German WW2 150mm artillery at Longues-sur-Mer battery in Normandy.

US WW2 artillery at Musée Memorial d’Omaha Beach.

German WW1 150mm heavy field howitzer of 1918 (15 cm sFH 18).

I am not sure what I already posted in the other thread, here goes with the Archer.

>>20057

>>20058
Has a small crew (for a 155mm howitzer) of 3-4, but in emergencies can be operated by just two.

>>20059
Why does the whole box elevate?

  >>20060
it has an autoloader mechanism and ammo inside, so to keep it in position it has to elevate and traverse with the gun. It carries 21 shells and their charges back there and allows the crew to operate it entirely from the forward cabin.

>>20061
Oh that's neat, it's like a more compact, more accurate MLRS.

The Swedish Archer is an interesting and powerful artillery system. Touted to be able to take out tanks over 30 miles (50 km). Mounted on a lightly armored 6x6 Volvo truck, the 20-round magazine can be loaded in 10 minutes by a special automatic caisson vehicle and can fire all these 155mm shells in 2 and a half minutes. The Excalibur GPS-guided shells are supposed to be quite accurate. The Archer is supposed to quickly deploy, fire her shells at the target and zip out before enemy counter-battery fire can revenge itself at her. This is the role of self-propelled artillery, but the Archer does it fast with few crew. Gun loading, aiming and magazine replenishment are automated.

http://www.operatorchan.org/v/res/11223.html#16847

Then there's this Boxer Artillery Gun Module, an lighter, air-mobile PzH 2000.

The Artillery Gun Module (AGM, Artillerie-Geschütz-Modul) is an air-portable self-propelled howitzer designed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. It is based on technology used in the German Army Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) system, to provide more air portable self-propelled artillery, transportable by Airbus A400 aircraft.

The system is fully autonomous, the crew sitting in the cab, with similar performance to the PzH 2000, but with reduced cost, crew levels and weight. The AGM uses the PzH 2000 ballistic fire-control computer with integrated NATO Armaments Ballistic Kernel and the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Artillery Command and Control System. It is a modular system, the gun module can be fitted on a tracked or wheeled chassis. Costs can be reduced by fitting it to a users suitable chassis of choice. Current development vehicles use a MLRS chassis. A vehicle independent auxiliary power unit (allowing the gun to be used with the carrier engine shut down) and an inertial reference unit with a Global Positioning System (GPS) connection are fitted. During trials in 2006, a demonstrator vehicle fired a volley of ten 155 mm rounds in 2 minutes and 19 seconds with a crew of two being seated in the fully armoured protected cab.

Boxer: In April 2014, KMW decided to integrate the AGM onto the Boxer armored vehicle, with the system making an appearance at Eurosatory in June 2014. The Boxer has to prove it can deal with recoil forces without stabilization, but stabilization concepts can be added if needed to retain shoot and scoot and 360 degree firing capability. The Boxer-AGM system could be used as an upgrade option for countries with existing boxer fleets. Test firings are scheduled for late 2014. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery_Gun_Module

Boxer tested with AGM (ES14E4)
19 June 2014 http://www.janes.com/article/39631/boxer-tested-with-agm-es14e4
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (Outside Stand E211) has confirmed to the Eurosatory Daily that the ARTEC Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV) has recently been fitted with its 155mm Artillery Gun Module (AGM), with initial firing trials scheduled to take place at the Meppen firing range later this year.

The AGM is a remote-controlled turret armed with the 155mm/ 52 calibre ordnance that is fitted to the combat-proven Krauss- Maffei Wegmann PzH 2000 tracked self-propelled artillery system deployed by Germany, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands and on order for Qatar.

The AGM is provided with 30 155mm projectiles and 145 modular charges, with six modules used for maximum range. The latter depends on the type of projectile, but a range of more than 40km can be achieved firing an unassisted projectile.

The projectiles and associated charges are loaded automatically, and the weapon is aimed and fired by remote control from the safety of the cab. A rate of fire of up to eight rounds a minute can be achieved. Time into and out of action is currently being quoted as just 30 seconds, meaning that the system cannot be engaged by counter-battery fire.

