Russia's dwindling artillery: the steady disappearance of 2S7 Pion guns
The Russian military is encountering significant operational difficulties, especially in long-range artillery. According to the latest reports from military analysts, some of the most powerful artillery systems - 2S7 Pion - have been suddenly withdrawn from the front line. For the aggressor, this is a big problem.
7 May 2024 10:02
Since the beginning of the armed conflict, Russia has been actively utilizing heavy artillery systems like the 2S7 Pion in Ukraine. However, these systems have disappeared from Ukrainian territory in recent weeks. This is the aftermath of effective Ukrainian attacks.
According to reports from Defence Blog and Oryx - pages that specialize in analyzing the wartime losses of both sides of the conflict - Russia has lost about 22 of these systems. However, unofficial sources even speak of 60. Before the conflict began, the Kremlin had about 100 of them but were in various technical conditions.
Ołeksandr Kowalenko, a military expert, states that "the remaining guns are unusable and are difficult to repair, especially given the pace at which they were being destroyed." It is also said that attempts to obtain spare parts from Iran or North Korea have not yielded results. This may mean that these countries prefer to keep the parts for their own needs, especially in the face of regional tensions.
The pace of recovering 2S7 Pion systems from post-Soviet stocks does not match the pace of their destruction in Ukraine. The total number available there also has its limits, it must be taken into account that they are no longer produced - admitted Ołeksandr Kowalenko.
It is even said that the 2S7 Pion could permanently disappear from Ukraine. Occupiers thus have a headache.
Russian 2S7 Pion artillery systems
The Russian 2S7 Pion artillery systems are heavy, self-propelled artillery guns. They were designed and produced during the Soviet Union era in the Cold War. These powerful artillery systems are known for their ability to fire very large calibre 203 mm projectiles, making them among the largest conventional artillery guns used in combat.
The 2S7 Pion gun weighs about 46 tonnes and measures over 13 metres in length, indicating its huge size and power. Its main advantage is the ability to strike targets at great distances – standard projectiles can reach a range of about 40 kilometres. In comparison, special rocket-assisted projectiles can hit targets about 50 kilometres away.
The system can fire various types of ammunition, including fragmentation, chemical, and even nuclear, making it a very versatile and powerful weapon on the battlefield. The only issue is that it must be operational, a major Russian problem. Interestingly, the same self-propelled guns are also used by the Ukrainians.
