While an increasing number of countries are now turning to wheeled self-propelled (SP) artillery systems rather than their heavier tracked counterparts, wheeled SP artillery systems are by no means a very recent invention.
These were deployed during World War II and in the Cold War period. In (then) Czechoslovakia, the 152mm Dana based on a Tatra (8×8) cross country chassis with the protected cab at the front, fully enclosed and protected turret in the middle and diesel power pack at the rear was developed. In addition to being supplied to the then Czechoslovakian Army, it was also exported to a number of other countries including Libya. Since then, development has continued with 155mm/45 cal and more recent 155mm/52 cal systems also based on a Tatra (8×8) chassis.
These are marketed by Konstrukta Defence of Slovakia with the latest Zuzana 2 having a similar arrangement and featuring 155mm/52 cal ordnance that meets the NATO Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU). It carries 24x155mm projectiles and charges of which 12 are ready for immediate use.
More recently Konstruka Defence has developed the EVA (8×8) which is also based on a Tatra (8×8) chassis with a protected cab at the front and a 155mm/52 cal ordnance at the rear with a similar number of projectiles and charges. Like many recent wheeled artillery systems, the crew have to dismount in order to carry out a fire mission.
For many years the standard SP artillery system of the French Army was the Giat (now Nexter) AUF1 155mm system based on a modified AMX-30 tank chassis which featured a fully automatic ammunition handing system (AHS) with a total 42x155mm projectiles and charges carried which were normally a mixture of high-explosive (HE), illuminating and smoke.
This was also sold to Kuwait (18) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KOSA) (63) and the turret was marketed for installation on other tracked platforms, but no sales were made.
The French Army was to upgrade its AUF1 with a 155mm/52 cal ordnance but eventually purchased the Nexter CAESAR 155mm/52 cal system based on a Renault Trucks Defense (today Arquus) Sherpa chassis with the now protected cab at the front and the 155mm/52 calibre ordnance at the rear. This carries a total of 18x155mm projectiles and associated charges. Gross vehicle weight (GVW) is only 18 tonnes (18,000kg). The French Army has used CAESAR on combat operations in Afghanistan, Lebanon and Mali and some have been transferred to the Ukraine.
CAESAR (6×6) has also been adopted by a number of other countries including Indonesia, KOSA (on a Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG 6×6 chassis), Malaysia, Morocco and Thailand.
More recently the CAESAR Mk2 has been developed which is integrated on a new Arquus (6×6) truck chassis with a new protected cab and this has been ordered by Belgium, France (launch customer) and Lithuania.
Nexter also developed the CAESAR 155mm/52 cal based on the Tatra (8×8) chassis which has greater mobility and can carry a maximum of 36x155mm projectiles and charges when fitted with the semi-aromatic AHS. GVW is a maximum of 32 tonnes (32,000kg). The first customer was Denmark who took delivery of 19 systems which have now been passed to the Ukraine.
In its place Denmark has ordered 19 ATMOS (8×8) from Elbit. The Czech Republic has also ordered CAESAR (8×8).
As a private venture Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) developed the Artillery Gun Module (AGM) which has been installed on various chassis with the latest version being called the Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 (RCH 155).
This is now in production for the Ukraine integrated onto the rear of the ARTEC Boxer (8×8) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV) with 18 to be delivered.
This has the same 155mm/52 calibre ordnance as the heavier KMW PzH 2000 and carries 30×155 mm projectiles plus associated charges and is aimed and fired by remote control from the forward protected crew compartment.
This has a crew of two compared to five of the PzH 2000 and is more deployable. The German Army has a requirement for over 100 RCH 155 to supplement, rather than replace its currently deployed PzH 2000.
For many years, Soltam was the major artillery contractor in Israel but this has been taken over by Elbit who can now provide not only the artillery system (towed and self-propelled), including mortars, but also the complete suite of ammunition (projectile, charge and fuze), fire control system on the weapon, forward observer system and the key command and control to tie all of this together to allow for rapid and more effective target engagement.
Today the Israel Defense Force (IDF) is using upgraded M109 155mm/39 cal SP artillery systems but the long-term replacement is the SIGMA being developed by Elbit.
This is based on a 10×10 truck chassis with a protected cab at the front and a protected remote controlled turret at the rear armed with a 155mm/52 cal ordnance fed by an AHS which holds 40×155 mm projectiles and associated charges.
Further development of this in association with Rheinmetall has resulted in a similar system but based on a Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) HX series (10×10) truck chassis. In the short term this will be fitted with the 155mm/52 cal ordnance used in the PzH 2000 but in the longer term a stronger 155mm L52A1 will be fitted with growth potential to the L60 with a 155mm/60 calibre ordnance and a larger chamber volume for a step change in range capability of up to 51 miles (83 kilometres) with JBMoU compliant ammunition.
