KT/ZTS SpGH Dana Vz-77

     Notes:  A joint development of the former Czechoslovakian firms of Konstrukta Trencin and ZTS (now both located in Slovakia, though production continues at Tatra in the Czech Republic). Sales were quick and remain at decent levels; the Dana is currently used by the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Libya, Poland, and Georgia.  Recently, several Middle Eastern countries have expressed interest in the Zuzana version, as has Thailand and Malaysia; Cyprus already uses a dozen Zuzanas.  Three Danas were captured by the Russian Army during its conflict with Georgia in 2008; they have not been returned, and their fate is unknown. Production took place from 1981-1994, but now takes place only in lots ordered by customers. A wheeled chassis, even a heavy chassis like the Dana, is cheaper to maintain and cheaper to build (or buy), and with modern suspensions, the mobility hit off-road is not too bad. The Dana has seen combat use in South Ossetia and Afghanistan.

 

The Dana

     The Dana is an extensively modified Tatra T-815 Kolos truck chassis with a turret in the center mounting a 152mm howitzer.  Aside from the turret, the most extensive modification is the fully armored body and the engine that has been moved to the rear of the vehicle.  The engine for the Dana is a Tatra turbocharged T930-34 253 345-horsepower diesel, with a 7kW APU to power the vehicle’s systems with the engine turned off.  The engine is in the rear, with the APU below it (cables lead to an outlet to attach external equipment if necessary).  The engine is a Tatra T2-930-34 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 345 horsepower.  The engine is designed to provide high torque for sloppy terrain and self-recovery.

     The turret is a “split” turret, split down the center into two compartments by the main gun.  The gun largely occupies the left half of the turret, along with the gunner and primary loader, along with the gun-laying controls (including direct fire sights) and the autoloader for the charges, an auxiliary magazine, and the gun recoil dampeners.  The right side of the turret contains the primary magazine and the secondary loader. The gunner is on the right side, with a cupola (with no vision blocks) and a pintle mount for a heavy weapon. The loaders have a hatch on the left side of the turret, with no vision blocks or weapon.  Each side of the turret also has a hatch large enough for loading of supplies or ammunition, and a conveyor belt may be hooked up to one or both of these hatches (though the Dana normally does not carry the conveyor belt).  The front of the right side of the turret also has a similar hatch.  The driver is on the front left side; he has front windows of bullet-resistant glass, as well as armored shutters with two wide-angle vision blocks in it.  He also has a hatch above him, one of which can mount a night vision device.  The driver operates the three hydraulic stabilizers, which must be lowered at the sides and rear before firing the gun. On the left is the commander’s position; he has a similar arrangement of hatches, windows, and vision blocks.  In addition, there is a small armored window on each side of the front compartment.  The vehicle commander is seated to the right of the driver, and though he has a manually-operating cupola with vision blocks and one vision block with a night channel, he does not have a mounted weapon, being armed only with his assault rifle. Other crewmembers include two loaders, one of which primarily fixes the fuzes to the shells before placing them into the autoloader for firing. (The autoloader was innovative, as it was the first of its type to equip an SP howitzer, being able to load the gun regardless of gun angle or turret rotation.)  The autoloader has an emergency manual backup, in which case the autoloader magazine is treated as merely a bin, with the ammunition manually loaded.

     The gun is a 152mm L/37 gun. The turret may be traversed 112.5 degrees to the right and left of center. The gun has an elevation and depression of +70 and -4 degrees.  The gun has a standard ROF of 4 rpm, though a burst rate may be maintained for five minutes, generating 8 rpm.  If the autoloaders are out of action or special rounds must be used, ROF drops to 2 rpm.  The primary magazines each hold 24 rounds, with bins on the turret floor for special rounds holding six rounds each. The 152mm howitzer in its basic form can fire most conventional 152mm rounds; improvements have given the Dana the ability to fire Krasnopol laser-guided projectiles. The gunner has a Czech version of the NSVT machinegun on a fully flexible pintle mount.  Crew equipment includes 5 short-barreled assault rifles with 600 rounds and five RPG-75 rocket launchers (these are not included in the stats below); there are stowage points in the turret and the driver’s/commander’s position for them.

