Engineering:2S1 Gvozdika

Short description: Soviet 122 mm self-propelled howitzer

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 First Chechen War Second Chechen War Iraq War Russo-Georgian War First Libyan Civil War Second Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War Second Nagorno-Karabakh war Tigray War
Production history
Designer	Kharkiv Tractor Plant
Designed	1956–1961
Produced	1971–1991
No. built	more than 10,000
Variants	see Variants
Specifications
Mass	16 tonnes (35,273 lbs)
Length	7.26 m (23 ft 10 in)
Barrel length	4.27 m (14 ft 0 in)
Width	2.85 m (9 ft 4 in)
Height	2.73 m (8 ft 11 in)
Crew	4
Shell	122 x 447mm .R separate loading, cased charge
Calibre	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)
Armour	7–20 mm (0.28–0.79 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 (19 mph) Swim: 4.5 km/h (2.8 mph)

The 2S1 Gvozdika (Russian: 2С1 «Гвоздика», "Carnation") is a Soviet self-propelled howitzer introduced in 1972 and in service in Russia and other countries (As of 2023). It is 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 infrared night-vision capability.

One was used in Series 21 of the British television series Top Gear (2002 TV series), as part of the fictional Top Gear Police Department.

Description

Croatian 2S1 in 1996

The 2S1 was developed in Kharkiv, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. It 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 uses 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.

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

Iran

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

Myanmar

• 2S1U – In March 2019, a Ukrainian company, the Great Export Import Company, and the Myanmar military have signed a joint-venture agreement to build a plant capable of manufacturing armored personnel carriers (APCs) and self-propelled howitzers. The types of APCs that will be made in the plant are said to be eight-wheeled BTR-4Us while the howitzers will be 2S1Us, which are based on the MT-LBu multipurpose chassis.

Poland

The 2S1 Gvozdika, and 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

• OAPR model 89 (Obuzierul autopropulsat românesc, model 89) – Romanian variant combining the 2S1 Gvozdika's turret and a modified version of the MLI-84's chassis. Designed around 1978, produced between 1987 and 1992. Also simply known as Model 89.

Russia

• 2S34 Khosta – 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 Guards Motor Rifle Brigade in Totskoye, is currently being equipped with the system.

Serbia

• 2S1 modernized - The modernization is being carried out on the basis of the 122 mm towed howitzer of the Serbian modernization program. Project "SORA 122mm" and NORA B-52. Where the truck platform was abandoned, which was used by the proto-type version of the "SORA 122mm" system in favor of a much better, crawler platform 2S1 Gvozdika system. The action was made possible by two new projectiles and an increased range of about 40% from 15,200 to almost 22,000 m. A new ballistic computer and fire control system make it much faster to prepare for action. There is also a new inertial navigation system, GPRS, as well as the possibility of action, multiple projectiles in one point MRSI. Thus, it was achieved that with one 2S1 Gvozdika system, in the system of MRSI action in one point, 6 projectiles can be fired in one minute; the modernized 2S1 Gvozdika is much improved. For better defence a turret with a 12.7mm machine gun was added. In 2021, the first modernized 2S1 Gvozdika system battery was inducted into service with the Serbian Army.

Soviet Union

• 2S15 Norov – A prototype tank destroyer equipped with a radar-based fire control system and a 100 mm gun.
• UR-77 Meteorit – Mine clearing vehicle with launcher for mine-clearing line charges.

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 a 420 horsepower diesel engine produced by Caterpillar, Cummins or Deutz, increasing the maximum road speed to 70 km/h. The vehicle is amphibious, and has 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. The prototype has been fighting in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Operators

Map of 2S1 operators:

  Current

  Former

Serbian Army 2S1 Gvozdika modernized

Polish Land Forces 2S1 Gvozdika at artillery range

Romanian Model 89, using the 2S1's turret on the MLI-84's chassis

An Iraqi M-1974 howitzer lies stranded in the desert after being deserted by Iraqi forces during the Persian Gulf War's Operation Desert Storm.

Current operators

• Algeria – 140
• Angola − 9+
• Armenia – 9
• Azerbaijan − 68
• Belarus – 125
• Bulgaria – 48
• Chad – 10
• Republic of the Congo − 3
• Template:DRC − 6
• Cuba
• Croatia – 8
• Eritrea – 32
• Ethiopia
• Finland – 36 PsH 74. Unknown number donated to Ukraine
• Georgia − 20
  • South Ossetia
• Iran − 60+ 2S1 and Raad-1
• Kazakhstan – 60
• Template:KUR − 16-24 Operated By The Peshmerga
• Kyrgyzstan − 18
• Libya − Used by the Libyan National Army
• Poland – Up to 227
• Romania − 6 2S1 and 34 Model 89
• Russia – 130 used by the Ground Forces, 85 used by the Naval Infantry, plus an unknown amount operated by the 1st Army Corps, 2nd Army Corps, and border guards. Estimated to have 2,000 in storage as of 2023
• Serbia – 67
• Sudan − 56
• South Sudan
• Syria
• Tajikistan − 3
• Turkmenistan – 40
• Ukraine – 120+ used by the Ground Forces, Naval Infantry and Airborne Assault Troops
• Uruguay – 6
• Uzbekistan
• Vietnam
• Yemen
• Zimbabwe − 12

Former operators

• Bosnia and Herzegovina − 3 in 2004
• Czech Republic – 91 in 1999
• Czechoslovakia – 230 in 1989. Passed on to successor states
• East Germany – 300 in 1989. Phased out in 1990 after German reunification
• Hungary
• Iraq – Unknown number operational prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
• Islamic State
• Lebanon − 130 in 2004
• Republika Srpska − 24 in 2004
• Slovakia
• Slovenia – 8 in 1999
• Soviet Union – 3,200 used by the Ground Forces and 90 by the Naval Infantry in 1989. Passed on to successor states
• Yugoslavia – Passed on to successor states

Combat history

• Afghanistan – Soviet–Afghan War
• Chechnya (Russia) – First Chechen War (1994–1996), Second Chechen War (1999 to 2000)
• Iraq – Iran–Iraq War, Gulf War, Iraq War
• Yugoslavia – Yugoslav Wars
• Georgia – Russo-Georgian War
• Libya – First Libyan Civil War, Second Libyan Civil War
• Syria – Syrian Civil War
• Ukraine – Russo-Ukrainian War

See also

• Engineering:PLZ-07
• Engineering:PLZ-89 – Chinese 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
• Engineering:2S19 Msta – Soviet/Russian-Ukrainian 152 mm self-propelled artillery
• Engineering:2S3 Akatsiya – Russian 152 mm self-propelled howitzer
• Engineering:2S35 Koalitsiya-SV – Russian 152 mm self-propelled artillery
• List of artillery
• List of AFVs

Bibliography

• Trewhitt, Philip (1999). Armored Fighting Vehicles. New York, NY: Amber Books. p. 124. ISBN 0-7607-1260-3. 
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (1989). The military balance, 1989-1990. London: Brassey's. ISBN 978-0080375694. 
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (1999) (in en). The Military Balance 1999-2000. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-922425-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=EuYOAAAACAAJ. 
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (2004). Langton, Christopher. ed (in en). The Military Balance 2004/2005. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-856622-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=yklvGwAACAAJ. 
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-1032508955. 

External links

• FAS.org
• Armscontrol.ru
• Huta Stalowa Wola – Polish manufacturer
• Arsenal Co. – Bulgarian manufacturer of 2A31(2S1)