Following the fielding of the Denal G5 155mm/45 towed artillery system fitted with an auxiliary power unit (APU), which saw extensive operational use in the border wars as well as by other countries in the Middle East, the South African Army fielded the Denel 155mm/45 cal G6 (6×6) which is the heaviest wheeled SPG and weighs some 47 tonnes (47,000kg) but has a very high level of protection, especially against small arms fire and anti-tank mines (ATM).
In addition to being deployed by South Africa export sales of the G6 have been made to Oman (24) and the United Arab Emirates (78).
Further development resulted in the wheeled G6-52 which is fitted with a band new turret armed with a 155mm/52 cal ordnance that meets the NATO JBMoU which is fed by a new AHS to reduce crew fatigue and increase rate of fire.
As there is a trend to wheeled SP artillery systems, Denel developed as a private venture the T5 Condor with the first example being based on a Tatra (8×8) chassis with an unprotected forward control cab. This has been marketed with a 155mm/45 cal or a 155mm/52 cal barrel with a total of 24x155mm projectiles and charges being carried.
The Swedish Army phased out of service its unique Bofors 155mm Bandkanon 1A tracked SP artillery system some years ago. In many respects this was ahead of its time as it featured a fully automatic AHS which held 14 rounds of 155mm HE ammunitions. For a while Sweden had no artillery at all following the phase out of the Bofors 155mm FH-77 towed system fitted with an APU.
The Swedish Army has now taken into service the BAE Systems Bofors Archer 155mm system installed on the rear of a Volvo (6×6) all-terrain vehicle with a protected cab at the front. This can carry out a rapid-fire mission with the crew remaining in the protected cab as fuzed projectiles and associated charges are loaded automatically.
Archer (also referred to as 155mm FH 77 BW L52) was originally a joint Norway/Sweden project with each country taking 24 units but in the end Norway pulled out and procured the South Korean Hanwha K9 tracked 155mm/52 cal SP artillery system which is being adopted by an increasing number of countries.
Sweden then decided to take all 48 Archer systems and has since placed a contract for a further 24 which will be based on a Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles HX series (8×8) truck chassis rather than a Volvo chassis.
The British Army is taking delivery of a batch of 14 Archer from the Swedish Army to plug the gap caused by the transfer to the Ukraine of 32 British Army AS90 tracked 155mm/39 cal SP artillery systems.
For some years the British Army has had a requirement for a Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) which could be tracked or wheeled, with many contenders including the tracked Hanwha K9A2, Nexter CAESAR, BAE Systems Bofors Archer, KMW RCH 155 and others options from Elbit and Rheinmetall on a wheeled platform.
Switzerland is also seeking a replacement for its upgraded M109 155mm/47 cal tracked systems and the contenders are the KMW with RCH 155 and the BAE Systems Bofors Archer on a wheeled chassis.
While not a member of NATO, Serbia has developed a wide range of wheeled artillery systems which are marketed through Yugoimport.
Their most successful is the NORA B-52 155mm 155/52 cal which is JBMoU compliant and is based on an (8×8) platform with the latest version having a fully protected cab at the front and the enclosed protected turret at the rear with a total of 36×155 mm projectiles and charges carried. While Serbia has not released any export customers there are known to include Bangladesh, Cyprus, Kenya and Myanmar, as well as Serbia.
Currently undergoing trials is a brand-new version called Aleksandar which has a protected cab for the crew of three at the front and a remote controlled unmanned turret at the rear.
This is being marketed with a 155mm/52 cal ordnance with a 23 litre chamber which gives a maximum range of nearly 26 miles (41.5km) with an ERFB-BB projectile or a 25 litre chamber which gives a maximum range of 30 miles (49km) with an ERFB-BB projectile.
The unmanned turret has 12 rounds of ready use ammunition with a claimed rate of fire of up to six rounds a minute. Once these have been expended another 12 rounds can be loaded automatically so giving a total of 24 rounds carried.
The latest chassis (8×8) for the Aleksandar is also used for two other Serbian rocket artillery systems, the Sumadija modular SP long range multiple launch weapon (MLW) which can fire 267mm with a maximum range over 43 miles (70 km) and 400mm (maximum range 285km) and the Tamnava which can launch 122mm to a maximum range 24.8 miles (40km) and 262mm (maximum range 70km) rockets.
Turkey is also to field a wheeled SP artillery system called the Arpan Howitzer 155 which will be based on a (8×8) platform with a four-door protected cab at the front and the 155mm/52 cal ordnance at the rear which is the same as that to the Panter towed artillery system already deployed by Turkey.
Firing ahead
The latest wheeled SP artillery systems normally feature an onboard computerised FCS, inertial navigation system and a muzzle velocity radar.
There is also a trend to have a fully automated AHS so the weapon can come into action, carry out a fire mission while the crew stay in the protected compartment.
Experience in the Ukraine has also shown that in order to survive counter battery fire the artillery system must come in action, carry out the fire mission and redeploy in three or four minutes. Some observers believe that fire on the more capability will be required.
Whether the system is tracked or wheeled, target acquisition and post artillery strike assessment is still a major hurdle to overcome, especially as artillery ranges get greater.
by Christopher F Foss
