Sazhenets

Sazhenets was a Soviet 203 mm nuclear shell for the 2A44 artillery family used by the 2S7 Pion and 2S7M Malka heavy guns. Reference sources describe it as an improved design over Kleshchevina, but published technical detail remains limited beyond its weight, caliber, and special-charge role in the Soviet nuclear artillery arsenal.

Sazhenets, Soviet 203 mm nuclear shell, Munitions

Image source: The Soviet Red Army's nuclear artillery and its ammunition

Profile

Origin: Soviet Union
Built by: Soviet defense industry
Type: Soviet 203 mm nuclear shell

munitionsnuclearartillery soviet

Specifications

Caliber: 203 mm
Weight: 110 kg
Filler: 17.8 kg A-IX-20 explosive
Fuse: Point detonating
Family context: Improved nuclear shell for the 2A44 ammunition family used by the 2S7 Pion and 2S7M Malka
Design note: Improved over Kleshchevina; published sources do not spell out the exact internal change

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Cold War-era special ammunition for the Soviet 203 mm 2A44 gun family
Used by: Soviet Ground Forces

Firing Weapons

Sazhenets sits in the Soviet 203 mm 2A44 ammunition family used by the 2S7 heavy gun line.

Firing weapon

Weapon type

Firing evidence

203 mm tracked self-propelled gun

WeaponSystems.net places Sazhenets in the 203 mm 2A44 family used by the 2S7M Malka, so this page links back to the firing gun.

Sources: 203mm shells for 2A44 howitzer

Sazhenets Images

Sazhenets, Soviet 203 mm nuclear shell, Munitions - view 1 — Source: The Soviet Red Army's nuclear artillery and its ammunition

Related Weapon Systems

3B11 nuclear projectile, 240 mm rocket-assisted nuclear projectile, Munitions

Munitions3B11 nuclear projectile240 mm rocket-assisted nuclear projectileThe 3B11 nuclear projectile was a Soviet 240 mm special-purpose mortar round developed for the M240 and 2S4 Tyulpan family. Reference sources describe it as one of the 240 mm projectiles created for the system alongside high-explosive, cargo, and incendiary rounds, and note that it used the 3M15 rocket motor to extend range.

152 mm round for Giatsint howitzer, 152 mm Frag-HE artillery round, Munitions

Munitions152 mm round for Giatsint howitzer152 mm Frag-HE artillery roundTransmobile's 152 mm round for Giatsint howitzer is a Bulgarian-made Frag-HE artillery round advertised for the 2A36 Giatsint-B and 2A37 Giatsint-S guns. The product page gives the round's caliber, type, firing range, projectile weight, muzzle velocity, and fuze type.

155 mm NATO ammunition, 155 mm standard artillery ammunition for 39-, 45-, and 52-caliber howitzers, Munitions

Munitions155 mm NATO ammunition155 mm standard artillery ammunition for 39-, 45-, and 52-caliber howitzers155 mm NATO ammunition is the standardized artillery ammunition family used by compatible NATO and NATO-standard 155 mm guns and howitzers. It exists as a relationship-only catalog page because its main value is the documented compatibility link to cataloged artillery systems such as the AH-1 / PLL01 family rather than standalone conflict-use history.

53-F-864 / F-864 240 mm mortar bomb, 240 mm high-explosive fragmentation mortar bomb, Munitions

Munitions53-F-864 / F-864 240 mm mortar bomb240 mm high-explosive fragmentation mortar bombThe 53-F-864, also identified as F-864 and 3OF-864 in source material, is the conventional 240 mm high-explosive fragmentation mortar bomb associated with the Soviet M240 and 2S4 Tyulpan heavy mortars. It is the standard heavy mortar round documented for the Tyulpan family, with a reported projectile mass of about 130 kg and a maximum range of about 9.65 km when fired from the 2S4.

Cartridge, 105 mm, High-Explosive, M1, 105 mm semi-fixed high-explosive artillery cartridge for 105 mm howitzers, Munitions

MunitionsCartridge, 105 mm, High-Explosive, M1105 mm semi-fixed high-explosive artillery cartridge for 105 mm howitzersThe Cartridge, 105 mm, High-Explosive, M1 is a semi-fixed 105 mm HE artillery cartridge built around a projectile, brass case, primer, and M67 propelling charge. Modern manufacturer documentation describes it as a hollow high-tensile steel projectile used against personnel and materiel, while U.S. Army ammunition listings place M1 HE among current 105 mm artillery products and reference its role as standard 105 mm HE ammunition.

OF61 base-bleed projectile, 152 mm base-bleed artillery projectile, Munitions

MunitionsOF61 base-bleed projectile152 mm base-bleed artillery projectileThe OF61 base-bleed projectile, normally marked 3OF61, is a Russian Federation-developed 152 mm high-explosive fragmentation round built for long-barrel artillery such as the 2A65 Msta-B. Its steel-bodied base-bleed design pushes the projectile to about 29 km, putting it among the longer-range Russian 152 mm shells in service.

Sources

203mm shells for 2A44 howitzerPublisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports Sazhenets as a 203 mm nuclear shell for the 2A44 family, including the listed 110 kg weight, 17.8 kg A-IX-20 filler, point-detonating fuse, and improved-design note over Kleshchevina. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 2S7 203-mm Self-Propelled GunPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the 2S7 203 mm gun context and the special-charge family that includes Sazhenets. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 The Soviet Red Army's nuclear artillery and its ammunitionPublisher: iNEWS | Note: Supports image provenance for the shell display photo and general Soviet 203 mm nuclear artillery context. | Accessed: 2026-06-23