Ukraine's Soviet-era artillery wields American-made power

The war in Ukraine is total of ironic situations, such as the compatibility of American ammunition for the powerful M110 203 mm howitzers, which are capable of firing nuclear shells, with their Soviet counterparts, the 2S7 Pion. Here's how this is possible.

A photo circulating online shows another 2S7 Pion howitzer firing 203 mm M106 shells intended for American M110 howitzers. These shells fit the Soviet-equivalent atomic artillery, making the somewhat old and not very modern 2S7 Pion howitzers still useful on the battlefield.

They are particularly useful for destroying fortified enemy positions because the over 220-pound shells can handle what artillery of more mundane calibers, such as 122 mm, 152 mm, or 155 mm, cannot.

In their case, the explosive charge is at most 20 pounds, whereas for M106 shells, it is at least 33 pounds of TNT. It is not known what specific changes were made to the 2S7 Pion howitzer. Still, they were likely minor since the Russians were also using American ammunition supplied through Iran in their howitzers.

The shells may fit because both systems are of the same caliber, and the mathematics and physics are identical for all designers. It's also significant that the 2S7 Pion was developed a decade later than the M110, which may have served as a starting point for the Russians on their project.

Designed in the 1970s, the 2S7 Pion howitzers feature a 203 mm gun mounted on a T-80 tank chassis. This results in a self-propelled system with a range of up to 25 miles for regular shells or 29-34 miles with rocket-assisted ammunition.

In contrast, the M110 howitzers have a range of 19 miles for the simplest shells, primarily due to their shorter barrel, which results in lower shell velocity and a shorter range. The M110 howitzers had been withdrawn from service in the US Army, but Americans still had a stockpile of ammunition for them. Instead of costly disposal, this ammunition is being used to eliminate Russians in Ukraine, similar to the Zuni rockets.

Despite its powerful firepower and decent range, the 2S7 Pion is a stationary construction because its preparation for firing or leaving the firing position takes a very long time. Its rate of fire is also low, at about one or, at most, 1.5 rounds per minute.

Moreover, the howitzer itself carries only four shells, and the rest, along with the 14-person crew, are transported in additional accompanying vehicles. The Ukrainians, lacking modern artillery systems, use the Pions, which, due to their range and firepower, are a more effective solution than, for example, the Goździks or towed D-20 howitzers.