     A small tunnel allows access from the front compartment to the turret, as long as the turret is facing forward.

     The Dana uses a conventional panoramic telescope with a reticle (one for direct fire, and one for indirect fire).  This is coupled to a fire control computer, which receives information from the FDC and automatically lays the gun for accurate fire from the Dana. A survey vehicle normally selects positions for a battery of Danas. There is no provision for the Dana for generating its own fire solutions; input from an FDC is necessary, or indirect fire will be random at best.  The Dana family is equipped with an air conditioner for the turret and driver/commander’s position.  The driver has a backup camera, making a ground guide unnecessary. The Dana has an NBC Overpressure system with a vehicular NBC backup.

 

The Ondava

     The development of the Ondava began in the late 1980s; the breakup of the Warsaw Pact basically ended the development of the Ondava, though some of the design was carried through to the Zuzana.  The Ondava had a longer L/47 barrel for more range, a new 2-chamber muzzle brake, and a new, more efficient autoloader.  The Ondava project ended with the fall of the Wall and the change to Eastern European countries to democracies.  Technical experience gained on the Ondava project was carried over to the Zuzana and Modan projects.

 

The Modan

     The Modan Vz-77/99 is a Slovakian upgrade of the Dana with longer range (it uses an L/47 barrel, like the Ondava), higher accuracy, and more automation.  Computerization gives the Modan the ability to function as its own FDC, as well as generally greater efficiency.  (Modan batteries generally do not operate with an FDC, using a direct connection to the FIST.) GPS and an inertial navigation system, as well as a computerized mapping system and self-surveying systems, have been added.  The Modan has a BMS system with vehicle state displays. A greatly-improved autoloader allows one of the loaders to be deleted, with the remaining loader merely required to fix and modify fuzes as necessary.  The Modan uses the longer barrel of the Ondava.  Though the commander does not have control of the thermal imager from his seat, he has a channel which allows him to see through the thermal imager (at whatever the gunner is looking at).  The Moden can move into a firing position, square its position and firing data, fire three rounds (all taking two minutes), and be off again in one minute.

 

The Dana-M1 CZ

     This is a progressive upgrade of the Dana, developed by Excalibur Army of Prague.  The upgrades give the Dana-M1 a capability similar to that of the Modan, plus a new T3-930 diesel engine with doubled turbochargers for hot weather operation and a slight boost to 355.4 horsepower.  Despite the Western arms embargo on Azerbaijan, this version was sold to Azerbaijan in 2011 (though they were not revealed until 2017).

 

The ShKH M-2000 Zuzana

     This modification mates a NATO-standard 155mm L/45 gun to the Dana chassis.  This is now the standard SP howitzer for the Czech Slovakian Army in NATO. The Dana has otherwise not been modified except in the gun, autoloader, and ammunition racks.  The M-2000G Zuzana is designed for the Cypriot National Guard, and has different radios, two clusters of four smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret, and an MG-3 machinegun instead of the NSVT of the other countries using the vehicle.  A modified form, primarily to take into account manufacturing methods, is used by Slovakia, and is produced by ZTS Dubnica.

 

The ShKH Zuzana 2

     The Zuzana was modified beginning in 2004 into the Zuzana 2.  Initially known as the Zuzana A1 and then Zuzana XA-1, the Zuzana 2 is the latest development of the Zuzana, and is replacing the Zuzana in Czech and Slovakian service.  It has an L/52 155mm gun and has a faster-traversing turret and easier communication between the halves of the turret.  It has fire control equipment similar to the Modan, modified for use with the 155mm gun. It uses a Tatra T2B-928.70 engine developing 443 horsepower, and the gun system is able to fire all 155mm rounds, including laser and GPS-guided rounds, and even nuclear-warhead rounds. 

