Morana 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (Czech Republic)
Channel: Main Battle Tank
Date: 12/01/2023

Morana is a Czech 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. It is named after a pagan Slavic goddess. This howitzer was developed by Excalibur Army. It was first publicly revealed in 2022. It is a modern artillery system, designed for rapid fire missions. This artillery system is based on a Tatra 8x8 wheeled chassis and has a fully automated gun module. It is operated by a crew of 3 from their workstations in the cabin. This howitzer is highly mobile and can briefly change its firing positions.

Due to its wheeled chassis it is lighter and can self-deploy over long distances. Such unusual design with a turreted howitzer based on a special wheeled chassis appeared in the former Czechoslovakia back in the 1980s in the form of DANA. This Czechoslovak howitzer proved itself well. With the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, both Czech republic and Slovakia carried on improving this wheeled self-propelled howitzer and introducing new models. This new howitzer is more capable than the Dita, that was introduced in 2021.

Morana is armed with a 155 mm/L52 ordnance, produced by ZTS Special in Slovakia. The gun is fitted with a fully automated ammunition loading system. This howitzer has a maximum range of 41.5 km. Maximum rate of fire is 6 shells per minute. This howitzer is also capable of Multiple-Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) firing. It can launch a couple of shells at the same target, each at different trajectories so that all of the shells arrive on target at the same time. Such way of firing is very effective, as single artillery system can land multiple shells on the target with no warning. A total of 45 shells with associated charges are carried.

This howitzer has a direct firing capability at range of up to 5 km. At night the range is reduces to 3 km. Direct firing capability is typically used for self-defense.

The Morana has a modern fire control system with a built-in GPS navigation and ballistic calculator. All of these are handled via a simple and user-friendly interface. The Morana can even fire at moving vehicles. The gun is normally aimed in fully automatic mode, though there is also a manual gun laying option via supportive optical devices. Manual gun laying is only used in case of emergency, if the automatic system fails. Interestingly most latest Western self-propelled howitzers lack this manual aiming mode.

There is a remotely-controlled weapon station with a 12.7 mm machine gun. It is used for self-defense. It can also target low-flying UAVs.

Morana is operated by a crew of 3, including commander, driver and gunner. There is a seat for one more passenger.

This artillery system is armored. Armor withstands hits from small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. Notably it withstands hits from 7.62x39 mm armor-piercing ammunition at 30 meters and mine blasts equivalent to 6 kg of TNT. The cabin is pressurized and has an NBC filtration system.

This artillery system uses Tatra's heavy high mobility chassis. It is fitted with a diesel engine, developing 600 hp. Engine is located behing and under the cab. It is mated to an automatic transmission. Unusually all axles of the Morana are steerable. Due to its high off road mobility this artillery system can go over difficult terrain, where many wheeled vehicles can not travel. Still though its off road mobility is inferior to tracked howitzers.

There is an auxiliary power unit, which powers the automated artillery module. So the howitzer can fire when the main engine is turned off, or damaged. This auxiliary power unit can be used to recharge the vehicle batteries.