2S22 "Bohdana" 3.0 – the Ukrainian self-propelled mortar

2S22 “Bohdana" - a 155 mm NATO standard wheeled self-propelled howitzer, developed in Ukraine. Its prototype is mounted on the chassis of the Ukrainian six-wheeled "KrAZ-6322" truck. It has an armored cabin and a combat reserve of 20 shells. The howitzer has an effective firing range of 42 km with conventional shells and 60 km with rocket shells. It can fire several types of shells, including the extended-range M982 “Excalibur”, at a rate of five rounds per minute. The howitzer was tested in live fire in 2018, and its first public demonstration took place at the Independence Day parade in Kyiv on August 24, 2018. Development was almost halted in 2020 due to difficulties in obtaining 155 mm shells at the time, legal disputes between the government and the manufacturer, a temporary suspension of program funding, and excessive recoil, which was eventually resolved by installing an improved muzzle brake. Another round of test firings was conducted at the Shyroki Lan range in May 2021. Other test firings were conducted at a range in the Odessa region in December 2021 and 2022. in January, where 450 shots were fired at a range of 42 km, longer than the manufacturer's stated range of 40 km. On February 25, 2022, following the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the “Bohdana's” manufacturers were ordered to destroy the sole prototype to prevent it from being seized by the Russians. However, it was managed to be moved away from the front and transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On May 7, 2022 “Forbes” reported, that the prototype was deployed to the front and firing at Russian targets. In June 2022, Ukrainian forces on the Ukrainian mainland reportedly used the 2S22 “Bohdana” to fire on Russian forces on Snake Island, located 35 km from the mainland. This fire, along with other artillery and drone attacks, led to the Russian forces withdrawing from the island on June 30. The Ukrainian Armed Forces officially adopted the 2S22 “Bohdana” on July 21, 2023. Meanwhile, the Kramatorsk plant assembled two pre-production “Bohdana” models (mounted on the MAZ-6317 chassis) for the 57th Motorized Brigade. They were to be used in the Kherson and Bakhmut regions. Some units of the National Guard and the National Police, such as the 18th Sloviansk Brigade and the Lutsk Brigade, are also armed with “Bohdana’s”.

A complex, well-designed and excellently detailed model, that will suit only medium-experienced and experienced modelers. Excellently detailed chassis, its suspension, exterior detailing, armament, cabin equipment. The interior of the engine compartment is not detailed; there is a large reserve of colors. The textual instructions are small and explain only the most complex moments of the model's assembly, while the graphical instructions are large, detailed, informative, and easy to read.