Self-Propelled Complete Guide

Autoloading and 52 are the Trend

The passing of the Crusader left many uncertainties in its wake. Many others, Defence equipment now in low rate pro- away from the US Army, were waiting to see how that project would emerge duction in the USA. It has been forecast that future CTD enhancements will and how it would impinge on their own future developments and require- include some features of the 56- ments. In the meantime, self-propelled artillery equipment from past design calibre ordnance and mounting originally generations will have to be retained, with no immediate prospect of any far- intended for the Crusader. The ammuni- reaching changes in the immediate offing, other than a general trend towards tion load is initially planned as 30 rounds and 102 modular charges, with resupply greater mobility and less weight. back-up provided by trucks equipped with automated handling equipment. Extend- Eric H. Biass and less bulk and weight compared with what ed range will be catered for by firing stan- has appeared before. It is a virtual cer- dard enhanced range Nato projectiles, Terry J. Gander tainty that any future self-propelled including the still developmental XM987 artillery system will be based on the Excalibur providing a range of over 40,000 he American self-propelled artillery 155 mm calibre, most other existing cali- metres from a 39-calibre barrel. Some community was indeed plunged into bres, with the possible exception of the form of in-flight trajectory correction sys- T a state of uncertainty and semi- former Warsaw Pact Bloc 152 mm for tem will probably become involved. uproar by the demise of the US Army's legacy reasons, becoming outmoded. planned XM2001/XM2002 Crusader As one possible indication of what the 155 mm self-propelled artillery system future might bring, United Defense LP is «It is a virtual certainty during 2001. The US Army banked heav- currently constructing what is termed a ily on the Crusader as being the way Concept Technology Demonstrator that any future self- ahead and had planned much to follow its (CTD) to determine the exact form the propelled artillery system introduction, but the Crusader was axed. artillery component of the US Army's It simply got too heavy and complicated Future Combat Systems (FCS) will take. will be based on the for the type of operations for which the Although it is too early to make empiri- 155 mm calibre…» US armed forces expect to be called upon cal statements, it appears that the CTD in the years ahead. The circumstances will be more compact and self-contained and deployment factors inherent in the than the Crusader, and it will have to be Mechanically, the CTD will feature a recent campaign in Iraq merely empha- light and small enough to be air trans- newly designed chassis and hull, with sised the fact that the anticipated battle portable in a C-130 transport aircraft. power provided by a diesel-electric drive scenarios of the Cold War period seem The design intention of the CTD will system. Stabilisation during firing, which increasingly unlikely to reoccur.The Cru- have a crew of just two, driver and gun- is intended to include rapid fire at vary- sader therefore had to go – and it did. ner/commander, under armoured cover at ing angle of barrel elevation to provide An indication of some possible future the front of the vehicle. This manpower several simultaneous impacts on a target trends can be seen in one US programme saving will be offset by a high degree of area, will be assisted by two recoil spades currently underway, although it will be on-platform automation, including powered from the rear. The rate of burst many years before US Army gunners get remotely controlled ammunition handling fire is set initially at up to six rounds per their hands on any resultant practical and loading. The CTD will initially carry minute, the in-service intention being ten hardware. With the Crusader gone other an externally located 155 mm M777 39- rounds per minute. technological avenues are being calibre ordnance, recoil and mounting, all It has to be stressed that the CTD is a explored, the overall emphasis being on taken from the towed BAE Systems, RO technical concept venture. Many innova-

armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 43 dismount to serve the gun-howitzer so they become vulnerable once dismount- ed, but on the other hand, this is amply compensated by the extreme speed at which the Caesar can be put into opera- tion and then removed.The Caesar carries 18 ready-to-use rounds with another 72 rounds carried on a matching Unimog- based 6 6 ammunition resupply vehicle. The combat weight of the Caesar is about 17,700 kg, so it is relatively light and com- pact, sufficient for air transport of the complete ordnance and chassis in one piece inside a C-130 type transport air- The instant of firing for a Giat 155 mm Caesar. (Giat) craft. To do this, a hatch is opened in the roof of the cab and the windscreen hinged tions and modifications will inevitably be will want as many artillery assets at his down over the bonnet, enabling the barrel introduced as testing continues, so the disposable as can be provided.Therefore, to be fully lowered. The Caesar’s mobility end product may emerge as very differ- the self-propelled artillery accent is now is not to be noticed only for the high agili- ent from the brief outline provided here. on light weight and portability, rather ty of its chassis and gun laying system but Complete Guide It seems unlikely that US gunners will get than on the heavily armoured platforms also on its Fast-Hit command and posi- their hands on fieldable CTD-based that populate many current gun parks.As tioning system. Very briefly, the Fast-Hit hardware before the end of this decade, a result, something has to suffer for these can be compared with a graphic e-mail at the earliest, with a high degree of mobility assets. Crew and system protec- device that enables a commander to per- probability that it will be some years after tion almost inevitably has to be reduced, manently know the status and position of then.That is, if the CTD programme does but not totally ignored. all his guns and re-despatch them with not undertake the same route as the unfortunate Crusader. In the meantime, the US Army will have to remain content with the 155 mm M109A6 Paladin for years to come.

Wheels Until recently, most artillery systems depended on a relatively heavy tracked chassis to provide the degree of battle- field mobility demanded by full scale warfare, as well as providing protection for the system and its crew. Mobility and protection remain high on the require- ment list of any potential self-propelled artillery customer, but other considera- tions now intrude. What is going to be needed more and more in the future is the ability for artillery systems to become more flexible in their applications, plus An image of things to come – an artist's impression of a 52-calibre G5 ordnance on a they are expected to be more effective wheeled chassis – the Condor. (Denel) once in action. The increasing need to transport Clamped securely into the high mobil- new firing orders. The gun driver receives artillery by air at short notice means that ity bracket comes the French Giat 155 mm the information on his display and, once in most cases it is not possible to rapidly Caesar, with a 52-calibre barrel mounted on spot, positions the truck in the desired deliver many current self-propelled sys- on a truck chassis. The latter is a Mer- position. The system subsequently per- tems by air or sea, especially within limit- cedes-Benz Unimog 2450 6 6 with an forms all the final bearing and elevation ed time scales and in the quantities that armoured cab for the driver and crew adjustments for each one of the firings. will be needed. Yet any gunner officer when travelling. Part of the crew has to Malaysia, where the gun underwent

Table Key

No System nomenclature No Caesar No Mobat No LWSPH No G6 (above: 52) Ma Manufacturer Ma Giat Ma RDM Ma STK Ma Denel Ca Calibre of the system Ca 155 mm Ca 105 mm Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Cc Crew complement Cc 6 Cc 4 Cc 4 Cc 6 Lo Length of ordnance Lo 52 calibres Lo 33 calibres Lo 39 calibres Lo 45 or 52 calibres Bl Length of barrel Bl 8.06 metres Bl 3.465 metres Bl 6.045 metres Bl 6.97 /8.06 metres Wt Weight in action Wt 17,680 kg Wt ca 10,000 kg Wt 7000 kg Wt 47,000 kg Me Max barrel elevation Me -3 to +66° Me -1 to +30° Me (est) 0 to +45° Me -5 to +75° Mt Max barrel traverse Mt 34° Mt 90° Mt (est) 45° Mt 80° Mr Max poss range Mr 39,000 metres Mr 19,200 metres Mr 30,000 metres Mr 39.3 or 53.6 km Pw Projectile weight Pw 43.25 kg Pw 14.30 kg Pw 43.50 kg Pw 45.3 kg

