815 is among the largest, such as the crane version which likely was used as a base.

Mobility: The turning circle diameter is 26 m. The wheelbase is 1,650 + 3,070 + 1,450 mm and it coukd climb a 58% grade, cross 1.4 m deep water without preparation and gap a 2-meter wide trench. Too heavy and bulky for air transportation and not able to float however its tactical mobility is somewhat reduced. It's the drive that locks the differential and brakes on all axles, then operates all four jacks. Then the gunner and loader on the left, and ammo handler on the right side starts operation to be ready within two minutes. The turret has no independent power unit and is driven by the engine.

Armament

The DANA's Primary weapon is a 152 mm (6 inches) gun-howitzer measuring 5,580 mm (37 calibers) barrel alone. The secondary is a 12.7 mm machine gun (MG) DShK 38/46) placed on the ring mount around the gunner's hatch on the left half turret. In addition an RPG-7 is helf also on board to deal with enemy armour. The gun-howitzer could elevate from -4° up to +70° with a traverse of 45°* on either side. Later a 155 mm was developed to be NATO ammunition compatible and new SPGs derived used it. *Due to power cables, 225° traverse total is possible. All optics are located on the turret's left half.

The howitzer can be loaded at any angle, making this vehicle the world's first of such systems. This autoloader is unique to be able to load shell and cartridge in any elevation and rapidly deliver up to 60 rounds of ammunition. These features are now considered standard but they were groundbreaking when specified in the late 1970s. Now wonder the Vz.77 interested USSR, which took delivery of some vehicles. The 152 mm had a breech volume of 12.5 liters. It is fully compatible with all similar caliber ammunition developed in the Soviet Union.



Three main ammunition types were/are used:
-HE rounds with, maximum range 18 km
-Improved shape HR, maximum range 20 km
-HE Anti-tank rounds, for direct fire at armored targets.


60 rounds fed automatically are carried, stored in the conveyors capable to keep 40 projectiles and 40 powder charges with storage boxes having an extra capacity of 20 more. This imposed a 40-rounds fire session followed by a retreat to avoid counter-battery fire and reload of 20 more rounds using the roof mounted crane.

Upgrade

The DANA underwent a main upgrade in 1999 comprising chiefly an new and powerful on board competurized cntrol system for better combat efficiency, massively automated so just two operators in the turret are needed. This system senabeles continuous self positioning in three axes, independent calculation of target coordinates enabling firing on a moving target, automatic laying and aiming, operational diagonostics, better rate of fire, quicker engagement time, preparedness below one minute, and better communications.

Variants

152 mm ShKH Ondava

The Ondava is equipped with a newer loading system and a longer, 47 caliber barrel.

155 mm ShKH Zuzana

The Zuzana is a NATO ammunition variant based on the 152 mm 47 caliber barrel. The firing mechanism and crew safety were improved and further modernized as the Zuzana 2, in service with the Slovak Army. The 152 mm SpGH Ondava derived from it, with a breech volume of 19.7 liters. The ammunition storage was modified to make these compatibles with 155-mm NATO rounds as well as an improved fire control system. The Zuzana 155mm is thus a conversion to NATO standards and the ZUZANA 2, shows a redesigned forward control cab.

155 mm ShKH Himalaya

The Himalaya is a DANA turret mounted on a T-72 tank chassis, with an extended turret for a larger ammunition capacity. The gun was made compatible with NATO 155 mm ammunition, as a sub-variant of the ZUZANA. The T-72 brought extra all-terrain capabilities and enable a conversion of existing stock T-72s with a potent artillery system. The turret is fully traversed unlike the ZUZANA and is engineered to be independent of the chassis, with its own power source and 40 rounds in conveyors. This stand alone turret thus could be ported with some ring mount adaptation, to any existing MBT chassis.

152 mm ShKH MODAN

The MODAN is a variant of the 152 mm version, but updated to the ZUZANA 155 mm NATO variant, crew of four, longer range, better accuracy, higher rate of fire. It was designed as an upgrade package and brings the old DANA to the level of ZUZANA 155 mm SpGH. This goes through a new powerful on-board control system for extra combat efficiency, simplified controls and extra automation for a crew of 4.

