The Ukrainian 155-mm 2P22 Bohdana-B towed howitzer is actively replacing foreign and Soviet models. Compared to other systems, it is at least on par with them and in some respects even outperforms foreign counterparts, despite not necessarily requiring an automated control system.
Representatives of the 40th Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine told Dumka that Ukrainian-made artillery is far more effective than the Soviet-era Giatsint-B. It also matches the American M777 in rate of fire and requires the same eight-person crew to operate.
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One advantage of the Bohdana-B, manufactured by the PJSC Kramatorsk Heavy Duty Machine Tool Building Plant, over the U.S. towed howitzer is its slightly better accuracy, which military officials attribute to more rifling grooves and a longer barrel. Additionally, the Ukrainian barrel has a service life of 8,000 rounds, compared to 4,700 for the M777.
On the other hand, it is claimed that domestically produced towed artillery is easier to maintain and operate and offers high survivability. In addition, it has better off-road mobility thanks to the four wheels on its carriage instead of two.
Among the drawbacks cited are significantly greater weight and size, which affect mobility and deployment time. Artillerymen also mention the need to improve the flash hider, which wears out during firing and can damage the breech wedge.
From Defense Express we would like to note that the difference between the Bohdana-B and the M777 is to be expected, as the M777 not only has a 39-caliber barrel but was also designed for high mobility, which is why it uses lighter alloys. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian design is based on a self-propelled gun system mounted on a Giatsint-B carriage.
At the same time, the need for constant movement is not as great as it was a few years ago, due to the widespread use of drones. As a result, artillery units typically operate from covered positions equipped for protection and camouflage.
At the same time, ease of maintenance and repair, as well as resistance to shrapnel, are now critical on the battlefield. As a result, the simplicity of the Bohdana-B is a major advantage, further reinforced by mass barrel production—an area where the M777 significantly lags behind.
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