The AGM was originally successfully tested on a surplus Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) tracked chassis. This was followed by the Donar, which is the AGM integrated onto a new tracked hull developed by General Dynamics European Land Systems Santa Barbara Sistemas. The AGM could potentially also be integrated on other wheeled chassis or used in the static role for forward operating base defence.

Boxer is in production for Germany and the Netherlands. Eurosatory Daily sources have indicated that a number of export customers are interested in the Boxer for a wider range of missions, which could include the AGM version.

The 155mm Artillery Gun Module (AGM) fitted to the Boxer contains 30 155mm projectiles and 145 modular charges.

The Centauro 155/39LW is a wheeled Artillery unit based on the Centauro Tank Destroyer hull and armed with a 155/39mm Howitzer, capable of 8 rounds per minutes and a distance exceeding 60km with precision weapons.

Centauro 155/39LW
Added to the Centauro range on late 2013 to fill the role of a self-propelled howitzer, being able to fire up to 8 rounds/minute to a distance exceeding 60km for guided ammunition. It mounts an ultralight 155/39mm main gun, based on the latest material breakthroughs, and a secondary 7.62 or 12.7mm MG. The 155/39 is manned by a crew of two and provides full NBC and ballistic protection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B1_Centauro

An IFOR marked Italian Army 19th Cavalry Regiment Consortium IVECO - OTO Melara Centauro B1 (8x8) Tank Destroyer is parked on the shoulder of a road while on patrol in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Three crewmembers are seen standing up through the two turret hatches and the driver's hatch. The Italian Army is in Bosnia during Operation Joint Endeavor, which is a peacekeeping effort by a multinational Implementation Force (IFOR), comprised of NATO and non-NATO military forces, deployed to Bosnia in support of the Dayton Peace Accords.
Date: 5 October 1996

The 180 mm gun S-23 (Russian: 180-мм пушка С-23) was a Soviet heavy gun of Cold War era. It was developed in the early 1950s, with the design based on naval guns. Its first public appearance was the 1955 May Day parade in Moscow. For some time, it was believed in the West that the S-23 was actually a 203mm weapon, and as a result it was often referred to as the 203 mm M1955 gun howitzer. However, after an example was captured in the Middle East during the 1970s this misconception was dispelled.

- Soviet S-23 180 mm gun in Beyt ha-Totchan, Zichron Yaakov, Israel.

S-23 in the Cairo Citadel, Egypt

180 mm gun S-23 in Saint Petersburg artillery museum

>>20066
Donar: A further development of the AGM was revealed in 2008 as the Donar 155mm self-propelled artillery system. The system uses a modified ASCOD 2 IFV chassis with a newer, more efficient two-man turret with a fully automatic ammunition loading and handling system.

DONAR - The revolution of artillery

DONAR, the joint venture between KMW and GDELS , is a highly modern and innovative 155 mm / L52 howitzer which revolutionizes the previous concept of artillery through its high performance. It consists of the fully automatic, unmanned and autonomous artillery gun module in combination with the ASCOD 2, a tested and proven infantry fighting vehicle chassis.

High mobility and autonomous functionality paired with best survivability
DONAR combines the high mobility of an infantry fighting vehicle with the fully automatic, unmanned functionality of the remote-controlled 155 mm / L52 Artillery Gun Module. The fire power of the DONAR therefore corresponds to that of a PzH 2000. The maximum range exceeds 56km with range-increased ammunition.

The interaction between man and machine is optimized and enables extremely fast firing and maneuvering while the autonomous system integrates seamlessly into the networked and centralized command and control system (network-centric warfare). Despite a notable reduction in weight and size, the gun module functions without additional stabilization and can be rotated over 360°.

The crew comprises two soldiers (driver and commander) who operate the system from a heavily-protected driver cab separate from the automatic gun module. The survivability of both crew and system is enhanced through the high degree of automation and also by the cab protection, which satisfies a very high NATO protection class standard and protects the crew against small arms and shell splinters from artillery and mortar munitions. http://www.kmweg.com/home/artillery/autonomous-howitzer/donar/product-information.html

Optimized for air transport
With a gross weight of of less than 31,5 tonnes it is easily possible to transport the system in the future European transport aircraft A400M or similar aircraft of this payload capacity.

