On June 29, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine posted a set of photos on social media, in which the 43rd Artillery Brigade of the Ukrainian Army is using 2S7 self-propelled howitzers produced during the Soviet era, and the shells fired are 203-mm M106 shells produced in the United States, which is an unusual combination.
The 2S7 "Peony" is a medium self-propelled howitzer developed during the Soviet era, which entered service in 1975 and was discontinued on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union, with more than 1,000 units produced and exported to a number of former Warsaw Pact member states, which inherited this artillery after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its chassis was produced by the Kirov plant, referencing the chassis design of the T-72 and T-80 main battle tanks, and the gun and gun mounts were produced by the Titan-Barikadi plant.
This powerful artillery system is equipped with a 203-mm 2A44 gun and has a maximum range of 37.5 km when firing ordinary shells and 55.5 km when using rocket-boosted artillery shells. The 2S7 is operated by 7 personnel and is resistant to small arms fire and shell fragments. It is also equipped with a nuclear, biological and chemical overpressure system, an auxiliary power unit, and night vision equipment. The total combat weight is 46.5 tons, powered by one 840 hp diesel engine, the maximum road speed is 50 km / h, and the combat range is 650 km.
The American-made 203-mm M106 artillery shell is a high-explosive fragmentation shell that produces a destructive explosion and fragmentation on impact. This spin-stabilized projectile is forged from hollow steel with a base, a streamlined warhead, and a rotating metal band. The welded case back provides additional protection against hot gases from the propellant when fired. This ammunition is equipped with a three-eyed bolt lift plug for easy handling and closing of the fuze chamber. This ammunition can be loaded with TNT or B explosives, and the projectile with a deep fuze cavity contains a recharge to maximize the destructive power.
This shell was previously used by the M110 self-propelled howitzer of the US Army, a self-propelled gun used by the US Army since the 60s of the 20th century, which was decommissioned in 1994. The M110 is armed with a 203 mm gun and is designed to provide heavy mobile artillery support. It is widely used in various conflicts due to its ability to deliver precise and powerful long-range strikes. The production of 106-mm ammunition such as the M203 ensures that these systems are able to continue operation, whether performing tasks of destroying fortifications, areas of concentration of enemy troops, or other strategic targets.
Although there is little specific information about the annual production of 203 mm ammunition, it is clear that the production capacity of artillery ammunition is closely monitored and adjusted in accordance with military needs and international commitments. These American shells didn't come out of nowhere; In 2023, the Pentagon announced the supply of 203-mm M106 artillery shells to Ukraine to support its military operations.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Ukrainian units use American-made ammunition in Soviet-made equipment. In addition to compatibility, the integration of modern high-precision ammunition into existing artillery systems enhances Ukraine's ability to deliver effective and targeted strikes against Russian positions. Normally, the U.S. and Soviet equipment are not compatible in caliber, and the ammunition is not interchangeable, according to previous interviews with the Ukrainian army, the M106 used by the 2S7 has a very small charge in order to prevent the explosion of the chamber, so the firing range is very short.