The 203mm 2A44 gun system, with its integrated mounting and recoil hardware, was sat over the rear of the hull. This weapon provided engagement ranges out to 37.5 kilometers and supported the use of Rocket-Assisted Projectiles (RAPs) which drastically increased ranges out to 47 kilometers giving the vehicle a hefty "punch" for indirect fire service. The mounting hardware allowed an inherent traversal of 15-degrees to the right or left before the entire vehicle needed to be turned into the direction of desired fire. Its elevation span was from 0 to +60 degrees. Prior to firing, a large spade located at the rear of the hull was lowered to brace the vehicle for the impact of recoil forces to follow. A load-assist mechanism aided in the reloading process involving the large shells and associated propellant charge components. 203mm projectile reloads were managed by an accompanying ammunition carrier/reload vehicle commonly fielded with such units. The 2S7 gun carrier section stowed four ready-to-fire 203mm projectiles on its hull.
The 2S7 designation marked original production models of 1976 and minor improvements produced the 2S7N mark in the following years. The 2S7M "Malka" was introduced during 1983 as a modernized variant with updated Fire Control System (FCS), improved rate-of-fire (up to 2.5 rounds-per-minute), and increased onboard storage of the 203mm rounds (from four to eight). The BTM-4 mark was an off-shoot design of the 2S7 and outfitted with trench-digging equipment to serve in the support role to 2S7 detachments.
The 2S7 was eventually taken into the inventories of several Soviet allies and supported states including Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Czechoslovakia, Georgia, Poland, Slovakia (limited number), Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Former Soviet examples were absorbed into the new Russian Army after the fall of the Soviet Empire whilst others found in former states were reconstituted by local armies. Czechoslovakia utilized the vehicle series from 1984 to 1994 after which examples were sold off to Angola. Polish examples were retired in 2006.
Due to the need for big guns in the ongoing War in Donbass (2014-Present) between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian stocks of 2S7 systems - once laying in reserve/storage - were refurbished for active service once more. Ukraine has managed a stock of some 99 2S7 vehicles at one point.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.