
AArtillery
2S1 Gvozdika
Soviet self-propelled howitzer introduced in 1972 and is in service in Russia and other countries as of 2026
Preparing your view.

AArtillery
Soviet self-propelled howitzer introduced in 1972 and is in service in Russia and other countries as of 2026

At a glance
2S1 Gvozdikalarger figure on 3 of 8
Measured figures
Length
Single source7.26 m (23 ft 10 in)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | 2S1 Gvozdika | M-46 field gun |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Self-propelled artillery[source] | Towed field gun[source] |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union[source] | Soviet Union[source] |
| In service | 1972–present[source] | — |
| Used by | see Operators[source] | — |
| Wars | Soviet–Afghan War Iran–Iraq War Gulf War War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) Yugoslav Wars First Chechen War Second Chechen War Iraq War Russo-Georgian War First Libyan Civil War Second Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War Second Nagorno-Karabakh war Tigray War |
M-46 field gunlarger figure on 5 of 8
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
11.73 m (38 ft 6 in)[source]
Maximum; Off-road
Single sourceMaximum; Road
Single sourceMaximum; Swim
Single sourceRoad: 60 km/h (37 mph) Off-road: 30 km/h (19 mph) Swim: 4.5 km/h (2.8 mph)[source]
YaMZ-238N diesel
Single sourceYaMZ-238N diesel 220 kW (300 hp)[source]
Sustained
Single sourceMaximum
Single sourceMaximum: 5 rpm Sustained: 1–2 rpm[source]
sustained
Single sourceburst
Single sourceBars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Eritrean War of Independence South African Border War Six-Day War Yom Kippur War Ethiopian Civil War Angolan Civil War Uganda–Tanzania War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979–1991) Lebanese Civil War Iran–Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War First Nagorno-Karabakh War Yugoslav Wars Kosovo War Syrian Civil War Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) Second Nagorno-Karabakh War Tigray War Israeli–Lebanese conflict Russo-Ukrainian War[source] |
| Designer | Kharkiv Tractor Plant[source] | — |
|---|
| Designed | 1956–1961[source] | 1946–1950[source] |
|---|
| Produced | 1971–1991[source] | 1951–1971[source] |
|---|
| No. built | 10,000+[source] | — |
|---|
| Variants | see Variants[source] | — |
|---|
| Shell | 122 x 447mm .R separate loading, cased charge[source] | 130 x 845 mm R (R/184.6mm) separate-loading charge and projectile[source] |
|---|
| Breech | Vertical sliding-wedge , semi-automatic[source] | Horizontal sliding-wedge[source] |
|---|
| Elevation | -3 to +70 degrees[source] | −2.5° to 45°[source] |
|---|
| Traverse | 360 degrees[source] | 50°[source] |
|---|
| Armor | 7–20 mm (0.28–0.79 in)[source] | — |
|---|
| Main armament | 2A18 122 mm (4.8 in) howitzer[source] | — |
|---|
| Suspension | torsion bar[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Czech Republic | Czech Republic[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Czechoslovakia | Czechoslovakia[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · East Germany | East Germany[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Hungary | Hungary[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Iraq | Iraq[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Islamic State | Islamic State[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Libya | Libya[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Republika Srpska | Republika Srpska[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Slovakia | Slovakia[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Slovenia | Slovenia[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Soviet Union | Soviet Union[source] | — |
|---|
| Former operator · Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia[source] | — |
|---|
| Role | Soviet self-propelled howitzer introduced in 1972 and is in service in Russia and other countries as of 2026[source] | — |
|---|
| Source measurement | The 2S1 Gvozdika (Russian: 2С1 «Гвоздика» , " Carnation ") is a Soviet self-propelled howitzer introduced in 1972 and is in service in Russia and other countries as of 2026 . It is based on the MT-LBu multi-purpose chassis, mounting a 122 mm 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 track widths are available to allow the 2S1 to operate in snow or swamp conditions. It is NBC protected and has infrared night-vision capability.[source]2S1 Gvozdika · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The 2S1 was developed in Kharkiv , Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic . It 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 the commander sits 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 uses 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 (high explosive), leaflet , HE/RAP , armor-piercing HE, flechette and chemical rounds.[source]2S1 Gvozdika · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 2S34 Khosta – Modernisation of the 2S1 with the 122 mm 2A31 gun replaced by the 120 mm 2A80-1 gun-mortar . Further improvements include a new Malakhit fire control system , a battlefield observation system and the ability to fire the Kitolov-2M guided ammunition. One unit, the 21st Guards Motor Rifle Brigade in Totskoye , is currently being equipped with the system.[source]2S1 Gvozdika · Variants / Russia; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 2S1 modernized - The modernization is being carried out on the basis of the 122 mm towed howitzer of the Serbian modernization program. Project "SORA 122mm" and NORA B-52. Where the truck platform was abandoned, which was used by the prototype version of the "SORA 122mm" system in favor of a much better, crawler platform 2S1 Gvozdika system. The action was made possible by two new projectiles and an increased range of about 40% from 15,200 to 22,000 m (9.4 to 13.7 mi). A new ballistic computer and fire control system make it much faster to prepare for action. There is also a new inertial navigation system, GPRS, as well as the possibility of action, multiple projectiles in one point, MRSI. Thus, it was achieved that with one 2S1 Gvozdika system, in the system of MRSI action in one point, 6 projectiles can be fired in one minute; the modernized 2S1 Gvozdika is much improved. For better defense, a turret with a 12.7 mm machine gun was added. In 2021, the first modernized 2S1 Gvozdika system battery was introduced in service with the Serbian Army.[source]2S1 Gvozdika · Variants / Serbia; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 2S15 Norov – A prototype tank destroyer equipped with a radar-based fire control system and a 100 mm gun.[source]2S1 Gvozdika · Variants / Soviet Union; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Kevlar-E – Infantry fighting vehicle based on the 2S1 platform, equipped with Shturm remote weapon station and room for 6 passengers in addition to the 3 crew. The original 220 kW (300 hp) V8 diesel engine has been replaced with a 310 kW (420 hp) diesel engine produced by Caterpillar , Cummins or Deutz , increasing the maximum road speed to 70 km/h (43 mph). The vehicle is amphibious and has air conditioning, a fire detection and suppression system, an NBC system, navigation system, and night-vision equipment. The variant was first introduced in April 2018. The prototype has been fighting in the Russian invasion of Ukraine .[source]2S1 Gvozdika · Variants / Ukraine; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On January 21, 2025, the Danish Ministry of Defense quietly added the 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled howitzer to its list of military donations to Ukraine. The quantity remains unspecified, and the origin of these systems has not been disclosed.[source]2S1 Gvozdika · Variants / Ukraine; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage | — |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Huta Stalowa Wola[source]Polish production · 2S1 Goździk | MOTZ[source] |
|---|
| Recoil | — | hydro-pneumatic[source] |
|---|
| Carriage | — | Split-trail[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
|
|
|---|
Maximum; unassisted
Single source27.15 km (16.87 mi) (unassisted) 35 km (22 mi) (base-bleed) 44 km (27 mi) (rocket assisted)[source]
normal
Single source6 rpm (normal) 8 rpm (burst) 5 rpm (sustained)[source]