A train carrying a large number of 2S7M Malka self-propelled howitzers capable of firing nuclear shells to augment the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine.
The 2S7M Malka self-propelled howitzer is currently the largest caliber cannon in the Ukraine war. Moscow has decided to deploy this weapon in large numbers for the ongoing special military operation.
Recently, residents of the village of Veselaya Lopan in Belgorod, an area close to the border with Ukraine, captured a picture of a train carrying a large number of 2S7M Malka self-propelled guns pouring into the Ukrainian battlefield.
According to the latest records, as soon as the Russian artillery was reinforced, the 2S7M Malka artillery entered the war when it fired at the positions of the Ukrainian army. Russian media said that the 2S7M Malka cannon has shown very good performance in the ongoing military campaign.
With powerful destructive power due to large ammunition size, long-range, self-propelled artillery 2S7M Malka has caused Ukraine a lot of damage. “The artillery of the Russian armed forces continues to attack the positions, strongpoints, and gathering areas of Ukrainian military equipment. Self-propelled artillery systems 2S7M Malka also participated in the attack on the artillery positions of the forces. Ukraine,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in May 2022. Like Ukraine, Russia uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to indicate targets to artillery units. When the exact coordinates are available, all types of artillery fire simultaneously, firing at the enemy, then retreating to avoid counter-fire.
In the Ukrainian battlefield, this 203mm self-propelled howitzer was used by both Russia and Ukraine. While Kiev uses the 2S7 Pion variant, Moscow uses the modern 2S7M Malka variant. In the Ukrainian battlefield, this 203mm self-propelled howitzer was used by both Russia and Ukraine. While Kiev uses the 2S7 Pion variant, Moscow uses the modern 2S7M Malka variant.
Although owning about 100 2S7 Pion guns, but the Ukrainian side lacks the supply of ammunition for this artillery, so they are not very effective. The Soviet Union is the birthplace of powerful super weapons and the 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun is one of them.
Until now, this is still one of the most powerful cannons in the world when it comes to the ability to fire nuclear bullets. The Soviet Union began to research and produce this type of artillery in the 1970s. This is a strategic artillery system that was produced on a scale of more than a thousand guns. After successful development, the Soviet Union expected this to be a weapon that would create a turning point on the battlefield. There was a time when it was thought that the days of artillery were over, replaced by assault missiles.
However, the fact that recent battlefields such as Syria, Libya and now Ukraine all show the importance of artillery. Using artillery still creates a formidable combat effect for the enemy while ensuring a much cheaper economy than using missiles. The cost of a missile can be several dozen times higher than an artillery shell, throwing a large number of shells at the target at the same time will create destructive power and cause panic for the enemy. The 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun uses a specially developed crawler chassis. The car is equipped with a 750 horsepower diesel engine, reaching a speed of 51km / h, a range of 500km.
To prevent damage to the main engine, the 2S7 Pion has an additional 24 hp auxiliary power system for use when needed. 2S7 Pion is equipped with 203mm caliber cannon, the cannon has a rate of fire of 3 rounds/2 minutes. With a 203mm cannon and a loading support system, the 2S7 Pion can fire fragmentation rounds weighing up to 110kg, containing 17.8kg of explosives to a distance of up to 37.5km.
With an increased range of ammunition weighing 103kg and containing 13.8kg of explosives, the range is up to 47.5km. In terms of size, the 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun has a body length of 10.5m, a width of 3.38m, a height of 3m, and weighs up to 46 tons. The gunner crew of 2S7 Pion is up to 14 people, of which 7 people sit on combat vehicles (mounted artillery) and 7 people sit on escort vehicles – refueling.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine and Russia inherited a large number of these artillery pieces. From the 2S7 Pion variant, Russia has upgraded to the 2S7M Malka standard to improve combat performance. Specifically, significant improvements on the 2S7M Malka version include the integration of a powerful engine, a modern chassis, newer electronics with an electronic target indication system and automatic data acquisition.
In addition, the 2S7M Malka’s transition time from march to battle has been reduced from 10 to 7 minutes. The number of bullets increased from 4 rounds to 8 rounds, the new loading mechanism allows reloading when the cannon is in any position.
This improvement allows to an increase the rate of fire of the 2S7M Malka self-propelled gun up to 2.5 rounds per minute, instead of only 1.5 rounds per minute as on the basic variant 2S7 Pion. Russia has now upgraded about 150 guns to 2S7M Malka standard out of a total of 500 2S7 Pion guns they own.
