Norinco AH4 155mm Howitzer

AH4 Lightweight Towed Howitzer
Type Howitzer
Place of origin China
Specifications
Weight 4,500 kg (9,900 lb)[1]
Crew 7
Shell 155mm ERFB-HB/HE, ERFB-Base Bleed/HE, ERFB-Rocket Assist/HE, Laser Guided GP6
Caliber 155 mm (6.1 in)
Carriage split trail
Elevation −3° to +72°
Effective firing range ERFB-HB/HE: 25 km (15.53 mi)
ERFB-Base Bleed/HE: 30 km (18.6 mi) base bleed
ERFB-Rocket Assist/HE: 40 km (25 mi)
LGP GP6: 25 km (15.53 mi)

The towed AH4 howitzer is a Chinese artillery system manufactured by Norinco.[2] Its main characteristic is that it has been designed to be lightweight, which allows greater tactical mobility. The weight of 4,500 kg, compared to a traditional system that can weigh 18,000 kg,[3] allows the system to be airlifted via heavy-lift helicopters like the CH-47 or Mi-26, or transport aircraft like a C-130 or Y-8. Also, as a modern howitzer system, it possesses a range of engagement of up to 40 km using rocket-assisted projectiles.[2]

Because of its weight, the AH4 can be used in mountain warfare, which traditionally had to use pack howitzers like the OTO Melara Mod 56.[3]

According to defense world news, in 2016 Norinco's AH4-155 won its first export order from an unidentified customer from the Middle East, it beat the M-777 counterpart from BAE systems.[4]

Design

The body of the system has forward stabilizers as well as spades and dampers.[5] It has a cannon that can fire 155mm/39 calibre shells with an elevation angle from -3° up to 72° with a traverse limit of 22°. The hydro-pneumatic suspension allows for quick deployment of around 3 minutes and packing in 2 minutes.

Variants

  • AHS-4: a three-ton variant that is designed for mountain warfare.[6]

Comparable howitzers

References

  1. ↑ https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_security_2015_news_official_online_show_daily_coverage_report/china_presents_its_ah4_155mm_lightweight_towed_howitzer_as_counterpart_of_american_m777_10411153.html
  2. 1 2 "China completes development of 155 mm AH4 howitzer | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  3. 1 2 "NORINCO is ready to produce the AH4 lightweight howitzer". quwa.org. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  4. ↑ http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17507/Chinese_AH_4_Howitzer_Wins_First_Middle_East_Export_Order#.Wntuzq6nGUk
  5. ↑ Administrator. "China presents its AH4 155mm lightweight towed howitzer as counterpart of American M777 10411153 | Defense Security 2015 News Official Online Show Daily Coverage Report | Defence security military exhibition 2015". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  6. ↑ http://www.zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class39/Class150/200802/20080216151624.html
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.