Frag Out! Magazine

The story of the Krab gun-howitzer (English: Crab), the main weapon system of the Regina module, can be traced back to 1994. This was the time when HSW came forward with an offer to produce a modern artillery system that was supposed to replace the self-propelled howitzers used at the time, i.e. the 122 mm 2S1 Gvozdika (Russian: 2C1 «Гвоздика», "Carnation"), the 152 mm SpGH DANA, and the 203 mm Pion (Russian: 2C7 «Пион»,"Peony"). In 1996, MOD's Development and Implementation Department (since 2000 Armaments Policy Department) signed an agreement for R&D works concerning an artillery battalion to be equipped with self- propelled howitzers. The new cannons were to shoot ammunition compliant with NATO Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU). HSW was also authorized to prepare and announce a restricted tendering procedure for a turret system, i.e. involving supply of an autonomic artillery turret with a 155 mm cannon with an L/52 barrel, with a firing range of 30-40 km, depending on the type of ammunition in use. The turret was supposed to be mounted on a tracked chassis made in Poland. The procedure ended with HSW S.A. becoming the main contractor to develop and build the complete artillery system. A subsequent tendering procedure led to the selection of the turret system. It was decided to acquire a license for AS- 90/52 turret, constructed by England's Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. – (now BAE Systems Ltd.). A license agreement was signed between HSW and the manufacturer of AS-90/52 in 1999, covering a know-how transfer related to the production of the turrets. One year later, MOD and HSW signed a contract for development and production of a self-propelled 155 mm artillery system. The UPG-NG (Uniwersalne Podwozie Gąsienicowe Nowej Generacji, a next- generation tracked chassis) chassis for the AS-90/52 turret was developed by ZM Bumar-Łabędy SA and OBRUM. Tge "Regina" artillery module – it was supposed to be composed of Krab gun-howitzers, Azalia fire-control and command system with wheeled command-staff and command post vehicles, and Waran support system with wheeled ammunition supply and www.fragoutmag.com

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