Characteristics and capabilities of the DONAR

Unmanned and autonomous 155 MM / L52 artillery module
Fully automatic loading of rounds and modular propellants [charges?]
Superior range and area coverage
Capable of Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI)
Inductive fuse programming
Built-In Test Equipment (BITE) System
Deployable as a C-RAM system
Flexible integration onto suitable wheeled and tracked vehicle chassis
Autonomy in navigation and fire control
Weapon load of 30 rounds
Fully automatic aiming
High mobility on corresponding chassis

What appears to be some Russian 2S35 Koalytsia-SV 152mm self propelled howitzers.

Czech 152mm DANA (ShKH vz. 77) wheeled self-propelled howitzer based on a modified 8x8 Tatra 813 chassis with excellent cross-country mobility.

>>20083
That specifically appears to be a 152 mm ShKH Ondava: The ShKH Ondava is a development step started during the late 1980s with a longer 152 mm barrel (47 calibers), new muzzle brake (2 chamber), new loading mechanism etc. Max range is 30 km. The Ondava project ended with the velvet revolution and dissolution of the Czechoslovakian state. Technical experience was carried over to the Zuzana project.

Chinese ISU-152 in the CPLA Tank Museum 2013

Russian WW2 ISU-152 (aka JSU-152) heavy assault gun.

ISU-152 in the Great Patriotic War Museum

German 155mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 of the Royal Netherlands Army.

German 155mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH2000NL) being used by the Dutch ISAF in Afghanistan.

I read that Islamic State morons fighting in Syria and Iraq were concerned about fighting the Kurds because they use women soldiers and the ISIS troops were worried that if they were killed by a girl, they won't go to heaven.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-are-afraid-of-girls-kurdish-female-fighters-believe-they-have-an-unexpected-advantage-fighting-a6766776.html

They should tell people in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan that anyone who gets killed by artillery, airstrikes or drones that they get killed by women.

- A Dutch soldier of Bravo Battery, Fire Support Battalion returns fire during exercise Allied Spirit at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Jan. 17, 2015. Exercise Allied Spirit includes more than 1,600 participants from Canada, Hungary, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the U.S. Allied Spirit is exercising tactical interoperability and testing secure communications within alliance members.

A Dutch soldier of Bravo Battery, Fire Support Battalion operates a Panzerhaubitze 2000 during exercise Allied Spirit at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Jan. 16, 2015. Exercise Allied Spirit includes more than 1,600 participants from Canada, Hungary, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the U.S. Allied Spirit is exercising tactical interoperability and testing secure communications within alliance members.

The US M109 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzer has gone through a few improvements, but is getting long in the tooth.

The USA’s 155mm M109 self-propelled howitzers (SPH) were first introduced in 1962, as a form of armored mobile artillery that could stand up to the massed fire tactics of Soviet heavy artillery and rockets. They and their companion M992 Armored Ammunition Resupply Vehicles (AARV) have been rebuilt and upgraded several times, most recently via the M109A7 Paladin upgrade. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/have-guns-will-upgrade-the-m109a6-paladin-pim-partnership-04039/

The British Army replaced its M109s with the AS-90. Several European armed forces have or are currently replacing older M109s with the German PzH 2000. Upgrades to the M109 were introduced by the U.S. (see variants below) and by Switzerland (KAWEST). With the cancellation of the U.S. Crusader and Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon, the Paladin will remain the principal self-propelled howitzer for the U.S. for the foreseeable future. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M109_howitzer

The newest M109 version for U.S. service is the M109A7, formerly known as the M109A6 Paladin Integrated Management (PIM). The M109A7 shares common components with the Bradley Fighting Vehicle such as the engine, transmission, and tracks. This creates commonality with other systems and maximizes costs-savings in production, parts inventory, and maintenance personnel. The M109A7's on-board power systems harness technologies originally developed for the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon; the electric drive is faster than the previous hydraulic system, and the automatic rammer more consistently rams the round into the gun for consistent velocities and better accuracy. It features a 600-volt on-board power system to accommodate additional armor and future networking technologies as they become ready. The M109A7 can sustain a one round per-minute rate of fire and a maximum rate of fire of four rounds per-minute. Weighing 78,000 lb (35,000 kg), the M109A7 is 10,000 lb (4,500 kg) heavier than its predecessor, and it has the capacity grow to 110,000 lb (50,000 kg). Even with the weight increase, the M109A7 can travel faster than previous versions at 38 mph (61 km/h) and is more maneuverable than a Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

