DANA

The  D ělo A utomobilní N abíjené A utomaticky (self-propelled auto-loading gun) was designed by Konštrukta Trenčín and built by ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom in the former Czechoslovakia 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.

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.

Overview
In case of encounters with the enemy, the DANA is among the few SPGs able to lower their guns to zero-elevation to fire directly on the enemy. However, deprived of good direct aiming sights and carrying only a handful of mediocre HEAT rounds, it won’t be at its best in a duel with an enemy vehicle, especially a tank. But this ability may nevertheless save its life in dire situation. The DANA is also armed with a 12.7mm machine-gun for protection against infantry or helicopters.

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.