44 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 30,000 metres firing Extended Range Full Bore Base Bleed (ERFB-BB) pro- jectiles of local manufacture. Rear-locat- ed recoil spades are deployed to assist platform stabilisation during firing. The LWSPH is still in the prototype stage but has already aroused a great deal of inter- est, especially from Italy where Otobreda has announced that it is to join STK in developing a variant with a 155 mm 39- calibre barrel designed by Otobreda. Beyond their ease of deployment and Model of the Bofors Defence 155 mm FH-77BD. (TJG/Armada) high versatility, truck-mounted howitzers also offer the advantage of being road- extensive trials - including firings entirely calibre barrel, and the ordnance used in legal to the extent that should need be, performed by its own army - very nearly the prototype was supplied by RO they can use motorways by driving bought between a dozen and a score, but Defence. The complete LWSPH really is straight through toll stations, as any other the idea had to be shelved due to other lightweight; for it currently weighs about truck would.The same applies when they financial priorities. The French Army has 7000 kg ready to move and it is expected need to refill at a petrol station. ordered a batch of five Caesars for that, following further development, this There are several other wheeled self- Complete Guide extended field trials (they will have been number will be reduced even more. The propelled platforms in prospect. One, delivered by the time these lines are pub- LWSPH can therefore be transported in a about which very little is known, comes lished), but there is more in store: the C-130 Hercules aircraft with relative from Yugoslavia (or perhaps Serbia French defence procurement agency has ease, or carried slung under a CH-47 Chi- would be a better term). This involves a indeed very recently issued a request for nook or CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter. 155 mm 52-calibre barrel mounted on the offers from Giat for 72 units. The LWSPH travels on a 4 4 wheeled rear of a Fap 2832 8 8 cargo truck chas- The Caesar has managed to find a new space frame chassis at a maximum road sis.This project is still in the prototype fir- market spot at the right time, for truck- speed of 80 km/h and has a range of ing trials stage. borne artillery is fast becoming a pre- ferred option. The Jordan Armed Forces have recently ordered 18 Mobat (Mobile Artillery) truck-mounted 105 mm how- itzers from the Dutch concern of RDM Technology.The Mobat has been demon- strated mounted on a Daf 4 4 truck chassis, but it is not yet certain which vehicle will be involved with the Jordan- ian order. The howitzer is an updated version of the venerable 105 mm M101 howitzer, modernised by the installation of a new 33-calibre barrel and some mod- ifications to the top carriage. The longer barrel provides a standard range of 14,000 metres firing conventional 105 mm projectiles, or 19,200 metres with enhanced range projectiles. Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) has joined in the lightweight con- test with its innovative 155 mm Light- Weight Self-Propelled Howitzer (LWSPH).This 155 mm system has a 39- On a 29,000 kg footprint stands the ubiquitous M109A6 Paladin. (United Defense)

Another wheeled project,yet to appear Maximum elevation in hardware form, is a light self-propelled for the 52-calibre version of the normally towed Denel/ barrel of the Denel Lyttleton Engineering Works' 155 mm 155 mm G6-52. G5-2000 howitzer, the 52-calibre version (Denel) of the well-established G5.This is the Con- dor, or T5-52, originally developed for possible adoption by and therefore based on a Tatra 8 8 truck produced under license by Beml in-country. The T5-52 employs the top carriage of the G5-2000 mounted on a flat, open platform with deployable stabiliser legs to hold things steady during firing. The T5-52 is still in the pre-prototype stage so many of its details have yet to be finalised. Firing 155 mm ERFB-BB enhanced range pro- jectiles, such as those in the Somchem Assegai series, and using a modular pro- pellant charge system, the G5-2000/T5-52 Condor can achieve ranges of more than 40,000 metres. It has also been proposed that the Denel 105 mm Light Experimen-

46 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 tal Ordnance (Leo) could be mounted on a light, wheeled, self-propelled truck-type chassis but that project remains some way off in the future.

More Wheels The Lightweights are not the only self- propelled artillery equipments travelling on wheels. For nearly two decades there has been the example of the South African Denel/LIW 155 mm G6. The G6 seems to have been involved in a seemingly con- stant state of detail development from the time it first entered service back in 1988. Test firing of a 155 mm T6 turret on the Denel ranges. (Denel) Since then numerous innovations have been introduced to the vehicle and gun The standard G6 with a 45-calibre bar- programme is being extended by installing system to improve almost everything, rel, as in service in South Africa, has new Deutz diesel engine packs. RDM from ballistic performance and possible remarkable cross-country agility, yet Technology of the Netherlands is offering rate of fire to ergonomics and handling. involves a combat weight of 47,000 kg, a 52-calibre M109 update package. Complete Guide The latest innovation is more drastic, since more than some tracked battle tanks. It The G6 is not the only wheeled self- the adoption of a 155 mm 52-calibre bar- also has a very useful road range of 700 km propelled artillery system in existence, rel to match that used with the towed G5- and can carry 45 projectiles plus their for it was preceded as far back as the late 1970s by the 152 mm Dana gun-howitzer from what was then Czechoslovakia. Fast becoming the Since then the Dana, based around an standard European armoured Tatra 8 8 truck chassis, has self-propelled undergone significant development that howitzer, the Krauss- led to the longer barrelled 152 mm Maffei Wegmann Ondava (which did not pass the proto- PzH 2000. (KMW) type stage). Then came the 155 mm Zuzana, firing either Nato standard pro- jectiles or 40,000-metre range ERFB-BB projectiles manufactured in both Slova- kia and the Czech Republic. The in-service 45-calibre Zuzana is now the manufacturing responsibility of ZTS Dubnica nad Vahom of Slovakia, although various Czech concerns contin- ue to supply some elements of the sys- tem.Apart from being in service with Slo- vakia, the Zuzana has also been procured in limited numbers by Greece (the Zuzana 2000G) and Cyprus, and is now 2000 and the fully automated autoloader associated modular charges. It continues the only member of the original Dana have commanded a major redesign of the to be a world leader in its class and has family still available for production. turret. This model is known as the G6-52 achieved some measure of export success It has been proposed that the Zuzana and was featured at the Idex exhibition in with sales to Oman and the United Arab turret and its associated components March 2003. The turret, it is worthy of Emirates (UAE). The UAE is also using could be mounted on a T-72M1 tank chas- notice, also incorporates an assisted the G6 gun-laying and navigation integral sis. Development of this variant is thought autoloader replenishment system. Using fire control system as an enhancement to to be complete, although production has the Somchem rocket and BB assisted V- the 47-calibre M109L47 155 mm gun, yet to commence. Also available is an Lap (Velocity-enhanced Long-range Pro- which increases sub-system commonality ammunition carrier based around a chas- jectile) this barrel can achieve ranges of throughout self-propelled artillery assets. sis matching that of the Zuzana. It is antic- around 53,600 metres. Even longer-range The guns came from Ruag Land Systems ipated that future Zuzana production projectiles are in the pipeline. of Switzerland, and the UAE M109L47 models will be powered by MAN diesels