Prototypes of the vehicle underwent government testing in preparation for a low-rate initial production decision. The testing included reliability, availability, and maintainability mission testing as well as ballistic hull and turret testing. M109A7 was slated to begin low-rate initial production by 2013. The U.S. Army plans on procuring a fleet of 580 sets of M109A7 howitzers and M992A3 ammunition support vehicles.

In October 2013, the Defense Acquisition Board approved the decision to start M109A7 production. The FY 2014 budget called for $340.8 million in Paladin funding, which would be two dozen vehicle sets at $14.4 million per vehicle. The Army plans to buy 133 vehicles in 66 one-half vehicle sets starting in 2014, although one M109A7 howitzer and two supporting M992A3 ammunition carriers will be destroyed during tests. A full-rate production decision planned for February 2017. On 31 October 2013, BAE received a $668 million contract to begin low-rate initial production of the M109A7. The first M109A6 and M992A2 vehicles were disassembled and reassembled to M109A7 and M992A3 standard as part of low-rate initial production beginning in summer 2014. Low-rate production deliveries began in April 2015.

- Prototype. The M109 Paladin Integrated Management, or "M109 PIM," is slated to begin low-rate initial production by 2013. The 40-ton, next-generation 155mm Howitzer artillery cannon is able to fire precision rounds, accommodate additional armor protections and power more on-board electrical systems.

M109A7 & M992A2 FAASV Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle
The The M992A2 series Carrier, Ammunition Tracked Vehicle (CATV) / Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (FAASV) accompanies the M109A6 and completes the howitzer section. The CATV has a crew of five. The M992A2 is a full-tracked, aluminum armored, ammunition resupply vehicle with a hydraulic powered conveyor for single-round transfer of ammunition. The M992A2 is comparable to the M109A6 in terms of speed, mobility, and survivability. In addition to ammunition handling equipment, the CATV features projectile rack assemblies and storage compartments; a diesel powered auxiliary power unit used to drive the hydraulic system and recharge vehicle batteries; and an automatic fire extinguisher system (AFES).

The M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (FAASV) is the firing-position partner for the M109A6 Paladin and other M109 series self-propelled howitzers. It provides timely, efficient, armor-protected ammunition delivery to cannon artillery systems during both firing and non-firing conditions.

Able to carry a 12,000-pound (5,454 kg) ammunition payload, the FAASV can be configured for various ammunition needs and specifications. A 50-caliber machine gun is part of the FAASV's defense. Artillery cargo and crew are protected from fire threats by separate Automatic Fire Suppression in both crew and engine compartments.

An 11.5-horsepower auxiliary power unit provides power support to the FAASV in the field, enabling it to move any type of towed howitzer at a maximum forward speed of 40 mph (64 km/h) and a reverse speed of 7 mph (11.3 km/h). The same Low Heat Rejection engine used in the M109A6 Paladin provides cold start capability and high horsepower for the vehicle, enabling the FAASV to keep pace with artillery forces.

The M109A6 basic load is 37 complete conventional rounds and two Copperhead rounds. The CATV basic load is 96 conventional rounds and four Copperhead rounds. The CATV may average one to five rearming moves per day in addition to tactical and survivability moves. A section, consisting of a howitzer and a CATV, normally operates as one of three sections in a platoon but may operate alone in a fire area. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m992a2.htm

Russian 2S4 M-1975 Tyulpan (tulip tree) 240mm breech-loading self-propelled mortar.

>>20110
Don't confuse the M-1975 classification with the Pion.
The 2S7 Pion ("peony") or Malka is a Soviet self-propelled gun. "2S7" is its GRAU designation.

It was identified for the first time in 1975 in the Soviet Army and so was called M-1975 by NATO (the 2S4 Tyulpan also received the M-1975 designation), whereas its official designation is SO-203 (2S7). Its design is based on a T-80 chassis carrying an externally mounted 2A44 203 mm gun on the hull rear.

