2S2 Violet The 2C2 " Violet " was a Soviet self - propelled 122 - mm howitzer . The Violet is a lightly armored artillery vehicle , that was placed on a high - speed track . It was not serially produced . History . Development of 122 - mm self - propelled artillery 2C2 " Violet " was launched by the decision of the Council of Ministers № 609 - 201 on July 4 , 1967 The 2C2 Violet was initially designed to arm airborne troops . Artillery of the ACS was developed from the DB - 9 and represents a slightly modified anti - tank weapon from the ACS 2S1 Gvozdika . Modified howitzer received index GRAU 2A32 . Violet chassis ( Object 924 ) were manufactured at Volgograd Tractor Plant ( Chief designer Gavalov ) . He served as a base for airborne combat vehicle BMD - 1 . Description of construction . The machine frame is welded from sheets of rolled steel of small thickness . Reservation is bulletproof , and provides protection against 7 . 62 mm rifle armor piercing bullet B - 32 at a distance of 350 – 400 m . The upper endplate strongly deviates from the vertical - 78 degrees , but the angle of the bottom is much smaller and is only 50 degrees . Such a decision dictated by a desire to increase interior space , as well as the buoyancy of the machine . Volnootrazhatelny shield lying when driving on dry land at the front end plate , is an additional protection . Engine - transmission compartment is located in the stern and the military - in front of the case . Gun found in a closed cockpit . In the vertical angle pointing guns lies in the sector from - 3 ° to + 70 ° , the horizontal angle pointing of ± 15 ° relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine . Unlike electromechanical dosylatelya " Pinks " in " Violet " dosylka projectile made pneumatic rammer , drives guidance manual . In the howitzer used a new single - cylinder air recuperator , which is two times lighter than the " Pink " and is more convenient to use . ACS 2C2 " Violet " is equipped with six - cylinder V - twin four - stroke liquid - cooled 5D - 20 , which develops power of 177 kW and allows the machine to move along the highway with a maximum speed of 60 km / h . Engine is interlocked with a manual transmission , which consists of a single - disk clutch of dry friction , a five - speed gearbox ( one reverse gear ) , two steering clutches and brakes with two single - stage planetary final drives . All of these sites constitute a single power unit . In addition , the power pack compartment mounted motors actuating the water jets . The composition of the chassis includes howitzers , with respect to one side , five dual rubber - coated ribbed rollers made of light alloy . The role of elastic elements of the suspension performed hydropneumatic units , combined into a single system . As the elastic element they use compressed nitrogen , an effort which is transmitted through the liquid layer . Hydropneumatic suspension harder torque , but has more favorable characteristics of elasticity in a wide range of loads . In addition , it combines the functions of elastic springs , hydraulic shock absorber , absorbing vibrations of the hull , and the device changes the machine clearance from 100 to 400 mm . This reduces the overall height of the machine is stopped and the movement on a flat road , " hang out " its installation on the landing platform to reduce the " serving " the chassis for movement afloat . All elements of the suspension and adjust clearance are located inside the housing . Idlers are placed in front of the case . Changing the track tensioning is performed by a hydraulic actuator . Process of tension and easing controls caterpillars driver - mechanic self - propelled guns from his seat without leaving the car . In the chassis used melkozvenchatye caterpillars , whose neighboring tracks are interconnected through a common fingerprint . In the middle of the truck , on their inner surface has ridges guides . The upper branch of the tracks are based on four support rollers , two of them ( middle ) are outside the ridges , and the extreme - for them . Caterpillar is not covered by protective screens . 2C2 has a hermetically sealed package and fording swimming . Afloat ACS moves through water jets with shutters . Water speed reaches 10 km / h . Combat weight " Violets " allows you to throw it in the air by means of military transport aircraft . If necessary , the machine can parachute with a special parachute system . The first three experienced howitzers UZTM produced in February 1968 . During the tests revealed that the chassis BMD - 1 did not stand overloads when shooting fairly powerful 122 - mm artillery shells , borrowed from the ACS Pink . The tests were suspended in December of that year .