No Zuzana No FH-77BD No PzH 2000 No AS90 No GCT Ma ZTS Ma Bofors Ma KMW/Rheinmetall Ma Royal Ordnance Ma Giat Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Cc 4 Cc 6 Cc 5 Cc 5 Cc 4 Lo 52 calibres Lo 45 calibres Lo 52 calibres Lo 52 calibres Lo 40 calibres Bl 8.05 metres Bl 6.97 metres Bl 8.06 metres Bl 8.06 metres Bl 6.2 metres Wt 26,600 kg Wt 30,000 kg Wt 55,330 kg Wt 45,000 kg Wt 38,000 kg Me -3.5 to +70° Me 0 to +70° Me -3 to +65° Me -5 to +70° Me - 4 to +66° Mt 60° Mt 60° Mt 360° Mt 360° Mt 360° Mr 39,600 metres Mr 39,000 metres Mr 39,600 metres Mr 39,600 metres Mr 29,000 metres Pw 45.30 kg Pw 45.30 kg Pw 45.30 kg Pw 45.3 kg Pw 43.25 kg

48 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 to date, gained the larger share of the market, and in the process has become what must be regarded as the European standard self-propelled howitzer in its class in the same way that the Leopard 2 has become the standard European bat- tle tank. The PzH 2000 has already been ordered by Germany (185), Greece (24), Italy (70) and the Netherlands (57), and more European sales are in prospect – Sweden has tested two systems for a possible future coastal defence artillery system. The PzH 2000 must be regarded as a highly advanced artillery platform with a 52-calibre barrel, an automatic or This example of a BAE Systems, RO Defence 155 mm AS90 still wears its original semi-automatic loading system holding 39-calibre barrel. These are soon to be replaced by a 52-calibre component. (BAE 60 projectiles and 288 modular charges Systems, RO Defence) and numerous other refinements such as an integral land navigation system. If nec- rather than the current Tatra twelve-cylin- tion conclusion, so the Bofors FH-77BD, essary, the system can be moved and Complete Guide der diesel. The MAN diesel will be along with several other candidates, operated by a team of three,although five matched to an automatic transmission. awaits the final decision - the selection is the normal complement. All manner The Zuzana has also entered the 52-cal- programme has already lasted years. of rapid fire sequences can be accom- ibre ordnance club. A test version is cur- The Bofors FH-77BD will weigh about rently undergoing firing trials with an eye 30,000 kg.The Zuzana has a combat weight to future export sales. If the 52-calibre of around 28,600 kg while, as already men- Zuzana does enter production it may tioned, the G6 weighs in at 47,000 kg. include many other state-of-the-art Therefore, none of these three wheeled enhancements. In addition to its usual field self-propelled artillery equipments can be artillery functions the Zuzana has been classified as light, yet all three do provide proposed as a coastal artillery system. protection for the gun and crew. Sweden has entered the wheeled self- propelled artillery arena by mounting one New Tracks of its 155 mm products on Volvo articulat- ed 6 6 truck chassis with an armoured With the Crusader out of the way, two 155 cab, a configuration already tested for the mm self-propelled systems dominate the 120 mm Karin coastal defence gun. The market, the German Frontal view of the Slovakian 155 mm Zuzana based around a Tatra 8 8 Still going strong chassis. (Armada files) and one of the systems to be plished, starting with three rounds in modified by the about nine seconds as well as the ability addition of a 52- to place three or so rounds on target calibre barrel, the simultaneously by varying the barrel ele- Giat GCT AUF1. vation between shots. (Armada/EHB) The PzH 2000 weighs around 55,330 kg when combat ready so it is almost as heavy as most battle tanks, but it features many measures that ensure a good cross- country performance and high surviv- ability under the most arduous condi- original intention was to provide a greater (PzH 2000) and the British AS90. Both tions. Power is provided by a 1000 hp measure of mobility to the Swedish have numerous competitors but those two MTU diesel. Army's Bofors 155 mm FH-77B towed remain the chief contenders. Compared with the market inroads howitzers. Following evaluation trials with Of the two, the German Krauss- made by the PzH 2000, the sales record of an FH-77A howitzer (which has a 38-cali- Maffei Wegmann (KMW) PzH 2000 has, the BAE Systems, RO Defence AS90 and bre barrel combined with a non Nato stan- dard ammunition system) and a Volvo chassis, attentions turned to the 39-calibre The Iranian effort at FH-77B, which does employ Nato com- joining the big gun patible ammunition. league is illustrated The resultant Bofors Defence AB self- here with the propelled project then became the FH- 155 mm Raad-2, 77BD, with a 45-calibre barrel and the or Thunder 2. (DIO) long-term prospect of a 52-calibre barrel, should production commence. Bofors Defence has turned its export attentions to India, which already has the towed FH- 77B in service in quantity (originally 410), so the 45-calibre FH-77BD has been scheduled for trials as part of a long-term selection programme to re-equip a least a portion of Indian artillery batteries.As yet the programme has not arrived at a selec-

50 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 While relatively new systems are being mentioned,a new 52-calibre system with an M109 type configuration is soon to be announced by Singapore Technologies Kinetics. Watch this space.

Veterans The term M109 has cropped up several times in this survey. The first examples of the M109 entered US Army service as far back as 1961 and became available for export from 1971 onwards. Since then the M109 has been progressively upgraded from a stubby 155 mm barrel up to the lat- A Russian 152 mm 2S19 at a defence exhibition in Russia. (Armada/YL) est form, the M109 International export version, with a 52-calibre barrel. Numer- its export version, the Braveheart, have porate both a 52-calibre barrel and an ous sub-system and component improve- been more modest. The main customer to autoloader. Thus endowed, the AUF2 – ments have been introduced to match, date has been the British Army (179) while the first prototype of which is due to roll including power packs, and over the years Complete Guide has adopted the turret and arma- out by the end of 2003 – will be able to the M109 has been licence produced or ment suite for installation on a locally speed out rounds to a range of 42 kilo- copied in many forms. The only constant developed chassis that will convert the metres at a rate of ten per minute. The throughout all these changes has been a AS90 to the Krab.A Desert AS90 has been autoloader has a capacity of 42 rounds. steady increase in weight, from nearly proposed for sales in hot/dry regions. Some 70 AUF2s are expected to be pro- 25,000 kg for the original to 29,000 kg or The AS90 started its service life with a cured. Like a number of the turrets so for the M109A6 Paladin. 39-calibre barrel, but a conversion pro- described here,the AUF2 can be dropped The M109 series has been produced in gramme has introduced a 52-calibre bar- on perfectly suitable chassis belonging to thousands and it will remain the most rel with all the attendant range and other obsolescent tank systems, the T-72 being, widely used and numerically important ballistic performance advantages.The on- of course, the usual example. Western Bloc self-propelled artillery sys- board navigation, gun-laying and other The T-72 is involved with a South tem for many years to come. It will be sub-systems of the AS90 are no less African programme that comprises tak- encountered in many forms and sub-vari- advanced than those on the PzH 2000, ing what is basically a G6 155 mm 52-cal- allowing each individual vehicle to oper- ibre gun turret and placing it on a T-72 as ate autonomously should the need arise. part of the already mentioned Indian re- All barrel-laying drives are electrical, equipment selection contest.The turret is providing rapid pointing. known as the T6, produced by LIW, a Placing an artillery turret on an exist- Denel division. One sales feature of the ing tank chassis is a well-established prac- T6 is that when firing the Somchem V- tice, one example being Giat placing a Lap projectile ranges of around 53,600 specially developed 155 mm 40-calibre metres can be achieved. Despite exten- artillery turret on an AMX-30 tank chas- sive testing within India, no production sis to form the GCT AUF1. Currently decision has yet been announced. some 94 AUF1s are being retrofitted to Other relatively recent arrivals on the the new AUF1-TA standard, which self-propelled artillery scene include the entails upgrading to a more powerful South Korean 155 mm K9 Thunder. At 750-horsepower Renault E9 engine and first sight the K9 Thunder is based around the installation of the Thales Atlas system a modernised M109 but with a 52-calibre (Automatisation de Tir et des Liaisons barrel. The resemblance is not surprising l'Artillerie Sol- sol). for what is now Samsung Techwin, Giat has also been contracted by the Defense Program Division licence pro- French procurement agency DGA to duced well over 1000 M109s for local pur- develop yet another improvement pack- poses. It is in service with the Republic of The Denel G6-52 features an age. Designated AUF2, the upgrade is Korea Army (type classification was as autoloader and the autoloader somehow more drastic, as it involves a recent as 1998) and on order for the Turk- replenishment system seen here. complete redesign of the turret to incor- ish Land Forces Command. (Armada/EHB)