It takes the crew of seven men 5–6 minutes to come into action and 3–5 minutes to come out of action. It carries four 203 mm projectiles for immediate use. It is capable of firing nuclear ammunition. The gun has a range of 37,500 m, but this can be extended to 55,500 m by using RAPs (Rocket Assisted Projectiles). The Pion has been the most powerful conventional artillery piece since entering service in 1983. One interesting feature of the Pion is the firing alarm. Because the blast of the weapon firing is so powerful - it can physically incapacitate an unprepared soldier or crew member near it from concussive force - the Pion is equipped with an audible firing alarm that emits a series of short warning tones for approximately five seconds prior to the charge being fired.

The 2S7 carries a crew of fourteen; seven are carried by the Pion and seven are with an auxiliary vehicle. The system carries four rounds of ammunition; four more rounds are carried by the support vehicle. Due to the long range, the crew can fire one or two rounds and leave position before the first round hits the enemy position over 40km away. This makes the 2S7 less susceptible to return fire, from an enemy without an anti-artillery system such as ARTHUR. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2S7_Pion

203-mm self-propelled gun 2S7 «Pion» in Techical museum Togliatti

Arkhangelskoye. Vadim Zadorozhny’s Vehicle Museum. 2S7 Pion

Hey, you kids! Don't put your mouths on that thing. That's a 203mm self-propelled gun.

The 2S5 Giatsint-S (Russian: 2С5 «Гиацинт-С»; English: hyacinth) is a Soviet/Russian 152 mm self-propelled gun. "2S5" is its GRAU designation. It is NBC protected.

Production of the 2S5 Giatsint-S started in 1976 along with the towed version the 2A36 Giatsint-B. It was introduced into service in 1978 and has also been known as the M1981 by the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2S5_Giatsint-S

Russian 152mm 2S5 'Giacint-S' (or Giatsint-S, M1981) self-propelled howitzer.

- North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un by an unidentified caliber Chuch'e-Po artillery piece.

Chuch'e-Po is a self-propelled artillery gun on a modified Ch'ŏnma-ho chassis.

The Chuch'e-Po is an improvement over the Tŏkch'ŏn artillery piece, which was mounted on an ATS-59 chassis. There are at least four M1991 versions of the Chuch'e-Po, each mounting a different gun; the D-30 122mm, D-74 122 mm, the M-46 130 mm and the ML-20 152 mm howitzer. A fifth M1992 version is armed with the SM-4-1 130mm howitzer. These artillery pieces can be identified by their six road wheels, as compared to the Tok-Ch'on's five, and a prominent recoil cylinder which protrudes from the turret. Another major difference is the fact that the Chuch'e-Po has a fully encased rounded turret, as opposed to the older open-topped self-propelled artillery pieces used previously. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuch%27e-Po

US M109A2 Paladin 155mm SPH in South Korea.

>Belorussian Strategic Offensive Operation (operation “Bagration”) resulted in complete destruction of German Army Group Center. In 2 months the 1,100 km front-line moved 600 km west. This photo was taken on the summer of 1944 by Emmanuel Yevzerikhin. In the Soviet photographic album this photo is called “Stand to Death”.

>The gun is a D-1 howitzer, model 1943. In 1941, for various reasons it was discontinued mass production of 152-mm howitzer model 1938 (M-10). In 1942, trying to solve the problem of lack of a suitable mobile 152 mm howitzer, the design bureau headed by F. F. Petrov started to work privately on a new howitzer, based on the carriage of the M-30 and the barrel of the M-10 (which was fitted with a muzzle brake in order to reduce the recoil and thus prevent damage to the lighter carriage). The approach allowed production to begin on the new howitzer almost immediately from the stockpile of parts for both earlier guns. Given the war situation and shortages of artillery, this solution was both elegant and expedient.

>The State Committee of Defense requested five of the new guns to be sent to the testing grounds on 1 May. On 5 May, two pieces were received for trials; two days later, on 7 May the gun was recommended for adoption, and on 8 August 1943 it was officially adopted as the 152 mm howitzer M1943. One and a half months later, the first series production D-1 howitzers were delivered to the Red Army representatives.

