2S22 Bohdana

2S22 Bohdana
2S22 Bohdana on MAZ chassis
TypeSelf-propelled howitzer
Place of originUkraine
Service history
In service2022–present
Used byUkrainian Ground Forces
WarsRusso-Ukrainian War
Production history
DesignerKramatorsk Heavy Duty Machine Tool Building Plant [uk][1]
Designed2015–2018
Unit cost~ 3M euros
Produced2018, 2023–present
No. built30+[2]
Specifications
Mass28 tonnes (62,000 lb)[3]
Crew5[3]
Rate of fire5 rounds per minute
Maximum firing range42 km (26 mi)
RAP: 50 km (31 mi)
Main
armament
155 mm howitzer
Engine380–420 hp (280–310 kW)
Operational
range
1,200 km (750 mi)

The 2S22 Bohdana is a 155 mm NATO-standard caliber, wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed in Ukraine. Its prototype is mounted on the chassis of the Ukrainian six-wheel-drive KrAZ-6322 truck.[1][4] It has an armoured cabin and storage for 20 shells.[4][5] The howitzer has a minimum range of 780 meters, and a maximum range of 42 km, or 50 km with a rocket-assisted projectile. It is capable of firing M982 Excalibur shells and it can fire 5 rounds per minute.[6]

History

[edit]

The howitzer underwent live fire tests in 2018.[4] Its first public display was in the Kyiv Independence Day Parade on 24 August 2018.[4] Test firings were conducted at the Shyrokyi Lan training ground in May 2021. Further test firings were carried out at a range in Odesa Oblast in December 2021 and January 2022, where 450 shots were fired at a range of 42 km, greater than the manufacturer's specification of 40 km.[7]

According to then Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, the 2S22 entered full production in January 2023 and the first units were scheduled for delivery over the following months.[8][9]

In December 2023, it was reported by Eсonomichna Pravda that the Ukrainian Ground Forces already received around 30 Bohdanas, and that a towed version was under development.[2]

Russo-Ukrainian War

[edit]

On 25 February 2022, at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Bohdana's manufacturers were ordered to destroy the sole prototype, to prevent the Russians from capturing it. However, it was able to be moved away from the Russians and handed to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.[1] On 7 May 2022 Forbes reported that the prototype had been deployed at the front and was firing at Russian targets.[10]

In June 2022 Ukrainian forces on the mainland of Ukraine reportedly used the 2S22 Bohdana to shell Russian forces on Snake Island, which is 35 km from the mainland. This along with strikes from other artillery systems as well as drones led to the withdrawal of Russian forces from the island on 30 June.[11][12]

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said at the beginning of 2023 that serial mass production of an improved Bohdana had started. The improved version includes the replacement of the KrAZ-6322 chassis with a KrAZ or MAN 6x6 chassis, or a Tatra 817 8x8 chassis. In July 2023, a video showing the 57th Motorized Brigade operating at least two pre-production Bohdanas mounted on the Bogdan-6317 chassis (localized version of MAZ-6317 with the Chinese-produced engine and transmission, and Turkish-produced clutch replacing original Russian components[13]) was published.[14] The 2S22 Bohdana was officially adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on 21 July 2023.[15] Two days later, an improved Bohdana mounted on the Tatra 815-7 8x8 chassis was reported as being in service with the 1st Special Purpose Brigade.[16] Militarnyi reports that the Tatra 815-7 trucks had likely been bought to be used as chassis for the Burevyi multiple rocket launcher, which ran out of ammunition during the first year of the Russian invasion.[5]

In late November, images of an updated version of Bohdana were published on social media, showing the howitzer fitted with an autoloader, which it previously lacked—a hallmark of other cutting-edge self-propelled howitzers.[14][17]

According to the Oryx blog, one 2S22 Bohdana was damaged and another ten were destroyed as of 29 October 2024.[18]

Production

[edit]

As of April 2024, ten Bohdanas were being produced on a monthly basis, and the rate of production was expected to increase in May 2024.[19]

On 10 July 2024, Denmark signed an agreement with Ukraine to provide funding for the production and delivery of 18 2S22 Bohdana to Ukraine within the coming months.[20] As of 15 September 2024, the 18 2S22 Bohdana have been completed and delivered.[21]

On 2 October 2024, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky declared that rate of production reached a peak of 20 Bohdanas per month.[22]

On 3 October 2024, a prototype of a towed Bohdana, mounted on the carriage of a 2A36 Giatsint-B, was seen for the first time.[23]

Variant

[edit]
  • Bohdana 1.0

Original production version. Mounted on KrAZ-63221 6x6 truck chassis

  • Bohdana 2.0

Mounted on MAZ chassis. Improved variant with redesigned armored cabin and other improvement including the ability to fire American Excalibur shell.