No K9 Thunder No M109A6 Paladin No 2S19 MSTA-S No 2S5 Giatsint-S No Type 54-1 Ma Samsung Ma United Defense Ma Uraltransmash Ma Uraltransmash Ma Norinco Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Ca 152 mm Ca 152 mm Ca 1522 mm Cc 5 Cc 4 Cc 5 Cc 5 Cc 7 Lo 52 calibres Lo 39 calibres Lo 47 calibres Lo 49 calibres Lo 23 calibres Bl 8.06 metres Bl 6.045 metres Bl 7.14 metres Bl 8.19 metres Bl 2.80 metres Wt 43,300 kg Wt 28.850 kg Wt 42,000 kg Wt 28,200 kg Wt 15,400 kg Me -2.5 to +70° Me -3 to +75° Me -4 to +68° Me -2 to +57° Me -2 to +57° Mt 360° Mt 360° Mt 360° Mt 30° Mt 45° Mr 40,000 metres Mr 30,000 metres Mr 28,900 metres Mr 37,000 metres Mr 11,800 metres Pw 45 kg Pw 43.5 kg Pw 42.80 kg Pw 34.00 kg Pw n/a

52 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 ants – for instance, the Swiss Army together with an elongated 52-calibre M109A1Bs have been upgraded to carry barrel variant, the 2S19M1. the 47-calibre barrels produced by Ruag. Also being actively marketed That update programme has been only (although it is apparently out of series one of many. production) is a self-propelled gun, the Designs that owe much to the M109 152 mm 2S5. This is the self-propelled include a 45-calibre offering from Norinco equivalent of the 152 mm 2S36 and has an (the PLZ 45, 54 of which have been sold to identical ballistic performance,delivering Kuwait), and the Japanese Mitsubishi enhanced range projectiles to up to Heavy Industries Type 75 and Type 99.The 37,000 metres. The only known non-CIS M109 chassis was also used as the basis for customer is understood to be . an Iranian 155 mm system, the 39-calibre Norinco continues to market what must Raad 2, also known as the Thunder 2, from now be one of the oldest (in design terms) the Iranian Defence Industries Organiza- of all current self-propelled equipments, tion (DIO), Armour Industries Group. the 122 mm Type 54-1 carrying the locally- manufactured version of the towed M-30 East howitzer on a Type 531 armoured person- nel carrier chassis. Although the Type 54-1 For Egypt, United Defense LP modified The Singapore Technologies Light would appear to be at best obsolescent it an M109 turret and chassis to accommo- Weight Self-Propelled Howitzer rests should have great attraction to many less Complete Guide date a 122 mm D-30 ordnance to create on a purpose-developed spaceframe well-endowed nations who require a self- the SP 122. This prompts mention of self- chassis. (Armada/EHB) propelled artillery capability. propelled artillery from the former War- To extend its self-propelled artillery saw Pact nations where for many years the chassis and hull, in this case a combina- offerings, Norinco also markets vehicles scene was dominated by two main sys- tion of T-72 and T-80 components. On the carrying locally manufactured 122 mm tems, the 122 mm 2S1 and the 152 mm 2S9, 2S19, reloading the bulky turret with D-30 howitzers and 130 mm M-46 guns. both purpose-designed systems dating fresh rounds involves an ammunition The latter is based on the same from the early 1970s. These two veterans handling chute through the rear wall. Up turret/chassis combination as the 152 mm may still be encountered almost anywhere to 50 rounds can be carried for firing out Type 83, now no longer in production but throughout the world where Soviet mili- to ranges of 24,700 metres, the load essentially similar to the Russian 2S9 as tary aid once extended but neither has including the option of the KBP both hail from the same design genera- proved particularly amenable to much Krasnopol laser-guided projectile (the tion.The one thing all these Norinco offer- upgrading in ballistic terms so both are seeker, designed by Lomo, guides the ings have in common is that none of them gradually sinking into obsolescence. round to its laser-marked destination).To appear to have been exported in quantity. Their place has been assumed by more make the 2S19 more attractive to poten- The 122 mm D-30 and 130 mm M-46 have modern designs, typical of which is the tial Nato ammunition users, a 155 mm apparently found no takers while the only 152 mm 2S19 (MSTA-S), a reversion to a version renamed the 2S19M has been known sales of the 122 mm Type 54/1 turret-centred system carried by a tank proposed (and tested in South Africa), involved a batch of 36 to Bolivia.

Towed Artillery –

Range and Light Weight Is the Motto

Following the growing acceptance of self-propelled artillery from World War II owed artillery will be with us for as far onwards, many pundits have been forecasting the demise of its towed brother. ahead as can be forecast for several T other reasons other than just portabil- According to some accepted thinking, towed artillery is too exposed on the ity.There is the cost factor; for, as a gener- battlefield, takes too long to get in and out of action and relies on vulnerable al rule, towed artillery is less expensive in tractor vehicles to move it any distance. All this may be true, but towed artillery unit and maintenance terms than the more complex self-propelled platforms.It makes is still around for several reasons, not the least being that it can be transported fewer demands on transport-related infra- long distances much more easily than its self-propelled counterparts, notably structures, such as bridging, especially when rapid deployment and special forces are involved. when some self-propelled systems weigh

54 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 replace them). There are now three main calibre brackets. One is 105 mm, the next upward bracket being 122 and 130 mm, and then 152 or 155 mm. 105 mm remains widespread for the simple reason it delivers a useful projectile to a reasonable range and it is well estab- lished within many gun parks throughout the world, many pieces still dating from the 1939 to 1945 time period. It is also rel- atively light. As has been indicated in

«…there are some types of battlefield terrain where the deployment of self-propelled

Complete Guide artillery would be well Bringing the Giat 105 mm LG1 Mark II light gun into action. (Giat) nigh impossible.»

almost as much as battle tanks. In addition, calibres larger than 155 mm or less than there are some types of battlefield terrain 105 mm now rather rare, such examples many campaigns where light forces haves where the deployment of self-propelled being relics of a bygone era retained for to operate in difficult or remote areas (the artillery would be well nigh impossible. some special purpose or task that rarely Falkland Islands campaign of 1982 comes Combat in mountainous areas presents arises (or the user lacks the funds to to mind), towed 105 mm artillery is the but one example of this terrain factor, while for amphibious warfare towed artillery remains the norm. To round mat- ters off, many towed artillery systems are readily air-portable, including swift moves by helicopters.

