The first crabs reached Sulekhov
Part of the equipment of the first 155 mm DMO Regina Krab self-propelled howitzer was officially handed over to the 25th Self-Propelled Artillery Squadron of the 2019 Lubuska Artillery Regiment from Sulekhiv on March 2, 5.
On March 25, the 5th Lubusz Artillery Regiment of the 12th Mechanized Division from Szczecin, stationed in Sulechov near Zielona Gora, officially adopted the vehicles of the first battery of 155-mm Regina Krab self-propelled artillery howitzers. The ceremony was held in a unique format, since, in addition to representatives of the defense industry and local authorities, it was attended by the Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Jaroslav Mika.
This is the first delivery of serial equipment for squadron firing modules (DMO) Regina under the contract that Huta Stalowa Wola SA concluded with the Armaments Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defense on December 14, 2016. Its cost is PLN 4,649 billion gross, and it is about the supply of guns and accompanying vehicles of four Regina DMOs (Huta Stalowa Wola has already transferred the 1st DMO under the implementation agreement, so the Polish Army will receive only 5 squadrons). In total, under the contract dated December 2016, this will be: 96 self-propelled guns "Crab", 12 command and staff vehicles (KPShM) on a LPG tracked chassis, 32 command vehicles (KPM) of various levels on a LPG chassis, 24 ammunition vehicles (VA) for the chassis Jelcz 882.53 8×8 with an armored cab and four weapons and electronics repair vehicles (WRUiE) on the Jelcz P662D.35 chassis behind the armored cab. A total of 168 tracked and wheeled vehicles. Three DMOs are to be delivered in 2019-2022, and the fourth, provided by the contract as an option, in the period 2022-2024. This is the largest one-time contract for the supply of military equipment concluded by the Ministry of National Defense with the Polish defense industry after the contract dated April 15, 2003 with the then Wojskowe Zakłady Mechaniczne SA from Siemianowice Silesian (now Rosomak SA) for 690 wheeled vehicles. Rosomak armored personnel carriers, the cost of which amounted to PLN 4,925 billion.
From Stalowa Wola to Sulechów
The production cycle of modern military equipment, including artillery, is a complex and lengthy process that requires cooperation with numerous subcontractors and subcontractors, including foreign ones, in which some technological cycles last several or even several months. After completing the equipment, it is also necessary to carry out comprehensive acceptance tests, including field tests and firing tests - in production conditions and under the control of military representatives (in the case of HSW SA
6. District military representation). Therefore, it is not surprising that more than two years have passed from signing the contract to the first delivery of equipment under it, and actually preparing for the implementation of the contract by Huta Stalowa Wola SA and its industrial partners in this enterprise (including WB Group, Hanhwa Techwin, Jelcz Sp. Z oo ) started during contract negotiations.
In fact, the equipment for the first battery of the first serial DMO was technically ready for commissioning at the end of last autumn, but this did not happen - for reasons beyond the control of the equipment manufacturer - in the end.
In the meantime, from December 3 to 21, 2018, the military personnel of the 5th Lubusz Artillery Regiment, selected for service on the new equipment, underwent the first stage of special training at the Stalowa Wola hut. It included familiarization with the design, purpose and operation of individual vehicles. Under the guidance of instructors from HSW and WB Electronics, they also performed exercises on the equipment. Their key element was the training of commanders to perform tasks using the TOPAZ automated control system. They did not cause big problems, because the Gvozdika, which was used earlier, also had the TOPAZ system, albeit in an older version with much more modest capabilities.
The next stage of preparation was a team training session held on January 7-18 this year. fire missions were practiced. In addition, the fighters learned about the principles of current repair and maintenance of new generation equipment, ready to perform their tasks.
After completing the first two stages of training for soldiers from Sulechów, on March 16 this year, the transfer process could finally begin: eight Krab guns, four WDSz / WD command vehicles, two WA ammunition vehicles and a WRUiE repair vehicle. . This was not a time pressure, since the contract dated December 2016 set the delivery date for the first battery of the first DMO no later than March 31, 2019, so its implementation was on time.
The first transport (four guns, two command vehicles, WA) left Stalowa Wola for Sulechów on the night of 16/17 March, and the second (four guns, two command vehicles, WA and WRUiE) on the night of 19 March. -twenty. Transportation of equipment was carried out by road trains with low-bed platforms, which the manufacturer of Regina, responsible for its delivery to the place specified by the customer, rented from a commercial transport company.
Loading self-propelled howitzer Krab on a low-bed trailer before transportation from Guta Staleva Volya to Sulekhov on March 16 this year.
