slovak | Blind Bat News

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.

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.

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.