Expectancy Gunners expect much from the guns and howitzers that they serve.Close to the top of their requirements list is, as always, as much range as can be achieved. Another is that the overall system weight be kept as light as possible for, in the last resort, towed artillery still has to rely on physical labour to a considerable extent.There are many other demands but range and weight tend to predominate. Towed artillery and ordnance design therefore has to maintain a precarious balance. Pack in too much range potential in the form of long barrels and powerful charges and weight tends to rise alarm- ingly. Make the ordnance and carriage too light and they fail to withstand the hard rigours of warfare. Towed artillery comes in many cali- The Denel/LIW 105 mm Light Experimental Ordnance (Leo) in the process of making bres, from 75 up to 155 mm, with artillery its presence felt. (Denel)

No M101/33 No LG Mark II No Light Gun No Leo No Model 56 Ma RDM Ma Giat Ma Royal Ordnance Ma Denel Ma Otobreda Ca 105 mm Ca 105 mm Ca 105 mm Ca 105 mm Ca 105 mm Lo 33 calibres Lo 30 calibres Lo 37 calibres Lo 57 calibres Lo 14 calibres Bl 3.51 metres Bl 3.15 metres Bl 3.88 metres Bl 5.98 metres Bl 1.47 metres Wt 2150 kg Wt 1520 kg Wt 1860 kg Wt 3500 kg Wt 1290 kg Me -6 to +70° Me -3 to +70° Me 5.5 to +70° Me -5 to +75° Me -5 to +65° Mt 46° Mt 36° Mt 360° Mt 40° Mt 36° Mr 19,500 metres Mr 18.500 metres Mr 21,000 metres Mr 30,000 metres Mr 10,575 metres Pw 14.30 kg Pw 13 kg Pw 16 kg Pw 15.80 kg Pw 14.97 kg

56 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 Complete Guide considered as coming to the end of their useful lives. This will not be marked by a process of direct replacement by more modern designs, but one alternative is the now commonly-encountered artillery practise of installing longer barrels to increase the range, plus altering the recoil and recuperator mechanisms to suit.Some of these updates,often supplied in kit form to keep the conversion work local, also include strengthening the carriage where necessary. Rheinmetall DeTec was an early entrant into this field, for it converted all the M101s held by the then West German Bundeswehr to accommodate longer bar- rels that increased the maximum possible range (using standard projectiles) from The Otobreda 105 mm Pack Howitzer Model 56 has been around for what seems like 11,270 to 14,100 metres. Before long oth- forever but is still going strong. (TJG/Armada) ers joined the M101 update market, Giat heaviest than can be deployed. It is thus held by many of the more advanced armed forces for just this special opera- tions role, while for many of the world's armed forces 105 mm is about as large as they will ever need (or be able to afford). These two factors have loomed over the sales success of the British BAE Systems, RO Defence, 105 mm Light Gun. The 122 and 130 mm calibres are no longer favoured by artillery designers or users.Most in-service designs in these cal- ibres date back several decades, with one of the most frequently encountered for- mer Soviet design, the 122 mm D-30 how- itzer, dating back to 1938. There is also the 130 mm Field Gun M-46 dating from the early 1950s Soviet era and still in widespread service the world over. Nearly all design and operational emphasis is now placed on the 152 and 155 mm calibres for the main towed ONFORMING artillery component within field batter- C ies. The East/West divide between 152 and 155 seems likely to remain effective TO YOUR ENVIRONMENT for some time, mainly for legacy reasons. However, there are indications (such as from the Czech Republic and Poland) BARCO’S MODULAR LCD SOLUTIONS that a limited changeover from Eastern Bloc 152 to Nato standard 155 mm has been initiated. It seems highly unlikely that a complete switch to 155 mm will ever be made. Large-scale 152 mm Barco’s extensive range of options offers a solution for a wide range of ammunition and barrel manufacturing C4I applications: facilities remain in being while, for both • Separate or integrated LCD and electronics gunners and recipients, the on-target dif- • 17", 18", 21.3" and 24” Display Modules • Resolution from SXGA to WUXGA ferences between 152 and 155 mm have • User-configurable Display Control Module become academic. Another switch to 155 • On-board video mixing can be seen with the proposed enhancing • Front bonding for superior ruggedization and lowest reflections of the 130 mm M-46 gun and M114 how- • Automatic Phase Adjust (APA) itzer to accommodate 155 mm barrels, of • LCD Flicker Compensation (LFC) (Patented) which more later. •Touch Screen Technology, functionality, reliability and flexibility supported Lights by a global sales and services network, that is Barco. One of the most numerous items of towed artillery still in service must be the US 105 INNOVATORS IN IMAGE PROCESSING mm Howitzer M101 - it is listed as being in service with over 60 countries. Although BarcoView BarcoView, LLC some production of this time-honoured Phone: +32 56 233 413 Phone: +1 678 475 8000 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] piece was undertaken as recently as 1983, the major proportion of those still around www.barcoview.com date from the 1940-1945 period so, sturdy and reliable as they may be, many must be

armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 57 nology demonstrator intended, in simple but rather extraordinary terms, to obtain a 155 mm performance package from a 105 mm gun and carriage. At the heart of this venture is a combination of a 57- calibre barrel (including a rifled muzzle brake) and Extended Range Full Bore (ERFB) projectile technology that pro- vides a range of 30,000 metres with BB projectiles. The introduction of a proximi- ty fuze combined with an HE projectile having a liner of steel spheres results in a lethal area coverage comparable to that for a 155 mm HE projectile. Should future plans come to fruition the prototype will be further developed into a lighter model incorporating advanced steel alloys to A veteran dating from 1938 but still quite effective – the CIS 122 mm M-30, which is reduce the current system weight of about still available from Norinco of China as the Type 54-1. (Armada/TJG) 3800 kg to approximately 2500. The Leo remains a technology demon- Complete Guide of France and RDM Technology of the a Base Bleed (BB) HE projectile with a strator, but it has attracted a great deal of Netherlands both achieving levels of sales maximum range of 17,500 metres, the attention, especially from the US Army success. For instance, RDM Technology unassisted HE projectile reaching out to where a long-term replacement for the sold its 33-calibre barrel conversion to 15,000. The LG1 remains on offer, with M119A1 Light Guns is under investigation. Canada and Chile, both based around bar- sales in prospect. That programme will probably take years rels developed by RO Defence. Giat sold Over 1000 British Light Guns are in to germinate but in the meantime some its M101 modernisation package to the service with at least 17 countries, aspects of the ammunition could no doubt Philippines and Thailand. In although a few of these obtained their be incorporated into the British Light Gun the Kia Machine Company produced the guns from previous owners while others modernisation or replacement plans. KH 178, an M101 built from new but with hold only token numbers.The largest sin- The Italian Otobreda 105 mm Model a 34-calibre barrel and a maximum range gle user (427) is the US Army with over 56 Pack Howitzer remains on a 'produc- of 14,700 metres. half of them licence manufactured in tion as required' basis, and in service with The 105 mm modernisation market is America as the M119A1 (licence produc- numerous armed forces. Being light and still open. It is known that Greece is inves- tion has also been undertaken in Aus- tigating the possibility of re-barrelling a tralia and Malaysia). The Light Gun has small batch of their M101 holdings for use been around since 1973 but, thanks to its by Marine units.The M101 remains a firm advanced design and manufacturing fea- favourite with many Marine forces, tures, shows little sign of flagging. Mid- including the US Marine Corps. life programmes have been proposed and Two other 105 mm pieces now domi- the latest forms of digital fire control sys- nate the market. RO Defence continues tems have been introduced. The Indian to supply the 105 mm Light Gun and Giat Ordnance Factory Board offer a Light offers the LG1. Of the two, the Light Gun Gun clone known as the 105/37 Light has been the most successful, both numer- Field Gun E1. ically and in the number of user nations, The ammunition family specific to the but Giat has also made significant sales. Light Gun has been enhanced by several Between 1990 and 1996 Giat sold the LG1 concerns, including RO Defence itself, to Belgium, Canada, Indonesia, Singa- Rheinmetall DeTec (which absorbed pore and Thailand. Of these the largest Eurometall) and Expal of Spain.These BB number (37) went to Singapore. These enhanced range projectiles extend the were the LG1 Mark 1 model, the later potential range from a very respectable Mark II having a strengthened barrel to 17,200 metres to more than 21,000. enable it to utilise more powerful propel- Future improvements to the Light Gun lant charges to obtain the maximum pos- might include developments from South sible range from a family of enhanced Africa based around the Denel G7 A light gun for light forces, the BAE range projectiles developed specifically 105 mm Light Experimental Ordnance, or Systems, RO Defence 105 mm Light for the LG1 by Giat. The family includes Leo. At present the Leo remains a tech- Gun. (BAE Systems, RO Defence)

