The Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed the largest caliber cannon of the occupiers
Ukrainian troops hit a Russian 2S7M Malka self-propelled artillery system on January 20. This was reported by the Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine on their Twitter account.
The Malka systems pose a significant threat because of their weapons, the main element of which is a powerful 203-mm cannon capable of firing nuclear warheads. Despite the improvements made in 2020, the artillery system is de facto a modernized version of the 2C7 Peony, created in 1975 during the heyday of the Soviet Union.
Due to its gigantic size, the Malka has some drawbacks: the gun is mounted directly on the hull without a turret, which increases the vulnerability of the crew during firing (the crew is completely unprotected at such moments).
The dimensions of the “Malka” allow it to transport up to 8 shells in the body. A support vehicle is required to fire, which negatively affects mobility. The confirmed rate of fire is 1 shot in 30 seconds (in other words, the artillery can fire a 8-round ammunition in 4 minutes).
Experts characterize the disabling of the Malky as a significant event in Ukrainian defense.
