155 mm SpGH Zuzana

155mm SpGH Zuzana
155 mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzer model (vz.) 2000 Zuzana on military exhibition IDEE in Trenčín, Slovakia
TypeSelf-propelled gun
Place of originSlovakia
Service history
In service1998–present
Used bySlovakia
Cyprus
Ukraine
WarsRusso-Ukrainian War
Production history
DesignerKonštrukta Trenčín
Unit costZuzana 2:
EUR 5.75 million (2022)[1]
Producedvz. 2000 Zuzana:
1998-2007
Zuzana 2:
2019-present
No. builtvz. 2000 Zuzana:
16
M2000G Zuzana:
12
Zuzana 2:
49
VariantsProduction models:
vz. 2000 Zuzana
M2000G Zuzana
Zuzana 2
Tracked prototypes:
Zuzana A 40 Himalaya
Diana 155mm
Specifications
Massvz. 2000 Zuzana:
28.45 t (31.36 short tons)
Zuzana 2:
33.80 t (37.26 short tons)
Lengthvz. 2000 Zuzana:
12.97 m (42 ft 7 in)
Zuzana 2:
14.2 m (46 ft 7 in)
Widthvz. 2000 Zuzana:
3.01 m (9 ft 11 in)
Zuzana 2:
3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Heightvz. 2000 Zuzana:
3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
Zuzana 2:
3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
Crew4 (driver, gun commander, charge operator, projectile operator)[2]
Caliber155 mm (6.1")
Barrelsvz. 2000 Zuzana: 45-caliber
Zuzana 2: 52-caliber
Secondary
armament
M2 Browning
Enginevz. 2000 Zuzana:
V12 engine Tatra T3-930-52 265 kW (355 hp)
Zuzana 2:
V8 engine Tatra T3D-928-70 325 kW (436 hp)
Drivevz. 2000 Zuzana: Tatra 815 8x8
Zuzana 2: Tatra 817 8x8
Operational
range
vz. 2000 Zuzana: 750 km (470 mi)
Zuzana 2: 600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed vz. 2000 Zuzana: 80 km/h (50 mph)
Zuzana 2: 90 km/h (56 mph)

Zuzana 155 mm Gun Howitzer is a Slovak artillery system developed by Konštrukta – Defence, 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 gun has a long range, high accuracy, and high 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. 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 its autoloader. Additionally, the crew is protected from the gasses generated during firing.

Variants

155 mm ShKH vz. 2000 Zuzana

The original wheeled version adopted by the Slovak Army in 1998.

155 mm ShKH M2000G Zuzana

A modified version made for the Hellenic Army, later resold to Cyprus. Armed with lighter 7.62 mm roof-mounted machine guns.

155 mm ShKH Zuzana 2

Updated version with a new 52-calibre gun, full 360-degree turret traverse and a new armored cab. It has passed Slovak Army trials in December 2009.[3] Slovak army had ordered 25 vehicles (to be delivered in year 2021 and 2022).[4]

The new version is claimed to possess Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability.[5]

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.

155 mm ShKH Diana

A joint project between Slovak Konstrukta Defence (Slovakia) and Bumar-Labedy (Poland). Uses Zuzana 2 turret on UPG-NG tracked chassis. A prototype showcased on International Defence Industry Exhibition in Poland in Kielce in 2015.