No D-30 No M-30 No 2A36 No 2A65 No D-20 Ma GUPZ Ma CIS Ma CIS Ma CIS Ma Petrov Design Ca 122 mm Ca 122 mm Ca 152 mm Ca 152 mm Ca 152 mm Lo 40 calibres Lo 23 calibres Lo 49 calibres Lo n/available Lo 34 calibres Bl 4.87 metres Bl 2.80 metres Bl 8.19 metres Bl n/available Bl 5.19 metres Wt 3150 kg Wt 2450 kg Wt 9760 kg Wt 7000 kg Wt 5650 kg Me -7 to +70° Me -3 to +63.5° Me -2.5 to +57° Me -3.5 to +70° Me -5 to +63° Mt 360° Mt 49° Mt 50° Mt 54° Mt 58° Mr 17,630 metres Mr 11,800 metres Mr 27,000 metres Mr 24,000 metres Mr 17,140 metres Pw 21.76 kg Pw 21.76 kg Pw 46 kg Pw 43.65 kg Pw 43.51 kg

58 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 Complete Guide features of the D-30, including the car- and the former Yugoslavia. It is no longer riage, were modifications of Germans in production within Russia. The D-30 ideas scheduled for production in 1945, has managed to find its way into what but considerably strengthened and modi- seems like every corner of the world and fied to meet Red Army requirements. it is expected to be around at least for The D-30 manages to deliver a maxi- decades to come. mum range of 15,300 metres (with a 21.76 Another Russian 122 mm howitzer kg HE projectile), a remarkable perform- likely to be encountered almost anywhere ance from a 122 mm howitzer that weighs is the more conventional M1938 (M-30). just over 3000 kg. Over the years the As its designation implies, the M1938 has D-30 has proved to be extremely adapt- been around for a considerable time, yet it able, the latest 2A18M updated model shows little sign of fading from the scene. featuring modifications that allow it to be Production within Russia ceased long ago towed at higher speeds than before, plus but it is still available from Norinco as the some handling improvements. Special 122 mm Type 54-1. The M1938 has been enhanced range ammunition has been altered little over the years, the last exam- developed for the D-30, including ERFB ple off the production line being almost HE projectiles developed by Croatia to identical to the first. It remains simple, increase the maximum range to 17,630 sturdy and reliable and is able to fire the metres. Croatia has manufacturing facili- same projectiles that were later carried ties for the D-30 and the type remains in over to the D-30 ammunition suite production in China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq (although with a different charge system),

question The 52-calibre model of the Giat 155 mm TR towed gun. (Giat) Whose Technology Provides... • QStructure when needed and vanishes when fired handy, the Model 56 is still widely respect- • Enhanced propelling charge safety ed as a masterpiece of artillery design, • Improved ballistic performance now largely considered somewhat out- • Reduced weight and improved logistics moded by delivering a range of only • A consumable packaging capability 10,575 metres firing conventional projec- • Long-term storage and reliability tiles. But that is the price that must be paid for a howitzer that is light and portable enough to be carried in sections by pack answer animals, although it seems that few cus- tomers rely on such transport measures, Armtec offers global solutions for other than in an emergency. all your combustible ordnance needs The former Eastern Bloc offers no •ACustom engineering and product design direct equivalent to the Nato area • Large and small scale production capability 105 mm pieces. Some venerable 76.2 mm Zis-3 field equipment may still be • Propulsion system modernization and refurbishment around, while the 76 mm mountain gun • A team approach dedicated to customer satisfaction GP (M1966) was produced in relatively • Technology transfer small numbers only. Romania has attempted to market the Romarm 98 mm For more information on our products Model 93, another specialised mountain and capabilities please contact us at: artillery pack howitzer, but to date there www.armtecdefense.com appears to have been few takers, proba- bly due to its unique calibre. Ph: (760) 398-0143 Fx: (760) 398-3896 Mediums The main calibres within the medium cate- gory are 122 mm and 130 mm. Both remain the remit of what were once the Warsaw Pact nations, and have what are now con- sidered Russian design origins. For the 122 mm calibre, the main atten- tion must be given to the Howitzer D-30, or 2A18.When it first appeared during the 1960s, the D-30 attracted a great deal of interest due mainly to the triple leg car- riage that permitted a full 360° traverse and the unusual method of towing by a lunette at the muzzle brake. Many of the

armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 59 ing 130 mm ordnance by a 45-calibre 155 A face-to-face mm barrel with all the ammunition stan- view of the dardisation and performance increases latest version of entailed.The long defunct Space Research South Africa’s Corporation (SRC) of Dr Gerry Bull fame 155 mm G5 – was an early exponent of this process, one the -2000. result being the Norinco GM-45. At one (Denel) time the former Yugoslavia offered a sim- ilar update package while Soltam of Israel managed to interest the Indian Army with their similar upgrade (India has about 750 M-46s in its armoury). It seems that Indi- an designers have now made their own product marketed under the name of Metamorphosis, seemingly reflecting local design work but no doubt based on imported knowledge.The Indian project is still at the prototype stage; the intention being that all Indian Army M-46s will become 155 mm one day. RDM Technolo- Complete Guide gy of the Netherlands also offers a 155 mm M-46 upgrade.

