"The 2S18 PAT-S was conceived by Soviet designers as an amphibious Self-Propelled Howitzer for airborne troopers - only a single vehicle was completed."
The 2S18 (PAT-S) was a proposed Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) vehicle of the Soviet era, mating the powerful 152mm field howitzer with the lightweight BMP-3 air-droppable airborne infantry fighting vehicle. The program's vision was to provide airborne elements with considerable on-call firepower from range though only a single pilot vehicle was ultimately realized before project cancellation. The completed tank weighed around 19 tons, had an overall length of 8.2 meters with a beam of 3.23 meters and a height of 2.8 meters.
The primary weapon of the vehicle was the aforementioned 152mm field howitzer capable of indirect-fire at-range. The gun was contained in a lightly-armored traversing turret set over the hull in typical fashion. A single 7.62mm machine gun was carried as a self-defense measure against infantry attack. The main gun fired a 96lb projectile out to a range of 9.4 miles at a rate of 6 to 8 rounds-per-minute. The utilization of a turret meant that the weapon was given a full 360-degree traversal with limited elevation reach.
The hull retained the same form-and-function as the original BMP-3 complete with its six rubber-tired road wheels and track-and-link arrangement to each hull side. Internally, power was derived from a UTD-29 series diesel unit outputting 500 horsepower giving the tank a road speed of 43.5 miles-per-hour with a range of 375 miles on internal fuel. In true Soviet fashion, the vehicle had an inherent amphibious capability and could traverse water sources at up to 6.2mph.
September 2023 - Reports indicate that the Russians may be revitalizing the 2S18 project to better equip their ground forces fighting in Ukraine.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the 2S18 PAT-S Amphibious 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH).
1 x UTD-29 diesel-fueled engine developing 500 horsepower to conventional track-and-wheel arrangement. Installed Power
43 mph 70 kph Road Speed
373 miles 600 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the 2S18 PAT-S Amphibious 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH).
3 (MANNED) Crew
26.9 ft 8.2 meters O/A Length
10.7 ft 3.25 meters O/A Width
9.2 ft 2.8 meters O/A Height
41,888 lb 19,000 kg | 20.9 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the 2S18 PAT-S Amphibious 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH).
1 x 152mm howitzer in front turret face.
1 x 7.62mm anti-infantry machine gun.
AMMUNITION: Not Available.
Variants Notable series variants as part of the 2S18 PAT-S family line.
2S18 (PAT-S) - Base Project Designation.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the 2S18 PAT-S. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 1 Units Contractor(s): State Factories - Soviet Union
[ Soviet Union (cancelled) ]
Going Further... The 2S18 PAT-S Amphibious 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) appears in the following collections:
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