Specifications

2nd Mechanized Brigade's 155mm Zuzana 2 155mm howitzer fires a projectile during a US-Slovak live-fire exercise at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, November 30, 2021.
vz. 2000 Zuzana [6] Zuzana 2 [2] [3]
Caliber: 155 mm (6.1")
Barrel length: 45 cal 52 cal
Ammunition carried: 40 projectiles & 40 charges
Maximum firing range: 39.6 km (24.6 mi) 41 km (25 mi) with ERFB-BB
50 km (31 mi) with VLAP
Minimum range: 5.6 km (3.5 mi)
Rate of fire: 6 rounds /min. 5 rounds /min.
Sustained rate of fire: 5 rounds /min. 4.3 round/min. (13 rounds in 3 minutes)
Ammunition loading: Fully automatic
Turret traverse: ±60° 360°, firing within ±60°
Gun elevation/depression: +70°/-3,5° +75°/-3,5°
Crew: 4 (driver, gun commander, charge operator, projectile operator).
Chassis: Tatra 815 VP31 8x8 Tatra 817 8x8
Engine: V12 Tatra T3-930-52 V8 Tatra T3D-928-70
Engine power: 265 kW (355 hp) 325 kW (436 hp)
Vehicle length: 12.97 m (42.6 ft) 14.2 m (47 ft)
Vehicle width: 3 m (9.8 ft) 3.1 m (10 ft)
Total height: 3.3 m (11 ft) 3.5 m (11 ft)
Total weight of the system: 28.45 t (31.36 short tons) 33.80 t (37.26 short tons)
(combat weight)
Maximum speed: 80+ km/h (50+ mph) 90 km/h (56 mph)
Operational range: 750 km (470 mi) 600 km (370 mi)
Obstacle crossing:
Trench: 2 m (6.6 ft) 2.1 m (6.9 ft)
Vertical step: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Fording: 1.4 m (4.6 ft)
Map of ZUZANA operators in blue with future operators in yellow

Operators

Current operators

Slovakia Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic
16 Zuzana 2000 (as of June 2022).[7] 25 Zuzana 2 ordered, 8 units received by July 2021.
Cyprus Cypriot Ground Forces
12 Zuzana M2000G, bought from Greece
Ukraine Ukrainian Ground Forces
24 Zuzana 2 acquired as of September 2024. At least 3 were destroyed and at least 1 damaged.[8]
  • First order of 8 confirmed in May 2022 by the Slovak minister of defence Jaroslav Naď, with training of crews starting right away.[9] The first order was completed as of 18 January 2023, per statement by the Slovak minister of defence Jaroslav Naď.[10]
  • The second order of 16 units was signed on 2 October 2022, with Denmark, Germany and Norway providing the funding.[1] In early July 2023, during a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová, referred to a contract covering the procurement of 16 Zuzana 2 self-propelled guns, this was misinterpreted by various news outlets as reference to an additional contract (for the additional production of 16 units), but she was referring to the aforementioned contract signed in October 2022, in fact.[11]

Potential operators

Georgia (country) Georgian Land Forces
Slovak defence minister claimed that his Georgian counterpart expressed interest in acquiring the system during the meeting which took place on 20 December 2021.[12]

Former operators

Greece Hellenic Army
12 Zuzana M2000G, all sold to Cypriot National Guard

See also

References

  1. ^ a b AS, TV 2 (2022-10-02). "Kjøper artillerivåpen for én milliard kroner til Ukraina". TV 2 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2022-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b "ZUZANA 2 - Self-propelled autonomous artillery system". kotadef.sk. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Roman, Kment. "155 mm ShKH Zuzana 2. Mesačník Ministerstva Obrany Slovenskej Republiky, číslo 5 / Máj 2010 / s. 28-29 (Slovak)" (PDF). Retrieved 5 Nov 2022.
  4. ^ Grohmann, Jan. "Slovenská armáda získá samohybné houfnice Zuzana 2". Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Kotadef article on 155mm ShKH Zuzana 2". Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  6. ^ "ZUZANA - 155 mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzer". kotadef.sk. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  7. ^ "Ukraine Gate". www.ukrgate.com. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  8. ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost; Janovsky, Jakub. "Attack On Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Słowacja przekaże Ukrainie nowoczesną artylerię". defence24.pl (in Polish). 30 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  10. ^ "Ukrajina si od Slovenska prevzala poslednú ôsmu húfnicu Zuzana 2". TV 2 (in Norwegian). 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  11. ^ "Ukrainska Pravda". www.pravda.com.ua. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  12. ^ "Georgia interested in Slovak Zuzana 2 howitzers". www.czdefence.com. 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2024-07-13.