155 mm SpGH Zuzana

155 mm SpGH Zuzana
Type - Self-propelled gun
Place of origin - Slovakia
Service history
In service - 1998-present
Used by - Slovakia / Cyprus / Ukraine
Wars - Russo-Ukrainian War
Specifications
Mass - vz. 2000 Zuzana: 28.45 t (31.36 short tons) / Zuzana 2: 33.80 t (37.26 short tons)
Length - vz. 2000 Zuzana: 12.97 m (42 ft 7 in) / Zuzana 2: 14.2 m (46 ft 7 in)
Width - vz. 2000 Zuzana: 3.01 m (9 ft 11 in) / Zuzana 2: 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Height - vz. 2000 Zuzana: 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in) / Zuzana 2: 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
Crew - 4 (driver, gun commander, charge operator, projectile operator)
Caliber - 155 mm (6.1")
Barrels - vz. 2000 Zuzana: 45-caliber / Zuzana 2: 52-caliber
Secondary armament - M2 Browning
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, a.s., with a 45-caliber gun and automatic loader for loading of both projectile and charge. It is an evolution of the 152 mm 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 autoloader plus the crew is protected from the gases generated during firing.

Variants

155 mm ShKH vz. 2000 Zuzana
The original wheeled version adopted by the Slovak Army in 1998.
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. Slovak army had ordered 25 vehicles (to be delivered in year 2021 and 2022).
The new version is claimed to possess Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability.
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.

Specifications
_ - vz. 2000 Zuzana - Zuzana 2
Caliber: - 155 mm (6.1") {vz. 2000 Zuzana - Zuzana 2}
Barrel length: - 45 cal - 52 cal
Ammunition carried: - 40 projectiles & 40 charges {vz. 2000 Zuzana - Zuzana 2}
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) {vz. 2000 Zuzana - Zuzana 2}
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 {vz. 2000 Zuzana - Zuzana 2}
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) {vz. 2000 Zuzana - Zuzana 2}
Chassis: - Tatra 815 VP31 8x8 {vz. 2000 Zuzana - Zuzana 2}
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) {vz. 2000 Zuzana - Zuzana 2}
Fording: - 1.4 m (4.6 ft) {vz. 2000 Zuzana - Zuzana 2}

Current operators
 Slovakia : 16 (plus several development units) + 25 Zuzana 2 ordered
 Cyprus : 12 (version M2000G)
 Ukraine : In April 2022, Ukraine started negotiations to purchase 16 Zuzana units. In May 2022, Slovakia officially announced the transfer of 8 howitzers to Ukraine. As of October 9, 2022, 6 of them have been transferred to Ukraine. Denmark, Germany and Norway have signed an agreement on October 2, 2022 with the manufacturer to purchase 16 Zuzana units to be donated to Ukraine.

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Type 19