maximum range is 11,800 metres, and (Norinco again) while ammunition is 152 mm weight in action is 2450 kg. manufactured in at least twelve countries, The 122 mm gun component, as from Finland (Patria Vammas) to South Before considering the 155 mm calibre it opposed to howitzers, is the Field Gun Africa (Denel). would be well to consider the 152.This has D-74 dating from the late 1940s and The M-46 itself was also produced in long been a Soviet/Russian standard cali- developed as an alternative to the 130 Egypt and is no longer in production bre, the towed pieces reflecting the accept- mm M-46. In the course of events the within Russia. Norinco offers a clone ed long and steady development path M-46 gained the most approval, but the known as the Type 59. where a previous carriage is used to D-74 was still manufactured in significant accommodate a new piece of ordnance. A numbers. It is no longer in Russian front- departure from this practice was made line service but was manufactured by with the 152 mm Gun 2A36 intended to be Norinco as the Type 60 and was exported «Before considering the the replacement for the 130 mm M-46.The to Cuba, Nigeria, Peru and a few other production run of about 1500 units was nations. The D-74 fires a 27.3 kg HE pro- 155 mm calibre it would be modest compared to other local artillery jectile to 24,000 metres. The D-74 has the well to consider the 152. production totals, the Russian Army tak- same carriage and recoil system as the ing 1200. The 2A36 is used by CIS associ- 152 mm Howitzer D-20. This has long been a ated states but not in great numbers. The The 130 mm M-46 can probably boast Soviet/Russian standard most noticeable features of the 2A36 the strongest ordnance and carriage com- remains the long 49-calibre barrel, the two bination in artillery history. It seems that calibre…» road wheels each side to carry the weight everything relating to the M-46 is over- of about 10,000 kg, and its ability to fire a sized and heavy – the total system weight 43.5 kg projectile to 27,000 metres.When a is about 7700 kg. This may be quite a bit rocket-assisted projectile is involved the for a gun crew to conveniently move This ammunition manufacturers' total range increases to 40,000 metres. about yet the dividend is that a 33.24 kg provides only an indication of how wide- More representative of current Russ- projectile can be hurled to a range of spread the issue of the M-46 remains. It ian artillery trends is the 152 mm Gun- 27,490 metres. By adding a BB unit, as has seen frequent action, sometimes with Howitzer 2A65. This is a completely con- accomplished by the Iranian Defence both sides of a conflict, such as when Iran ventional split-trail carriage design dating Industries Organisation, the range can be and Iraq hurled hate at each other during from the mid 1980s and firing an HE pro- increased significantly to 37,000 metres. their costly war of the late 1980s. jectile weighing 43.56 kg to a maximum A 130 mm ERFB BB projectile market- The inherent strength of the M-46 has range of 24,700 metres. To date, the 2A65 ed by Norinco can reach 38,000 metres. meant that it is the subject of a major has not been exported, although it has Cargo projectiles have been developed upgrading process of replacing the exist- been marketed. The 2A65 weighs about

No GH N-45 No G5/2000 No 155 TR/52 No FH2000 No 155/52 APU SBT Ma T & T Ma Denel Ma Giat Ma STK Ma Santa Barbara Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Lo 45 calibres Lo 52 calibres Lo 52 calibres Lo 52 calibres Lo 52 calibres Bl 7.05 metres Bl 8.06 metres Bl 8.06 metres Bl 8.06 metres Bl 8.15 metres Wt 10,070 kg* Wt 13,850 kg Wt 11,000 kg Wt 13,500 kg Wt 13,500 kg Me -5 to +72° Me -3 to +75° Me -6 to +66° Me -3 to +70° Me -3 to +72° Mt 70° Mt 65° Mt 65° Mt 60° Mt 80° Mr 39,600 metres** Mr 52,500 metres Mr 41,500 metres Mr 40,000 metres Mr 41,000 metres Pw 46.50 kg Pw 47.70 kg Pw 43.50 kg Pw 47.70 kg Pw 47.70 kg * 12,350 for A1 model with APU-equipped self-propelled ** 50 km with Denel’s Assegai munitions

60 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 mercial variant of the original SRC design, soon resulting in several other sim- ilar-looking systems, such as the Norinco Type WA 021. What is now Singapore Technologies Kinetics came up with the FH-88. Soltam of Israel offered the option of either 39- or 45-calibre barrels with the Model 839P and 845P howitzers while what is now Patria Vammas offered 39- or 45-calibre versions of the M-83. Perhaps the most influential of the 45- calibre howitzers was (and still is) the South African Denel G5. The G5 was made far more robust and adaptable than the original SRC models, combining input from both SRC itself and the South Africans. In many ways the G5 is typical of the 45-calibre howitzers in being large and heavy enough to warrant an auxiliary Complete Guide power unit to power the road wheels dur- ing short moves and creating hydraulic power to open and close the split trail car- riage legs and for other services, such as lifting the recoil spades. The G5 is also typical in being one of the first towed 155 mm artillery pieces to feature a 52-calibre barrel. The G5 then became the G5-2000. Firing the Somchem V-Lap (Velocity-enhanced Long-range Projectile) that manages to combine rock- et assistance with BB, ranges of 53,600 The Denel LIW G5-52 has recently completed its initial trials at the Alkantpan firing test metres or so can be achieved (at least range in South Africa. The new 52-calibre gun includes an electrically-driven chain 42,000 metres from a 45-calibre barrel). rammer which loads both the projectile and the charge in the gun barrel, a projectile The G5-2000 also introduces all-digital fire magazine holding six projectiles in two layers and a small crane that transfers three control and handing improvements. projectiles at a time from a ground pile to the projectile magazine. (Denel) Other candidates for the 52-calibre 155 mm towed artillery market include 7000 kg when firing, considerably more tered in Belgium, upset the apple cart by Giat with the 155 TR/52 Towed Gun (an than the 152 mm 2A61 which weighs 4350 introducing the 45-calibre barrel and the upgrade of the 155 TR), STK with its kg. The 2A61 shares the same 360° tra- super-streamlined ERFB projectiles with FH2000, the Santa Barbara Sistemas verse carriage as the 125 mm 2A45M anti- an optional BB unit to enhance ranges by 155 mm 155/52 APU SBT howitzer and tank gun but as yet it seems to have a significant factor. Ranges of 40,000 the Finnish Patria Vammas 155 mm 155 remained a prototype. metres became possible, far outstripping GH 52 APU. All these systems, and oth- Not to be forgotten is the 152 mm the 39-calibres' ERFB BB capability of ers still in the pipeline (such as a gun- Gun-Howitzer D-20, manufactured in 30,000 metres, so before long others had howitzer supposedly under development China as the Type 66. During the late joined the 45-calibre market to the extent in the former Yugoslavia), have basically 1940s, the D-20 designers relied heavily that 45 calibres became the accepted similar ballistic performances as they all on Great Patriotic War combat experi- standard for field artillery. If that were fire Nato standard projectiles, and fea- ence, so it employs many well-tested not enough, extending the barrel length a ture the option of ERFB and ERFB BB design features, to which must be added little more to 52-calibres and introducing to extend the maximum ranges. great strength. It has the same carriage more powerful charges, all manner of bal- 52-calibre barrels do not feature with and recoil system as the 122 mm Gun listic possibilities became available. one of the largest recent artillery hap- D-74, the relatively short muzzle-braked In practical terms, the extension to 45 penings, namely the US Army adoption 152 mm barrel delivering a 43.5 kg HE calibres began with the Austrian GC 45, of the M777 Lightweight 155 mm towed projectile to 17,410 metres. The D-20 still marketed by T & T Technology and howitzer from RO Defence (originally serves quite a mixed variety of nations, Trading as the GH N-45. This was a com- Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering). from Vietnam to Algeria.

