2S1 Gvozdika

2S1 (SAU-122)
Type Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1972–present
Used by see Operators
Wars Soviet–Afghan War
Iran–Iraq War
Gulf War
War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
Yugoslav Wars
Kosovo War
First Chechen War
Second Chechen War
Iraq War
2008 South Ossetia War
Russo-Georgian War
First Libyan Civil War
Second Libyan Civil War
Syrian Civil War
War in Donbass
Production history
Designer Kharkiv Tractor Plant
Designed 1956-61
Produced 1971–1991
No. built more than 10,000
Variants see Variants
Specifications
Weight 16 tonnes (35,273 lbs)
Length 7.26 m (23 ft 10 in)
Width 2.85 m (9 ft 4 in)
Height 2.73 m (8 ft 11 in)
Crew 4
Shell separate loading, cased charge
Caliber 122 mm
Breech Horizontal sliding-wedge, semi-automatic
Elevation -3 to +70 degrees
Traverse 360 degrees
Rate of fire Maximum: 5 rpm
Sustained: 1-2 rpm
Muzzle velocity 680 m/s (2,200 ft/s)
Maximum firing range Conventional: 15.3 km (9.5 mi)
Extended: 21.9 km (13.6 mi)
Armor 20 mm (.78 in)
Main
armament
 2A18 122 mm (4.8 in) howitzer
Engine YaMZ-238N diesel
220 kW (300 hp)
Suspension torsion bar
Operational
range
 500 km (310 mi)
Speed Road: 60 km/h (37 mph)
Off-road: 30 km/h (18 mph)
Swim: 4.5 km/h (2.8 mph)

The 2S1 Gvozdika (Russian: 2С1 «Гвоздика», "Carnation") is a Soviet self-propelled howitzer based on the MT-LBu multi-purpose chassis, mounting a 122 mm 2A18 howitzer. "2S1" is its GRAU designation. An alternative Russian designation is SAU-122 but in the Russian Army it is commonly known as Gvozdika. The 2S1 is fully amphibious with very little preparation, and once afloat is propelled by its tracks. A variety of track widths are available to allow the 2S1 to operate in snow or swamp conditions. It is NBC protected and has infra-red night-vision capability.

Description

The 2S1 has seven road wheels on each side; the running gear can be fitted with different widths of track to match terrain. The interior is separated into a driver's compartment on the left, an engine compartment on the right and a fighting compartment to the rear. Within the fighting compartment the commander sits on the left, the loader on the right and the gunner to the front. The all-welded turret is located above the fighting compartment. The 2S1 utilizes a 122 mm howitzer based on the towed D-30 howitzer. The gun is equipped with a power rammer, a double-baffle muzzle brake and a fume extractor. It is capable of firing HE (high explosive), leaflet, HE/RAP, armor-piercing HE, flechette and chemical rounds.[1][2]

Production history

The first prototype was ready in 1958. The 2S1 entered service with the Soviet Army in the early 1970s and was first seen in public at a Polish Army parade in 1974. The vehicle was deployed in large numbers (72 per tank division, 36 per motorized rifle division). It was designated the M1974 by the U.S. Army and manufactured in Soviet, Polish and Bulgarian state factories.

Variants

Former Soviet Union/Russia

  • 2S34 Hosta – Modernisation of the 2S1 with the 122 mm 2A31 gun replaced by the 120 mm 2A80-1 gun-mortar. Further improvements include a new Malakhit fire control system, a battlefield observation system and the ability to fire the Kitolov-2M guided ammunition. One unit, the 21st Mechanized Brigade in Totskoye is currently being equipped with the system.
  • 2S15 "Norov" – A prototype tank destroyer equipped with a radar-based fire control system and a 100 mm gun.[3]

Ukraine

  • Kevlar-E – Infantry fighting vehicle based on the 2S1 platform, equipped with Shturm remote weapon station and room for 6 passengers in addition to the 3 crew. The original 300 horsepower V8 diesel engine has been replaced with 420 horsepower diesel engine, produced by Caterpillar, Cummins or Deutz, increasing the maximum road speed to 70 km/h. Additionally, the vehicle is amphibious, includes air conditioning, a fire detection and suppression system, an NBC system, navigation system and night-vision equipment. The variant was first introduced in April 2018.[4]

Poland

The 2S1 Gvozdika (as well as other related vehicles such as the MT-LB and Opal) were produced in Poland by Huta Stalowa Wola under the name 2S1 Goździk.

  • 2S1M Goździk – Version with special amphibious kit that increases the vehicle's amphibious capabilities.
  • 2S1T Goździk – Version with a TOPAZ digital fire control system from WB electronics. The system consists of a FONET-IP digital intercom system, new digital radio, military GPS receiver, military computer and dedicated software. The same system is used on other Polish Armed Forces artillery systems like the AHS Krab, Dana-T and WR-40 Langusta.

Romania

  • Model 89 – Romanian variant that uses a modified version of the hull of the MLI-84.

Iran

  • Raad-1 ('thunder') – Iranian variant that is based on the hull of the Boragh APC.

Operators

Map of 2S1 operators in blue with former operators in red
Croatian Army 2S1 Gvozdika
Polish Land Forces 2S1 Gvozdika at artillery range.
An Iraqi M-1974 howitzer lies stranded in the desert after being deserted by Iraqi forces during Operation Desert Storm.

Current operators

Former operators

  •  Czech Republic – Phased out in early 2000s (decade)
  •  Czechoslovakia – Passed on to successor states
  •  East Germany – Phased out in 1990 after German reunification
  •  Hungary – Phased out in 2004. Original there were 144 pieces of Gvozdikas.
  •  ISIL – Reported. Currently probably all destroyed.
  •  Romania – 48 reserve status since 2005
  •  Slovenia – 8 reserve status
  •  Soviet Union – Passed on to successor states
  •  Yugoslavia – Passed on to successor states.

Combat history

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marat Kenzhetaev (1998). "Self Propelled Artillery and Mortars". www.armscontrol.ru. MIPT Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies. Archived from the original on 2010-01-10. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  2. ↑ "2S1 M-1974 122-mm Self-Propelled Howitzer". GlobalSecurity.org. 2008-11-09.
  3. ↑ http://alternathistory.org.ua/2s15-norov
  4. ↑ Foss, Christopher F (29 April 2018). "Ukraine re-roles 2S1 SPH for infantry combat". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Belarus Army Equipment
  6. ↑ Deagel.com
  7. ↑ Eugene Yanko, Copyright 1997 – info@warfare.ru. "2s1 Gvozdika Self-Propelled Howitzer | Russian Arms, Military Technology, Analysis of Russia's Military Forces". Warfare.ru. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  8. ↑ Hərbi TV (31 October 2016). "Turkmenistan Military Parade 2016". YouTube (in Turkmen). Ashgabat. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  9. ↑ Ground Forces Equipment – Ukraine
  10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeOQb21AsQo
  • Trewhitt, Philip (1999). Armored Fighting Vehicles. New York, NY: Amber Books. p. 124. ISBN 0-7607-1260-3.
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