>The Red Army employed D-1 howitzers from 1944 onwards, during the final stages of World War II. The D-1 was used primarily used against personnel, fortifications and key structures in the enemy rear. The anti-concrete G-530 shell was also sometimes used against armored vehicles with good results. During its service the gun earned a reputation for being reliable and accurate. The D-1 was finally withdrawn from service in the mid-seventies.

>>20128
Documentaries of Operation Bagration (destruction of Army Group Center) often showed hundreds of Soviet 122mm & 152mm artillery pieces lined up wheel-to-wheel to the next time zone along with tens of thousands of Katusha rocket launchers in preparation for a murder-fest barrage to smash German forts and division boundary flanks to roll up enemy armies into pockets in fast encirclement deep battles that chewed up brigades like popcorn.

- Russian WW2 152mm (152.4mm or 6-inch) M1943 (D-1) howitzer.

When these babies start raining on your parade, you got a problem.

Soviet M1931/B-4 203mm heavy howitzer. Saw extensive use against fortified German positions, earning it the nickname of "Stalin's sledgehammer." Seen here during the Battle of Berlin, where Soviet troops would bring them up to the front lines and use them in a direct-fire role against strong points, a point-blank hit from a 203mm 220-pound shell would make one hell of a hole.

>>20131
And its bigger brother, the Br-5/M1939 mortar. Using the same carriage to mount a 280mm 14.2-caliber barrel, throwing a 370-pound shell that left a crater 30 feet across and up to 18 feet deep.

Behind it, you can see a 2B1 Oka, a 420mm monster of a gun with a 60-foot barrel, designed to fire nuclear shells. The intense recoil would damage the chassis, shearing the gearbox mounts and crushing drive sprockets.

>>20132
Another Soviet supergun on parade, the 2A3 Kondensator 2P. A 406mm self-propelled howitzer designed to fire nuclear rounds, much like the M65 "Atomic Annie." Total production was four vehicles, and much like its cousin the 2B1 Oka, they were retired with the development of viable tactical ballistic missiles like the 2K6 Luna, known to NATO as the FROG-3.

  11th Marine Artillery Regiment outside Baghdad April 2003. Apparently this fire mission used over 50 M198 155mm Howitzers. Ammo appears to be the M864.

>>20125
http://www.operatorchan.org/v/res/11223.html#11303
http://www.operatorchan.org/v/res/11223.html#11253
North Korea is touted as having a lot of artillery (along with millions of starving slave soldiers), but examining their economy, they are amazingly poor.

North Korea's GDP is only 28 billion dollars. ?!? Even our poorest state in terms of GDP, Vermont, has a GDP 29.75 billion dollars. South Korea has a nominal GDP of $1.393 trillion (2015 figures or about fifty times the size of their annoying neighbor), and PPP of $1.849 trillion (2015).

North Korean GDP (official exchange rate): $28 billion (2013 est.), country comparison to the world: 176
GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,800 (2013 est.) North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown here are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2011 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were rounded to the nearest $10 billion. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html

North Korean 130mm M1992 Tokchon SPH armed with the Soviet SM-4-1 towed coastal gun.

130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)
The 130 mm towed field gun M-46 M1954 is a manually loaded, towed 130 mm artillery piece, manufactured in the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It was first observed by the west in 1954. There is also a Chinese copy, called the Type 59.

For many years, the M-46 was one of the longest range artillery systems around, with a range of more than 27 km. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/130_mm_towed_field_gun_M1954_(M-46)

The AS-90 (Artillery System for the 1990s; known officially as Gun Equipment 155 mm L131) is a lightly armoured self-propelled artillery piece used by the British Army. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AS-90

This one was labeled as an AS-90 "Braveheart" - Basically the AS-90, but fitted with the 52 calibre length gun. This project was terminated due to non-compliant propellant charges.

This gun appears to have the longer barrel. In 1999, Marconi Electronic Systems was contracted to upgrade British Army AS-90s to include a 52 calibre gun in order to increase the range of the artillery. Critical to the program was a bi-modular charge system from Somchem of South Africa (selected after extensive trials of ammunition from many suppliers), which offered greatly reduced barrel wear. However, this ammunition failed to meet the requirement for insensitive munitions and the project was terminated.