155 mm The adoption of 155 mm in place of less- er calibres began in earnest during the 1970s. The advantages of firing heavy projectiles to greater ranges was made No GH 52 APU No UFH/M777 No M114/39 possible by the introduction of the long Ma Vammas Ma Royal Ordnance Ma RDM 39-calibre barrels of weapons such as the Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm Ca 155 mm US M198, the British/Franco/German/ Lo 52 calibres Lo 39 calibres Lo 39 calibres Italian FH-70, the French Giat 155 TR, Bl 8.06 metres Bl 6.09 metres Bl 6.02 metres the Spanish Santa Barbara SB 155/39 Wt 13,500 kg Wt 3745 kg Wt 7600 kg (which never entered production) and Me -5 to +70° Me -5 to +70° Me -2 to +63° the Swedish Bofors FH-77B (the FH- Mt 70° Mt 45° Mt 49° 77A involved non-Nato standard ammu- Mr 41,300 metres Mr 30,000 metres Mr 32,400 metres nition). At about the same time the Pw 46.50 kg Pw 43.50 kg Pw 47.70 kg already-mentioned SRC, then headquar-

62 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003 The M777 is now in the low rate limited understood that a similar process has The second trend is intended to turn production phase. The US Army and been carried out in Iran.The introduction howitzers into anti-armour weapons. Two Marine Corps both decided to stick with of the longer barrel increases the M114's systems have been developed in the west- the same 39-calibre M284 ordnance as maximum range from 14,600 to 18,100 ern world, one by Giws (the Smart) and used with their well-established M198 metres with the HE M107 projectile, and the other by Giat and Bofors (the Bonus). towed howitzer, considering that it deliv- up to 32,400 with ERFB BB. A third had been developed by Alliant ers all they require. Following a protract- TechSystems and Aerojet in the United ed selection process that lasted over a Smart Ammunition States, but now abandoned. In fact,Alliant decade, it seems that the US requirement Ammunition Systems is now in charge of total is about 686. It is understood that Although the howitzer has hitherto been marketing the German Smart in the New the British Army has a requirement for perceived as an area weapon, two new World. Both the Smart and the Bonus 70 units, which will probably be similar to trends have been developing over the operate on the same principle, under the M777, to act as their future Light- past decade.The first one, which concerns which a cargo round carries two smart sub- weight Mobile Artillery Weapon System trajectory-corrected munitions, was born munitions. At a given height (not altitude) (Limaws). Italy has also revealed an out of necessity, due to the increased above the suspected target area, the cargo interest in the programme. ranges now afforded by the combination shell opens and the two submunitions are of longer barrels, more effective propel- extracted. The latter then deploy asym- lants and assisted rounds (rocket or base- metrical airfoils (parachute for the Smart «The heart of the trajectory- bleed). The heart of the trajectory-cor- and metal winglets for the Bonus), which rected munition generally lies in the fuze, not only slows their descent but imparts a Complete Guide corrected munition which deploys an array of air or rocket spinning motion. By thus ‘wobbling down’, generally lies in the fuze, brakes. These are either triggered by a their seekers (millimetric radar-cum- radio signal (itself aired out by a tracking infrared for the Giws and dual-spectrum which deploys an array of radar) or by an on-board GPS receiver. infrared for the Bonus) look at the ground air or rocket brakes. » Examples of such fuzes have been devel- along a narrowing spiral pattern. As soon oped by Bofors Defence, L3, Diehl or as an object that matches the pattern pro- Giat to name but a few. In both cases, the duced by their algorithms is detected, their The M777 was originally marketed as idea is to fire the round to a range that is explosively forged projectile warheads are the Vsel Ultra lightweight Field Howitzer a tad further beyond that of the target triggered. Both the Smart and the Bonus (UFH). With the UFH/M777 the accent is and then let the fuze brake the round and are in production, and neither requires any on light weight, this to enable the com- thereby accurately trim its trajectory. modification to fit the howitzers. a plete system to be lifted by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, the carriage, therefore, makes considerable use of light alloys and a careful stress-related design to keep the total weight down to 3745 kg. The ord- nance is mounted on what is essentially a firing table resting on four stabiliser legs, two of them pointing forward. In addition to all these innovations, the venerable US 155 mm Howitzer M114 is the subject of a barrel lengthen- ing update process similar to that applied to the 105 mm M101. By replacing the existing 23-calibre barrel by 39-calibre components and beefing up the carriage in a few places, it becomes possible to extend the service life of M114 veterans by a useful margin. Once again, much of the conversion can come in kit form for local incorporation. The list of concerns able to provide such conversions is head- ed by RDM, who has provided the means to place 39-calibre barrels on M114/39s for Denmark, the Netherlands and Nor- way. Soltam of Israel also offers a similar conversion, while Kia Metal Industries can build its KH179, virtually a M114 Operating principle of the German Smart warhead developed by Giws – a consortium with a 39-calibre barrel, from new. It is made up of Diehl Munitionssysteme and Rheinmetall DeTec. (Giws)

Volume 27, No. 4, August/September 2003 Advertising offices: Western USA – West of the Mississippi River Austria, Finland, Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Spain Diane Stevenson, ARMADA INTERNATIONAL Hans-Ruedi Fröhlich, Franz-Rittmeyer-Weg 5, 810 Val Sereno Drive is published bimonthly in Zurich, Switzerland. CH-6300 Zug/Switzerland Olivenhain, CA 92024, Copyright 2003 by Internationale Armada Aktien- Phone: (+41 41) 760 72 78, Fax:(+41 41) 760 72 79 Phone: (858) 759 3557, Fax:(858) 759 3552 gesellschaft, Aeulestrasse 5, FL-9490 Vaduz, e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Principality of Liechtenstein France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg Eastern USA – East of the Mississippi River Margie Brown & Associates, Margie Brown, Head Office: ARMADA INTERNATIONAL Peter Stierlin, Thurgauerstrasse 39, CH-8050 Zurich Phone: (+41 1) 308 5050 4775 Mallard Court, Thurgauerstrasse 39, CH-8050 Zurich/Switzerland Warrenton, Virginia 20187-2500 Phone: (+41 1) 308 50 50, Fax: (+41 1) 308 50 55 United Kingdom Aerospace Media, Michael Elmes, Phone: (540) 341 7581, Fax: (540) 341 7582, e-mail: [email protected] Flatford Lane, East Bergholt, Colchester CO7 6UJ, England e-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.armada.ch Phone: +44 (0) 1206 299211, Fax: +44 (0) 1206 299212 All other countries: contact the Head Office. e-mail: [email protected] Publisher: Caroline Schwegler Annual subscription rates: Europe: SFr. 132 + 24 (post) Publishing Director: Peter Stierlin Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Overseas: US$ 132 + 24 (post) LAGUK Co. Ltd., Yuri Laskin, Novoriazanskaya Street 31/7, Editor-in-Chief: Eric H. Biass App. 96, RF-107060 Moscow, Russian Federation; Phone: Controlled circulation: 22.791, Editor: Johnny Keggler (+7 095) 912 1346, Fax: (+7 095) 912 1260 ABC certified by ABC/WEMF, valid from Art Work: Johnny Keggler e-mail: [email protected] 29 April 2003 USA – Special Reports Gene Selven & Associates, Inc., Gene Printed by Karl Schwegler AG, CH-8050 Zurich Regular Contributors: Roy Braybrook, Doug Richardson, Selven, Kim Newman, 7291 Coronado Drive, Suite 8, San Jose, Brian Walters ISO 9002 certified CA 95129, Phone: (408) 996 7400, Fax:(408) 996 7871 ISSN: 0252-9793 USPS 574450 Administration: Thomas Schneider, Marie-Louise Huber e-mail: [email protected]

64 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2003