The 2S1 Gvozdika,; is a Soviet 122-mm self-propelled howitzer that resembles the PT-76 but is essentially
a lengthened version of the MT-LB APC, mounting the 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 wider tracks are also 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 sit the commander
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, leaflet, HE/RAP, armor-piercing
HE, flechette and chemical rounds. Production history
The first prototype was ready in 1969. 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. It was designated the M1974 by the U.S. Army and manufactured
in Bulgarian, Polish and Russian state factories. Variants
Former Soviet Union/Russia MT-LBu - This larger variant of the MT-LB
that has the longer chassis and stronger engine of the 2S1 could be considered a derivative
of the 2S1. UR-77 "Meteorit" - A mine clearing vehicle
with a turret-like superstructure bearing two launch ramps. The ramps are used to fire
rockets towing hose-type mine-clearing line charges. A single charge can clear an area
of 90 m by 6 m. The UR-77 is the successor to the BTR-50 based UR-67.
UR-77 vehicles were used in mass in the Battle of Komsomolskoye during the Second Chechen
War- the one-ton mine-clearing charges were used to blow away entire houses.
UR-77s were delivered to the Syrian Army by Russia in 2014 to serve in the Syrian Civil
War, where they have been used in action against the Free Syrian Army. Some UR-77s were filmed
in combat at in the Damascus suburb of Jobar on October 1st.
RKhM "Kashalot" - Chemical reconnaissance vehicle with detection, marking and alarm
devices. This model has the hull shape and single rear door of the 2S1, but with the
short chassis and machine gun turret of the MT-LB. Former Western designation: ATV M1979/4.
RKhM-K - Command version with additional signal equipment but without sensors or markers.
2S34 "Chosta" - Modernisation of the 2S1 with the 122mm 2A31 gun replaced by the 120mm 2A80.
Further improvements include a new 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 100mm gun. Poland
The 2S1 Gvozdika 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. Rak carrier - A new 120mm mortar turret with
an automatic feed system intended to be installed on existing 2S1 chassis as well as in the
wheeled KTO Rosomak chassis. LPG - A chassis of a surplus 2S1 Goździk
converted into an Armored Personnel Carrier. The original gun turret was removed, the upper
part of the vehicle was redesigned, and the old engine replaced with a modern MTU diesel
engine. The vehicle is used as a command vehicle for the AHS Krab howitzer and Rak mortar units
and as medical or technical support vehicles.
Romania Model 89 - Romanian variant that uses a modified
version of the hull of the MLI-84. Iran
Raad-1 - Iranian variant that is based on the hull of the Boragh APC.
Bulgaria BMP-23 - Infantry fighting vehicle with 2A14
23mm gun and ATGM 9K11 "Malyutka" in a 2-man turret. The chassis is based on the one from
the MT-LB but with components of the 2S1 and fitted with a 315 hp engine.
BMP-23D - Improved version with 9K111 "Fagot" and smoke grenade launchers.
BRM-23 - Reconnaissance version. Prototype.
BMP-30 - Similar chassis as the BMP-23 but with the complete turret of the Soviet-made
BMP-2. Only 10 were built. Sudan
Abu Fatma - This appears to be a licence produced version.
Operators
Algeria - 145 Angola
Armenia - Azerbaijan - 81 2S1 and unknown number of
UR-77 Bosnia and Herzegovina - 5
Belarus - 246 Bulgaria - 506
Cuba - 150 Croatia - 10
Eritrea - 20 Ethiopia
Finland - 72 Georgia 48
India-110 Iran
Iraq Kazakhstan - 10
Libya Poland - ~324
South Ossetia Serbia - 72
Slovakia - 49 Syria - 400
Russia - 622 Ukraine - 638
Uruguay - 6 Uzbekistan
Vietnam Yemen
Former Operators Czech Republic - Phased out in early 2000s.
Czechoslovakia - Passed on to successor states.
East Germany - Phased out in 1990 after German reunion
Hungary 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
Afghanistan - Soviet war in Afghanistan Chechnya - Second Chechen War
Iraq - First Gulf War, Second Gulf War Yugoslavia - Yugoslav Wars, Kosovo War
Georgia - 2008 South Ossetia war Libya - 2011 Libyan civil war
Syria - Syrian civil war Ukraine - War in Donbass
See also PLZ-07
PLZ-89 List of artillery
List of AFVs 122 mm howitzer 2A18
References
Trewhitt, Philip. Armored Fighting Vehicles. New York, NY: Amber Books. p. 124. ISBN 0-7607-1260-3.
External links FAS.org
Armscontrol.ru Huta Stalowa Wola - Polish manufacturer
Arsenal Co. - Bulgarian manufacturer of 2A31(2S1)