Operators

A total of 111 DANAs were sold to the Polish army since 1983, and are still operational.
Libya was estimated purchased 27 DANAs or more, sold by the USSR in 1987-1989.
The Soviet Union purchased 126 DANA systems, as a rare land system adopted by the Soviet army. They were passed on to the Russian army and took part in the 2014 war in Donbass and 2022 invasion of Ukraine. These vehicles during the late cold war were designed for troops stationed in Czechoslovakia and by an artillery training center in Belarus. They were sold after the collapse to Kazakhstan and then ended in the hands of the Georgian armed forces.

Czechoslovakia: 164 on 1 July 2008, no far less, oiginally 273.
Slovakia: 135 vz. 77 and 16 M2000 Zuzana.
Azebaidjan: 36 DANA M1
Cyprus: 12 M2000G Zuzana via Greece.
Poland: 111 vehicles still active.
Georgia: 47, delivered by the Czech Republic in 2004.
Ukraine: Perhaps 20 DANA vz. 77 in 2022, 26 DANA M2 ordered in 2020 or supplied by the Czech Republic in 2022, as well 8 Zuzana 2 donated in May 2022 by Slovakia, last delivered by January 2023. Germany, Norway and Denmark agreed to purchase 16 Zuzana 2 for Ukraine in 2022. Netherlands financed the purchase of 9 DITA SPH in February 2024, delivered in summer of 2024 plus six more purchased on behalf of Ukraine in October.

specifications Vz77 Dana
Dimensions	11.156 x 3 x 3.63m (36 ft 7.2 in x 9 ft 10 in x 11 ft 11 in)
Curb weight	29.25 t (32.24 short tons)
Crew	5: Driver, Cdr, Gunner, 2 assistants.
Propulsion	Tatra T2-930-34: 253.7 kW (340.2 hp)
Suspension	8x8 Hydraulic coil springs
Speed (road)	80 km/h (50 mph)
Range	600 km (370 mi)
Armament	152 mm gun-howitzer, 12.7mm DShK.
Armor	13 mm (0.5 in) max.
Total production	750

in action

The Vz.77 saw no action during the cold war. When Czechoslovakia dissolved in late 1992, the remaining 408 DANA were divided between the Czech and Slovak armies. The Czechs inherited 273, the Slovaks 135. But they were gradually transferred to the reserve, and modernized, planned to continue in active service until 2014 and still in stocks today.

The vz.77 was used by Georgia against Russia in the Russo-Georgian War, with two vehicles destroyed, 3-4 captured in 2008. It was used by Poland during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Five Polish DANAs saw action in the Ghazni Province in 2008 among others. The DANA saw action with Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, against Armenia. The vehicle also saw combat on both sides in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine with the latter provided DANA M2 and 152 mm ShKH DANA vz. 77 by the Czech Republic in 2022.

Gallery

Czech Vz.77 in service 1980s


Lybian vehicle


Vz.77 DANA of the Slovakian Army


Polish DANA


Cypriot Vz.77


Late Czech Vz.77 Dana M1


Ukrainian Vz.77

More photos

Sources

GYÜRÖSI, Miroslav. Samohybná kanónová húfnica ShKH vz. 77 Dana v Poľsku. ATM. 2016, roč. 48
155mm 52kal. ShKH ZUZANA 2 [online]. KONŠTRUKTA-Defence [cit. 2016-11-06]. Dostupné v archivu pořízeném dne 2016
DANA M1 M. ATM. 2016, roč. 48, čís. 11, s. 12.
MILITARIUM – Wojsko Polskie – Uzbrojenie Archivováno 26. 8. 2013
PŘEHLEDNĚ: Tanky, obrněnci, houfnice i raketomety. Jakou těžkou techniku poslala ČR na Ukrajinu?. cnn.iprima.cz
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САУ Dana-M2, яку тестували в Україні, вже нищить рашистів у руках ЗСУ
Další česká stopa. Na Ukrajinu odjely i houfnice Dana a raketomety RM-70 Grad
armyrecognition.com Azeri DANA
cast.ru The_Tanks_of_August
web.archive.org/ kotadef.sk Himalaya
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