Russian 406mm 2A3 Kondensator 2P self-propelled howitzer.

The 2A3 Kondensator 2P (Russian: 2А3 «Конденсатор» - "Condenser") was a Soviet 406 mm self-propelled Howitzer. 2A3 is its GRAU designation.

The 2A3 originated during the Cold War as a response to the United States' new "Pentomic Division" tactical doctrine that emphasized heavy use of nuclear weapons including nuclear artillery. The US M65 cannon was introduced in 1952 and deployed in Germany in 1953. The Soviet Union started its own program to develop a 406mm self-propelled howitzer capable of firing nuclear projectiles, codenamed 'Objekt 271'.

Grabin Design Bureau completed the artillery system in 1955. The 'Objekt 271' chassis from the Kotlin Design Bureau in Leningrad was completed soon thereafter. The unified system received the military industrial designation 2A3 and was completed in 1956 at the Kirov Works in Leningrad. Total production only amounted to four vehicles.

Western observers got their first look at the new weapon during a 1957 parade on Red Square. Initially observers thought that the weapon was a mockup created for deterrent effect.

Kondensator had an exceptionally short service life. Following a period of extensive testing the weapons were assigned to the Artillery High Command reserve. There they remained in service until the military reforms of Nikita Khrushchev were enacted, favouring more effective missile systems over the super-heavy artillery and heavy tanks of the Stalinist era.

All four Kondensator howitzers were retired in the mid-1960s. One of the weapons was placed on static display at the Central Armed Forces Museum in Moscow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2A3_Kondensator_2P

These extremely long-barreled howitzers on a tank chassis has reported problems of the barrel banging into the ground if the tank hit a dip or pothole. Perhaps have a truck driving in front of it with the bed filled with mattresses to catch these monster guns.

2B1 Oka (Russian: 2Б1 Ока) is a Soviet 420 mm self-propelled gun. 2B1 is its GRAU designation.

An experimental model was ready in 1957. Its chassis (Object 273), was designed and built by the Kirov Plant. Its 20 meter barrel allowed it to fire 750 kg rounds up to 45 km. Due to its complexity of loading it had a relatively low rate of fire—one round every five minutes. Field tests showed various drawbacks of the entire design (the recoil was too strong for many components: it damaged drive sprockets, tore the gear-box away from its mountings, etc.) and the sheer length rendered it incredibly difficult to transport.

Its development continued until 1960, when the idea of such overpowered guns (along with the 2A3), was abandoned in favor of tactical ballistic missiles, such as the 2K6 Luna. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2B1_Oka

The thing with these was that nuclear rockets and missiles were being fielded that made these expensive guns immediately obsolete or inefficient.

The 420mm 20m barrel of the Oka fired this (hopefully inert) 750-kg grenade (mortar shell) 45 km.

The US M65 280mm T-131 Atomic Cannon, here on a T-10 Heavy Artillery Transporter, was supported on a bridgework between two heavy trucks and could move through cramped streets in German towns.

The cannon was transported by two specially designed tractors, both capable of independent steering in the manner of some extra-long fire engines. Each of the tractors was rated at 375 hp, and the somewhat awkward combination could achieve speeds of 35 miles an hour and negotiate right angle turns on 28 ft wide, paved or packed roads. The artillery piece could be unlimbered in 15 minutes, then returned to traveling configuration in another 15 minutes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M65_Atomic_Cannon

US Atomic Cannon navigating a street in Germany.

US 280mm Atomic Cannon fired at Frenchman's Flats Nevada Test Center in 1953.

>>20196
In case anyone cares, the M65 that fired this test shot is on display at Ft. Sill, OK.

Test shot was Operation Upshot-Knothole, Grable shot. The only artillery-fired atomic weapon ever used. W9 warhead, gun-type assembly making use of enriched uranium. Test shot rated at 15kt, roughly 1 kt more than Little Boy at Hiroshima.