 

The ShKH A40 Himalaya

     This is essentially the Zuzana turret put on the chassis of a T-72M1 tank chassis; when first built, it was called the Zuzana M1.  Virtually the entire gun system, including the APU, autoloaders, and magazines and bins for special ammunition have been mounted in and on the T-72M1 chassis.  The armor of the turret has been strengthened, though it does not match the chassis’ armor. The original version used a standard Zuzana turret, but the newer A-40M1 being offered for export uses the Zuzana 2 as a template and turret. The commander is moved to the turret roof to the former gunner’s position, and he may be armed with an NSVT or M-2HB machinegun.  The engine has been changed for Czech-made S-1000 780-horsepower engine, and has the APU and air conditioner and backup camera of other Dana-family guns.  In addition, like most Indian vehicles, the Himalaya has a ration heater, with space for the entire crew.  Unlike the Dana, the turret may be rotated through 360 degrees, and fired in any position. The transmission is “semiautomatic” – it is manual at its base, but hydraulically boosted and uses a synchromesh system to ease the workload on the driver. The T-72M1 chassis is heavy enough that hydraulic stabilizers are not necessary.  The turret is a bit longer to take advantage of the greater carrying capacity of the T-72M1 chassis, and the autoloader magazines, charge magazines, and special round bins are slightly larger.

     The A-40M1 is topped with the Zuzana 2 turret and equipped with the Zuzana 2’s equipment inside the chassis. Computerization gives the A-40M1 the ability to function as its own FDC, as well as generally greater efficiency.  GPS and an inertial navigation system, as well as a computerized mapping system, have been added.  A greatly-improved autoloader allows one of the loaders to be deleted, with the remaining loader merely required to fix and modify fuzes as necessary.  The commander can tap into the gunner’s thermal imager through a sight elbow.

     The Himalaya was originally designed for the Indian SP Howitzer competition; it did not win that competition, but is still being shopped around, at arms shows and private showings. The turret and systems are also being shopped around; the Czechs have made it known that the turret could be mounted on any vehicle of the appropriate size.

 

The ShKH DIANA

     DIANA is an acronym, presumably in Czech, which I have not been able to find the meaning of.  It is the latest iteration of the Zuzana.  It uses the same turret, but is armed with an L/55 gun.  It uses a new Polish tracked chassis that uses many components of the T-72 tank.  The first prototype was revealed in 2015, and it has been making the rounds of arms shows and private showings.  Like Himalaya, is was proposed for the Indian Army requirements, but is also being offered on the arms market; in addition, the Czech, Slovakian, and Polish Armies are reportedly interested.  It has the improvements and characteristics of most of the Dana family.  The magazine setup is a bit different; the DIANA has twin 40-round magazines, with another two 40-round charge magazines and two 10-round bins for special ammunition and its charges.  Konstructa has plans in the works to increase the size of these magazines, but these are on the drawing board as of yet. The gun is capable of using all types of 155mm ammunition, including those that are still on the drawing board. The autoloader can use all four of the standard magazines and charge magazines, and the autoloader is improved to allow a ROF of 13 rpm.  In addition, 1000 more rounds more of machinegun ammunition are available, with the gun being able to be aimed, fired, and loaded from within the enhanced cupola.  The cupola has all-around vision blocks, with the front three blocks having night vision channels and the center block having an aiming stadia and a ballistic computer.  A total of eight smoke grenade launchers are carried, four on each side of the gun.  The S-12U turbocharged diesel engine is more powerful than the T-72 at 839 horsepower, which it needs for the heavier setup.  In addition to the chassis armor of a Polish modified T-72, it has enhanced protection for the turret.  The commander is in the turret instead of in the front.  The turret can rotate and fire in 360 degrees.  Though the system is more complex, it has also been made easier to service and maintain. Otherwise, the improvements of the Dana family are present in the DIANA, including a BMS, vehicle state system, mapping computer and displays, ration heater, and the advanced fire control systems.

