panzershop 152mmSHKHvz.77 “DANA”

The Dělo Automobilní Nabíjené Automaticky (self-propelled auto-loading gun), also known as Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 (ShKH-77) (self-propelled gun howitzer model 77) was designed by Konštrukta Trenčín and built by ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom in the former Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) as the first wheeled 152 mm self-propelled artillery gun to enter service. Introduced in the 1970s, it is based on the 8×8 Tatra 813 truck, the best off-road truck at the time. Currently it is in service with the Czech Republic, Libya, Poland, Georgia and Slovakia.

Wheeled vehicles have the advantage of being cheaper to build and easier to maintain with greater mobility. Tire 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 stabilizers into the ground prior to firing, and has a roof mounted crane to assist with ammunition loading.

The crew of the DANA consists of the driver (operates the hydraulic stabilizers) and commander sitting in the front cabin, the gunner (aims the gun and opens fire) and loader operator (selects the appropriate amount of powder charges) are on the left side of the turret, the ammo handler (sets the shells’ primers) is on the right side turret.

The DANA was designed in the 1970s by Konštrukta Trenčín to fill the role of an indirect fire support weapon without buying the Soviet 2S3 Akatsiya self propelled artillery. In 1976 the team of designers finished work on the DANA project and production was passed to ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom. The system consists of a 152 mm gun mounted on an 8×8 Tatra T815 truck. It was a significant departure from traditional self-propelled guns as it used a wheeled chassis. It was accepted into service in 1981 and by 1994 over 750 units had been built. DANA’s unique feature is that its autoloader is able to load a shell and a cartridge in any elevation of the barrel. Although this feature is nowadays considered as standard, DANA was one of the first such artillery systems in the time of its introduction to service.