Source: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
Belonging to one of the two self-propelled artillery battalions of the Artillery Group, 56th. Motorized Brigade “Mariupol” is this DANA M2 152mm self-propelled howitzer. Standing for Dělo Automobilní Nabíjené Automaticky (literally “gun on truck loaded automatically”), the DANA M2 is a Czech modernization of the Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 DANA (ShKH vz. 77 DANA; Self-propelled Howitzer Model 77) which entered service in 1981. The modernization is done by the Czech arms company Excalibur Army. Ukraine had purchased 30 DANA M2 vehicles and as of February 12, 2025, none have been lost in combat.
The 30-ton DANA M2 uses a newer Tatra 815 8x8 wheeled truck chassis which uses the more powerful Tatra T3-930-52M 12-cylinder, air-cooled vee diesel engine that develops 355 horsepower that is mated to a Tatra Norgren semi-automatic transmission. This provides the DANA M2 with a top road speed of 55 miles per hour and in optimum off-road conditions, the maximum speed is 15 miles per hour. Off-road performance is improved through a central tire inflation system (CTIS). Enough diesel fuel is carried to give the DANA M2 a maximum cruise range of 372 miles.
The main weapon is a 152.4mm howitzer situated within a centrally mounted turret. The mount permits a maximum howitzer elevation of 70 degrees and 4 degrees of depression. The turret does not provide a full 360 degrees of traverse, offering a maximum of 225 degrees of total traverse. Traverse is lesser if the howitzer is at full elevation, being limited to 45 degrees of total traverse. The DANA M2 has outriggers to stabilize the vehicle when firing from the halt with hydraulics that can quickly deploy and retract to enable the DANA M2 to be ready for firing fast and move just as fast once the fire mission is complete. Excalibur Army was not stingy in equipping the DANA M2 with electronics from the Czech company Retia. In regards to the howitzer, the ASAP (Automatic Setting of Action Position) system permits the DANA M2 to fully automate firing data calculations which in turn directs the turret to traverse and the gun mount to lay the howitzer at the optimum elevation to engage the target. The ASAP system also selects the appropriate ammunition from the 36 rounds carried in the DANA M2's 36-round automatic loader. A further 4 rounds plus charges are stored in the turret. Both the commander and the gunner are provided with a digital fire control system (FCS) that tie into the ASAP system. The DANA M2 can be manually aimed using a ZZ-73 mechanical sight, a PG-1M-D panoramic telescope, a K-1 collimator, and a PAB-2A artillery compass. For manual direct fire, the gunner would use a OP-5-38D telescopic sight. With the automatic loader, the DANA M2 can fire up to 5 rounds in the first minute with a sustained rate of 4 rounds per minute. Ukraine does utilize Czech ammunition and so the usual munitions are the 152-EOF HE (High-Explosive), DN1CZ HE-ER (High-Explosive Extended Range), and the 152-EPrSv HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) shells. The HE shell has a maximum range of 11 miles while the DN1CZ shell can attain a range of 16 miles. For direct fire using the HEAT round, the typical effective range is 1.2 miles. The DANA M2 is fitted with a 12.7mm NSVT heavy machine-gun for anti-air and local defense in addition to any small arms the crew may have.
For armor, the cab is protected to STANAG 4569 Level 1 standard. This is proof up to 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm ball ammunition at 30 meters and against 155mm artillery shell fragments at 100 meters. Against explosives, the armor can protect against hand grenades and small artillery fragmentation submunitions. The turret is not armored as the howitzer can be operated from within the cab. The cab is also NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) protected and crew comfort provided by a heater and air-conditioning system. Speaking of crew, the DANA M2 can be operated with as few as two men though three is the usual compliment with room in the cab for 1 to 2 passengers.
Other systems mounted on the DANA M2 include 24 volt auxiliary power unit (APU) paired to hydraulic pump which permits the vehicle's electrical systems to work and the pump allows the gun controls to function if the engine is turned off or broken down. The driver is provided with a Retia digital diagnostics system to monitor critical systems as well as a video system to enhance situational awareness while driving. A Retia digital communications suite includes a C2I (Command, Control & Intelligence) function, VHF/UHF tactical radio station, and a intercom system for the crew. A Retia inertial navigation system is backed up by a GPS (Global Positioning System) and this is also tied into the ASAP system.
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