152mm SpGH DANA The Dělo Automobilní Nabíjené Automaticky ( self - propelled auto - loading gun ) , also known as Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 ( ShKH - 77 ) ( self - propelled gun howitzer model 77 ) was designed by Konštrukta Trenčín and built by ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom in the former Czechoslovakia ( now Slovakia ) as the first wheeled 152 mm self - propelled artillery gun to enter service . It was introduced in the 1970s . It is based on a modified 8x8 Tatra 813 chassis with excellent cross - country mobility . Currently it is in service with the Czech Republic , Libya , Poland , Georgia and Slovakia . Wheeled vehicles have the advantage of being cheaper to build and easier to maintain with greater mobility . Tire pressure can be regulated to allow good mobility off - road and there is power - assisted steering on the front four wheels . It lowers 3 hydraulic stabilizers into the ground prior to firing , and has a roof mounted crane to assist with ammunition loading . The crew of the DANA consists of the driver ( operates the hydraulic stabilizers ) and commander sitting in the front cabin , the gunner ( aims the gun and opens fire ) and loader operator ( selects the appropriate amount of powder charges ) are on the left side of the turret , the ammo handler ( sets the shells ' primers ) is on the right side turret . Development history . The DANA was designed in the 1970s by Konštrukta Trenčín to fill the role of an indirect fire support weapon without buying the Soviet 2S3 Akatsiya self - propelled artillery . In 1976 the team of designers finished work on the DANA project and production was passed to ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom . It is a 152 mm gun mounted on an 8x8 Tatra T815 truck . It was a significant departure from traditional self - propelled guns as it used a wheeled carriage . It was accepted for service in 1981 and by 1994 over 750 units had been built . DANA ' s unique feature is that its autoloader is able to load a shell and a cartridge in any elevation of the barrel . Although this feature is nowadays considered as standard , Dana was one of the first such artillery systems in the time of its introduction to service . And was considered a stepping stone for artillery tech . Aiming system . As there is no gyroscopic or similar system for independent , automated and autonomous gun laying of DANA , the gunner of DANA uses panoramic telescope with a horizontal scale to set the appropriate horizontal laying via aiming at directing points . This means there needs to be an additional device to help gun laying of DANA ( in fact , the firing positions of such artillery systems are usually prepared BEFORE the guns are stationed there ) . After laying the gun in horizontal plane , the gunner uses bubbles to level the desired gun elevation . Ammunition . Currently , there are three main shell types used by Czech Army : 1 ) 152 - EOF , which means " high - explosive " with a maximum range of 18 km 2 ) 152 - EOFd , which means " high - explosive long - range " with a maximum range of 20 km 3 ) 152 - EPrSv , which means " high - explosive anti - tank " used for direct - fire at armored targets Variants . 152 mm ShKH Ondava . The ShKH Ondava is a development step started during late 1980s with a longer 152 mm barrel ( 47 calibers ) , new muzzle brake ( 2 chamber ) , new loading mechanism etc . Max range is 30 km . The Ondava project ended with the velvet revolution and dissolution of the Czechoslovakian state . Technical experience was carried over to the Zuzana project . 152 mm ShKH MODAN vz . 77 / 99 . The ShKH MODAN is a Slovak upgrade of DANA with longer range , higher accuracy and rate of fire . The upgrade consists of a new on - board control system that enables higher combat efficiency and reduction of crew from 5 to 4 members . 152 mm ShKH DANA - M1 CZ . The DANA - M1 CZ is a Czech upgrade of the DANA , developed by Excalibur Army from Prague . The upgrade package consists of a new fire control system , new navigation aids and a modified chassis with T3 - 930 engine . 155 mm ShKH M2000 Zuzana . The Slovak ShKH Zuzana has been modified with a 155 mm gun ( 45 calibers ) to conform to NATO standards . First adopted by the Slovak Army in 1998 , the Slovak Army currently possesses 16 such units with plans to adopt more . The M2000G is a version for the Cypriot National Guard with different signals equipment , 76mm smoke grenade launchers and an MG3 7 . 62mm machine gun instead of the NSVT of 12 . 7mm . It entered service in 2001 . 155 mm ShKH A40 Himalaya . The ShKH Himalaya is an adaptation of the system to a tracked chassis required by export customers . It is essentially a tracked variant of ShKH Zuzana with the same 155 mm turret mounted on a T - 72 chassis with S1000 engine . 155 mm ShKH Zuzana 2 . Initially known as Zuzana A1 and then Zuzana XA - 1 , this is the latest development of the Zuzana . It was unveiled for the first time in 2004 . This model is fitted with a 155 / 52 ordnance and has other improvements such as a reworked turret and a different engine : the Tatra T3B - 928 . 70 of 330 kW . Combat history . The DANA was used by the Georgian army during the 2008 Russia – Georgia war . One DANA battery destroyed the first Russian column between " Roki " tunnel and Java village at 3 : 46 – 3 : 55 pm , 7 August 2008 . 4 - 9 DANA ' s were thought to have been destroyed by a Russian air strike . According to Russian sources 3 were captured . Five Polish guns are being used in Afghanistan in Ghazni Province since 2008 .