Fun fact: gun type warheads are extremely inefficient but almost guaranteed to detonate. A "successful" detonation only fissions 1-2% of the total critical mass, as prompt criticality kicks in and detonates the two slugs before they can fully close the distance and merge (actually when they were about 9" apart still in the case of Little Boy). If Little Boy is still anything to go by for gun-types, the W9 hit 15KT yield from 1-2% fission of 110+ pounds of uranium for fuel. 1.5 mol of U-235 is needed to initiate super-criticality. 1 mol is a little over 100 pounds. So assuming an improved shot speed forcing the two slugs together faster than prompt criticality requires, from higher velocity high-explosive initiators, given a 2% efficiency only 2-3 pounds of uranium actually explodes in the W9 warhead and the rest is vaporized and coverts to plasma in the heat of the detonation.

Hey, guys, what is currently the most modern US self-propelled artillery? And what kind of gun does it have, rifled or smoothbore?

>>20219
It looks like the Paladin (first fielded in 1962) SPH is the latest with the M109A7 upgrade. The XM2001 Crusader and XM1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon were cancelled.

The XM2001 Crusader was to be the United States Army's next-generation self-propelled howitzer (SPH), designed to improve the survivability, lethality, mobility, and effectiveness of the artillery as well as the overall force. It was initially scheduled for fielding by 2008. United Defense was the prime contractor; General Dynamics the major subcontractor. In early May 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld cancelled the $11 billion USD program because he considered it neither mobile nor precise enough. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM2001_Crusader

More Crusader stuff here:
http://www.operatorchan.org/k/res/91469.html
The XM1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS Cannon) was a mobile 155 mm cannon intended to provide improved responsiveness and lethality to the "unit of action" (UA) commander as part of the US Army's Future Combat Systems project. This self-propelled armored artillery piece provided networked, extended-range targeting, and precision attack of point and area targets in support of other combat units with a suite of munitions that include special purpose capabilities. The Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon provided sustained fire for close support and destructive fire for tactical standoff engagement. The NLOS Cannon used technology from the canceled XM2001 Crusader.

NLOS-C was a proposed system in development to be part of the FCS environment and funded by the U.S. Congress shortly after cancellation of the XM2001 Crusader M109 replacement. It was an 18-ton class vehicle that would have been a replacement for current vehicle systems in the 40-60 ton weight class. It would provide a level of air transportability that current M109 systems cannot at present match. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Combat_Systems_Manned_Ground_Vehicles#Non-line-of-sight_cannon

The CAESAR from CAmion Equipé d'un Système d'ARtillerie (French: Truck equipped with an artillery system) is a 155 mm/52-calibre gun-howitzer installed on a 6X6 truck chassis. Examples built for the French Army use a Renault Sherpa 10 chassis, examples built for export utilize the 6x6 Unimog U2450L chassis. The CAESAR platform was developed by the former GIAT Industries (now known as Nexter) and is operated by the French, Indonesian, Saudi Arabian, and Thai militaries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAESAR_self-propelled_howitzer

The CAESAR is a wheeled, 155mm 52-caliber self-propelled howitzer. It holds 18 rounds and is typically operated by a crew of five, though if necessary, the CAESAR can be operated by as few as three men. It can be transported by C-130 or A400M, and has a firing range of approximately 42 km using an Extended Range, Full Bore (ERFB) shell, and more than 50 km using rocket assisted shells. The system is integrated with a fully computerized system, providing an automatic control. During Eurosatory 2006, CAESAR was exhibited with an automated laying system based on the SIGMA 30 inertial navigation system.

Nexter is developing an armored cab for the CAESAR in response to demand for more protection for the crew. The additional armor will protect against IEDs and roadside bombs, anti-vehicle mines, and 155 mm shells landing as close as five meters (16 feet) away from the vehicle. It can be added to the cabs of existing CAESARs. Heavier armor will increase its weight by 400 kg (880 pounds) and raise the price by 4-5 percent.

- French soldiers conduct a live-fire exercise, with their Nexter Systems Caesar self-propelled wheeled armored vehicles, outside of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, August 14, 2009.

French soldiers conduct a live-fire exercise, with their Nexter Systems Caesar self-propelled wheeled armored vehicles, outside of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 14, 2009.