[img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/bebdc0915ab526de230b2edea5c7337d84499180.gif[/img] [i]The first massively produced amphibious SPG, the Soviet 2S1, comes to the game in the upcoming War Thunder update![/i] [h2]2S1 Gvozdika, SPG, USSR, rank IV[/h2] Features: [list] [*] 122mm howitzer [*] HEAT rounds [*] Amphibious [*] Lightly armored [/list] [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/bfbd9bb0408efe65b5f400831ca50a09cbc99457.jpg[/img] The development of a new self-propelled gun for the Soviet army was based on the well-proven D-30 howitzer and the chassis of the MT-LB multipurpose amphibious towing vehicle. The D-30 towed howitzer was modified to be placed in the SPG turret, the MT-LB chassis was lengthened by adding a wheel pair to improve the driving performance and increase the room of the fighting compartment. After a year of testing, the vehicle was put into service in September 1970 under the designation 2S1 Gvozdika. Serial production of the SPG continued until 1991. The vehicle was produced in the USSR, as well as in Bulgaria and Poland under license. The 2S1 is still in service with the armies of many countries of the world. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/c5dfcd46617d103e5fefb68acbd4182aac8e92e0.jpg[/img] [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/e62e87528d795b5321a53aa923a9d84a2696351a.jpg[/img] The 2S1 Gvozdika (Russian for ‘carnation’) self-propelled gun will be added to the game with the release of the upcoming War Thunder major update. The 2S1 is built on a modified chassis of the “workhorse” of the Soviet army, the MT-LB multi-purpose towing vehicle. Weathered commanders are well acquainted with this chassis: dynamic, good for rough terrain, amphibious, although very lightly armored and with a low reverse speed. The Gvozdika’s top speed is 60 km/h on paved roads, but the average off-road speed rarely exceeds 30-35 km/h. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/23ca2e5b6e14b94dc315bbad53af199c6f33eb97.jpg[/img] The new self-propelled gun is armed with an adopted 122mm howitzer of the D-30 family, armed with HE and up to 5 HEAT rounds. The former is good at destroying light and medium vehicles, while the HEAT shaped-charge comes in handy against heavy tanks and self-propelled guns with conventional steel armor. Due to the long rifled part of the barrel, the gun is comfortable to shoot over medium and medium-long distances. A large, but expected drawback is the meager declination angle of the gun. The 2S1 armor is only bulletproof, so the self-propelled gun is exposed to autocannons and forward-facing aircraft weapons with armor-piercing belts. It would be wise for the commander to change positions frequently and use the relatively small silhouette of the Gvozdika for ducking into the terrain. The 2S1 is an amphibious vehicle, but the waterborne speed is, to put it mildly, poor, so long sea trips are definitely not for the 2S1 [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/79b37a63bf5d950ef3821569250280edacbf1bf1.jpg[/img] The 2S1 Gvozdika will appear in the hangars of War Thunder in the next major game update - stay tuned to our devblogs to be the first to know about the news!