Tag Archives: dana

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: DANA and the new Zuzana

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

Warsaw Pact Czechoslovak ShKH vz. 77. Photo via Czech Ministry of Defense.

The ShKH vz. 77 DANA began service with Warsaw Pact Czechoslovakia in 1981. New versions are continually being created, and currently is in use by at least six countries.

Polish DANA lets one rip while deployed to Afghanistan, November 2010. Photo by Polish Warrant Officer-2 Adam Roik.

Gunner’s position inside the DANA. Photo by Polish Warrant Officer-2 Adam Roik.

Forward Operating Base Arian, Afghanistan, 11JAN2012. In the background a Polish DANA. California Army National Guard photo by First Lieutenant Adam Carrington.

Cold War era Warsaw Pact Czechoslovak designed/built Soviet 152mm gunned Samo-hybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 (ShKH vz. 77, or self-propelled cannon howitzer model 77), also known as DANA (Dělo Automobilní Nabíjené Automaticky, in English means gun vehicle loaded automatically).  In today’s NATO Czech Republic it is called the SPGH-M77 or Type 77.

NATO Czech DANA on the NATO Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, NATO Germany, 25OCT2012. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kirk Evanoff.

25OCT2012, USA photo by Sergeant Kirk Evanoff.

25OCT2012, USA photo by Sergeant Kirk Evanoff.

Near Peer Threats and Russo-Ukraine War, 2014 to present. 

NATO Czech DANAs on the NATO Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, NATO Germany, 02SEP2014. USA photo by Sergeant Christina M. Dion.

NATO Czech DANAs on the NATO Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, NATO Germany, 04SEP2014. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Randy Florendo.

04SEP2014, USA photo by Staff Sergeant Randy Florendo.

04SEP2014. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Randy Florendo.

NATO Czech ShKH-77 Danas in a garage on the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, NATO Germany, 08AUG2015. USA photo by Specialist Tyler Kingsbury.

North Carolina Army National Guard examine a Polish 152mm DANA, 05JUN2016. North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Robert Jordan.

Polish 152mm DANA launches rounds during Exercise Anakonda, 13JUN2016. Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by First Lieutenant Micah D. Campbell.

Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, NATO Poland, 13JUN2016. Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by First Lieutenant Micah D. Campbell.

NATO’s Battle Group Poland roll towards the border with NATO Lithuania during Saber Strike wargame, 18JUN2017. USA photo by Specialist Stefan English.

Quick U.S. Army video by Sergeant Austin Majors, wet gap (river) crossing showing Polish DANAs crossing pontoon bridge during NATO’s Saber Strike wargame in June 2017:

NATO’s Battle Group Poland roll towards the border with NATO Lithuania during Saber Strike wargame, 18JUN2017. USA photo by Specialist Stefan English.

Polish DANA, 26SEP2018. USA photo by Sergeant Christopher Case.

What do you call a DANA that has been upgraded with a NATO compatible 155mm gun? The Zuzana.

U.S. paratroopers take photos of Slovakia’s Zuzana, 08MAR2019. USA photo by Specialist Rolyn Kropf.

In 2021, NATO Slovakia began using a new version of the Zuzana, called Zuzana-2.

Official acceptance ceremony for Slovakia’s new Zuzana-2, 22JUL2021. Photo via Slovak Ministry of Defense.

Official acceptance ceremony for Slovakia’s new Zuzana-2, 22JUL2021. Photo via Slovak Ministry of Defense.

Zuzana-2 uses the latest in automation and has a human crew of only three.

Slovak Zuzana-2 launching a projectile on Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, 30NOV2021. USA photo by Private First Class Jacob Bradford.

U.S. Army video by Specialist Jameson Harris, NATO Slovakia tries out their new Zuzana-2 in NATO Poland, 30NOV2021:

Puerto Rico Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Eliezer Meléndez, 06MAY2022.

In NATO Latvia, Forward Operating Site Adazi, NATO Slovak personnel showed-off their new Zuzana-2 to artillery men from Fort Riley, Kansas, on 06MAY2022.

Puerto Rico Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Eliezer Meléndez, 06MAY2022.

On 09OCT2022, NATO-Slovakia revealed that it had sent a total of ten of the new Zuzana-2 gun systems to Ukraine.

Photo via Slovak Ministry of Defense.

Poland’s new Krab, updated for Ukraine Crisis: POLAND’S KRAB (HALF BRITISH, HALF KOREAN?)

Soviet era Armor used by NATO: POLAND

Soviet era Aircraft used by NATO: POLAND SUKHOI 22

NATO Vehicle I-D: FRENCH CAESAR INVADES GERMANY!

Soviet era Armor used by NATO: Poland

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Lauren Harrah, 19JUL2016.

Polish modified ZSU-23-4, known as ZSU-23-4MP Biała, July 2016.

Very quick video of Polish ZSU-23-4MP, a mine throwing TRI-Kroton (aka Opal, modified MTLB) and some 2S1 SP guns, in Romania for NATO wargames in 2017:

USA photo by Sergeant Justin Geiger, 18JUN2017.

Cold War era Warsaw Pact Czechoslovak designed/built 152mm Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 (ShKH vz. 77, or self-propelled cannon howitzer model 77), June 2017.  It’s also known as DANA (Dělo Automobilní Nabíjené Automaticky, or gun vehicle loaded automatically).

Video, 2S1 Gvodzika Self Propelled artillery guns, March 2017:

Polish designed MTLB engineer vehicle known as Opal or TRI, June 2017.

Quick video of TRI:

A PT-91(improved T-72) based WZT-3M recovery vehicle on public display in 2016 (note the Christian priest wearing the tanker helmet).

WZT-3M, June 2017.

Video of WZT-3M towing BMP-1, followed by BMP-1s, June 2017:

BMP-1 (known as BWP-1 in Poland), June 2016, NATO Exercise Anakonda.

Video from 2014, BMP-1 used to defend beach against wargame invasion:

Video, Poland BMP-1s invade Romania for NATO’s Noble Jump 2017:

The PT-91 is Poland’s version of a modernized T-72, this pic was taken in June 2018 during NATO’s Puma 2 Exercise-Saber Strike.

Here’s some PT-91 videos from 2017:

Video from 2016, 2K12 Kub (NATO code-name SA-6 Gainful) SAM launching, the 2K12 Kub is mounted on a highly modified MTLB chassis:

Video from 2014, S125 Neva SAM (Surface to Air Missile) mounted on T-55 chassis, with launch at the end of the video:

Soviet era Tanks used by NATO: BULGARIAN T-72

Vehicle I-D: UKRAINIAN ARMOR