| 155 GH 52 APU | |
|---|---|
| Type | Field gun |
| Place of origin | Finland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1998 |
| Used by | Finnish Army Egyptian Army |
| Wars | none |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 13,500 kg (30,000 lb) |
| Barrel length | 52 calibers |
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| Caliber | 155 millimetres (6.1 in) |
| Carriage | Split trail, sole plate, auxiliary power unit and hydraulics |
| Elevation | -5 to +70° |
| Traverse | 65° |
| Rate of fire | 6 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 827 m/s (2,710 ft/s) |
| Effective range | 30-40 km (19-25 mi) depending on ammo |
155 GH 52 APU is a Finnish gun developed in 1998. It is an enhanced and upgraded version of the 155 K 83. The acronym APU stands for auxiliary power unit, which means that in can be moved on the field for short distances with its own auxiliary diesel engine. The type of the diesel engine, which is used in 56 units used by the Finnish defence forces is a 78-kilowatt Deutz diesel engine.
The 155 GH 52 is considered to be one of most modern field artillery cannons to date and was originally manufactured by Oy Tampella AB industries (today a part of Patria, Patria Vammas Systems Oy). It has a high rate of fire (6 rounds per minute) and can fire all types of 155 mm ammunition.
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The Kainuu Artillery Regiment of Kainuu Brigade in Vuosanka shooting range and the Artillery Brigade in Niinisalo in Pohjankangas shooting range operates the guns in Finland. The artillery units train also in Rovajärvi shooting range in Rovaniemi in Lapland.
In Finnish practice one infantry readiness brigade has one organic artillery regimet consisting two artillery fire battalions. Both of the artillery fire battalions have 18 cannons divided in three six cannon batteries, which means that an artillery remiment, which is an organic unit for a readiness brigade, should have 36 cannons in its two artillery battalions. Finland has three readines brigades.
In 2003 a gun was mounted on a Soviet T-55 chassis for use as a self-propelled gun prototype. This vehicle was designed primarily as a design study for the Egyptian Army. It was later sold to Egypt.
On 21 May 2007, the Finnish Yleisradio revealed some problems with the 155 GH 52 APU, dealing with reliability issues of the towing system and the barrel behavior when firing long-distance round. These facts had been withheld from the Egyptians at the time of the deal. The major challenges has been the accuracy of fire in the longest distances and barrel wearing with same distances.
The arms deal lead into a juridical process formally presented as an allegation of corruption. Inspector Janne Järvinen and state prosecutor Ari-Pekka Koivisto investigated if the 10% trade commission had been partly allocated to the directors of the buying organisation using the commercial agent.[1]
The gun's deployment power is 78 kW and its driven speed (in terrain, to location) is 7.5 km/h or 15 km/h when pulled by a heavy truck. The cost of one system is 500,000 euros.
After having encountered the problmes with firing to 35 km - 40 km, the Finnish Army concentrated in its artillery gun development to M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (in Finnish arsenal 298 RsRakH 06, later 298 RSRAKH 06)bought as Dutch surplus.