 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Zuzana does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline, and the Ondava is very rare. Other versions do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timelines, though the Modan, Dana-M1 CZ, and M-2000 Zuzana exist in the Twilight 2013 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: The Zuzana exists, but has not had much export success.  The Ondava has for the most part replaced the Dana in Czech service, though some countries have gone for the Slovakian Modan.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Dana

$754,870

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

29.25 tons

5

18

Passive IR (D, G, C)

Enclosed

Ondava

$802,728

D, G, AvG, A

495 kg

29.53 tons

5

21

Passive IR (D, G, C)

Enclosed

Modan

$1,342,715

D, G, AvG, A

489 kg

29.89 tons

4

22

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Enclosed

Dana-M1 CZ

$1,442,763

D, A

489 kg

29.89 tons

4

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Enclosed

M-2000 Zuzana

$830,492

D, G, AvG, A

498 kg

29.34 tons

5

18

Passive IR (D, G, C)

Enclosed

M-2000G Zuzana

$800,979

D, G, AvG, A

410 kg

29.3 tons

5

18

Passive IR (D, G, C)

Enclosed

Zuzana 2

$1,500,988

D, A

688 kg

29.98 tons

4

21

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Enclosed

A40 Himalaya

$917,200

D, A

488 kg

41.5 tons

5

45

Passive IR (D, G, C)

Shielded

A40M1 Himalaya

$1,505,613

D, A

481 kg

42.14 tons

4

45

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

DIANA

$2,076,580

D, A

406 kg

50 tons

4

29

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imaging (G, C)

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

Dana

107/54

30/15

690

127

Trtd

W(4)

TF6  TS6  TR6  HF6  HS5  HR4

Ondava

105/54

29/15

690

128

Trtd

W(4)

TF6  TS6  TR6  HF6  HS5  HR4

Modan

105/53

29/14

690

130

Trtd

W(4)

TF6Sp  TS6  TR6Sp  HF6Sp  HS5Sp  HR4**

Dana-M1 CZ

121/61

33/17

690

131

Trtd

W(4)

TF6Sp  TS6  TR6Sp  HF6Sp  HS5Sp  HR4**

M-2000 Zuzana

107/54

30/15

690

127

Trtd

W(4)

TF6  TS6  TR6  HF6  HS5  HR4

M-2000G Zuzana

107/54

30/15

690

127

Trtd

W(4)

TF6  TS6  TR6  HF6  HS5  HR4

Zuzana 2

125/63

34/18

690

163

Trtd

W(4)

TF6Sp  TS6  TR6Sp  HF6Sp  HS5Sp  HR4**

A40 Himalaya

136/95

38/26

1000+400

290

Trtd

T6

TF28Sp  TS12Sp  TR7  HF138Cp  HS20Sp  HR12

A40M1 Himalaya

134/94

37/26

1000+400

294

Trtd

T6

TF28Sp  TS12Sp  TR7  HF138Cp  HS20Sp  HR12

DIANA

124/87

35/24

1000+400

311

Trtd

T6

TF30Sp  TF13Sp  TF8Sp  HF149Cp HS20Sp HR12***

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Dana

+1*

Basic*

152mm L/37 Howitzer, NSVT (G)

60x152mm, 2000x12.7mm

Ondava

+1*

Basic*

152mm L/47 Howitzer, NSVT (G)

60x152mm, 2000x12.7mm

Modan/Dana-M1 CZ

+2*

Fair*

152mm L/47 Howitzer, NSVT (G)

60x152mm, 2000x12.7mm

M-2000 Zuzana

+1*

Basic*

155mm L/45 Howitzer, NSVT (G)

60x155mm, 2000x12.7mm

M-2000G Zuzana

+1*

Basic*

155mm L/45 Howitzer, MG-3 (G)

60x155mm, 4000x7.62mm

Zuzana 2

+2*

Fair*

155mm L/52 Howitzer, NSVT (G)

60x155mm, 2000x12.7mm

A40 Himalaya

+1*

Basic*

155mm L/45 Howitzer, M-2HB (C)

60x155mm, 500x.50

A-40M1 Himalaya

+2*

Fair*

155mm L/52 Howitzer, M-2HB (C)

60x155mm, 500x.50

DIANA

+3 (+1 for Indirect Fire)

Fair (Basic for Indirect Fire)

155mm L/55 Howitzer, NSVT or M-2HB (C)

100x155mm, 1200x12.7mm or .50

*The Fire Control and Stabilization figures are for direct fire shots, and do not apply to indirect fire.

**HR and TR are AV 4.  HF is AV 4Sp.

***HR AV is 5Sp.  Floor AV is 7Sp.