| In July 1967 a decision was taken to develop a self-propelled howitzer, designated the Akatsiya and intended to replace the 152mm ML-20
howitzer-gun, D-20 gun-howitzer, D-1 howitzer and attain the development levels of foreign self-propelled artillery. The Central Design Bureau
Transmash of the State Association Uraltransmash was instructed to develop the howitzer. Various approaches to the layout of self-propelled mounts
(traversing and fixed turret versions) as well as base chassis were considered.
Finally it was decided that the chassis of the Akatsiya was to be based on the chassis of the Krug SAM launcher, however, the base chassis was upgraded to
improve vehicle performance. It was outfitted with a new multi-fuel diesel engine developing 520hp instead of 400hp. In addition, the engine accessories
and power transmission assembly were also modernized. The track and suspension system was also upgraded: the design of road wheels was
improved, the shock absorber capacity was heightened, and the load characteristic of the torsion bars was increased.
The all-welded steel hull is divided into three compartments; driver's at the front on the left, engine to the right of the driver and the turret at
the rear. On the forward part of the glacis is a splash board to stop water rushing up the glacis plate when the vehicle is fording a stream. The air-inlet
and air-outlet louvers are on the top of the hull with the exhaust outlet on the right side of the hull, just above the track guard.
The large all-welded turret has a sloped front and well-sloped sides with a vision block in each side. The commander is seated on the left of the turret
with the gunner forward and below him and the loader on the right. The commander has a cupola which can be traversed through a full 360° and a single
piece hatch cover that opens to the rear. Mounted on the forward part of the hatch is a 7.62mm machine gun which can be aimed and fired from inside
the turret. There is an OU-3K infra-red/white searchlight mounted to the left of the machine gun. Main armament Is a 152mm weapon, designated the
2A33, which is based on the towed 152-mm D-20 gun/howitzer but with a bore evacuator added behind the muzzle brake. The barrel has a double-baffle
muzzle brake, fume extractor and a gun barrel traveling lock. The gun has an elevation of +60°, a depression of -3° and turret traverse is a full 360°.
In the rear half of the hull is a total of 33 projectiles complete with fuses which are stowed in three horizontal layers. Stowed below the projectiles are 16 charges in two layers
of eight with an additional eight being stowed near the loader's position and the remainder being stowed in brackets in the vehicle. An ammunition resupply hatch is provided
in the right side of the turret and there is a further cicrular resupply hatch at the rear of the hull.
The normal projectile fired by the Akatsiya is the HE-FRAG OF-540, which is fitted with an RGM-2 fuse, weighs 43.5kg, contains 5.76 kg of TNT, and has a maximum muzzle velocity
of 655 m/s and maximum range of 18500 m. Other types of projectiles fired include chemical, HEAT-FS (also referred to as HEAT-SS, with latter standing for spin stabilized),
HE/RAP (high explosive rocket assisted projectile) with a range of 24000 m, AP-T, illuminating, smoke, 0.2 kT tactical nuclear, incendiary, flechette, scatterable mines (anti-tank
and anti-personnel) and semi-active laser.
The Akatsiya has infra-red night vision equipment and an NBC system. It has no amphibious capability and normally carries an unditching beam at the rear of the hull.
The Akatsiya was produced over two decades. During this time it was modernized twice.
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