  • Bohdana 3.0

Mounted on Tatra 815-7 chassis, equipped with Czech Puma armored cabin.

  • Bohdana 4.0

Latest production version, mounted on Tatra 158 Phoenix 8x8 chassis, equipped with locally designed armored cabin designed by local company Ukrarmor and featuring semi automatic loading system.

  • Bohdana-B/Bohdana-BG

Towed variant currently under development. One prototype on Giatsint-B carriage.

See also

[edit]
  • Archer – Swedish 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • ATMOS 2000 – Israeli 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • A-222 Bereg – Russian self-propelled coastal defense gun
  • CAESAR – French 155 mm artillery
  • 152 mm SpGH DANA – Czechoslovak self-propelled howitzer
  • G6 Rhino – South African 155 mm self-propelled artillery
  • AHS Kryl – Polish 155 mm self-propelled wheeled gun-howitzer
  • 2S43 Malva – Russian 152 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • Nora B-52 – Serbian 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • PCL-09 – Chinese 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • PCL-161 – Chinese 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • PCL-181 – Chinese 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • PLL-09 – (China) – 122 mm or 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • RCH 155 - German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • Type 19 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer – Japanese artillery
  • 155 mm SpGH Zuzana – Slovak 155mm self-propelled gun-howitzer

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Experimental 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer is destroying the invader forces". Mil.in.ua. Ukrainian Military Center. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b Miroshnychenko, Bohdan. "Богиня війни. Як Україна нарощує виробництво САУ "Богдана"". Економічна правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b "САУ Богдана: виробник розкрив ТТХ" [SPG Bohdana: the manufacturer disclosed the characteristics]. Mil.in.ua. Ukrainian Military Center. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Ponomarenko, Illia (10 August 2018). "Ukraine's army to get new heavy self-propelled gun". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b "«Богдана»: пошук оптимального шасі чи спроба наповнити Сили оборони артилерією?". Мілітарний (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  6. ^ Matthieu (2024-02-20). "Ukraine ramps up production of 2S22 Bohdana 2.0 self-propelled howitzer | Defense News February 2024 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2024 | Archive News year". Army Recognition. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  7. ^ "В Україні завершено попередні вогневі випробування САУ "Богдана"" [Preliminary firing tests of the Bohdan self-propelled guns have been completed in Ukraine]. Mil.in.ua. Ukrainian Military Center. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  8. ^ "САУ "Богдана" пішла в серію". Мілітарний (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Army of Ukraine to receive more local-made 2S22 Bohdana 155mm self-propelled howitzers". Army Recognition. 28 January 2023.
  10. ^ Axe, David (7 May 2022). "Ukraine made exactly one copy of its best cannon. It just joined the war". Forbes. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  11. ^ Balmforth, Tom; Hunder, Max (30 June 2022). "Ukraine fetes Russian pullback from strategic Snake Island outpost". Reuters. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  12. ^ Romaniuk, Roman (13 February 2023). "Bohdana's first battle. How a Ukrainian Self-Propelled Howitzer forced the Russians to make a 'gesture of goodwill' at Zmiinyi Island". Ukrainska Pravda. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  13. ^ Хортиця, Тарас (30 August 2019). "Bogdan Motors: new projects for the army". defense-ua.com. Defense Express Media & Consulting Company. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  14. ^ a b Roblin, Sébastien (13 July 2023). "It Took Forever, but Ukraine Is Finally Fielding Western-Caliber Howitzers". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Ukrainian Bohdana self-propelled howitzer is finally adopted". Militarnyi. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  16. ^ "2S22 Bohdana self-propelled guns moved to Tatra chassis". Militarnyi. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  17. ^ @Archer83Able (November 29, 2023). "Ukrainian Bohdana 2.0 155mm self-propelled howitzer on MAZ chassis apparently received an autoloader" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-11-29 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Oryx. "Attack On Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  19. ^ "This month, the Ukrainian defense industry is to produce 10 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers, with more to come". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  20. ^ "18 Bohdana howitzers heading for Ukraine's battlefield – here's what they can do". The Kyiv Independent. 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  21. ^ "Ukrainian Forces received batch of Bohdana self-propelled howitzers funded by Denmark". News Ukraine. 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  22. ^ "Ukraine produces up to 20 Bohdana self-propelled guns per month". Militarnyi. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Ukraine Unveils Towed Bohdana Artillery System to Foreign Partners". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
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