G6 howitzer

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G6

G6 howitzer
Type Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin South Africa
Service history
Used by South Africa, Oman, United Arab Emirates
Wars South African Border War
Production history
Manufacturer Denel
Produced 1987 –
Specifications
Weight 46,500 kg (46.5 t)[1]
Length 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)[1][2]
Width 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)[1]
Height 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)[1]
Crew 6
3–5 (G6-52 Extended Range)
Caliber 155 mm[2]
Rate of fire G6-52: 8 rpm
G6 M1A3: 6 rpm
Sustained: 2 rpm
Effective firing range Standard: 30 km (19 mi)
Base bleed: 39 km (24 mi)
V-LAP: 52.5 km (32.6 mi)
M9703A1: 67 km (42 mi)
Main
armament
 1 x 155mm T6 L/52 (Caliber: 155mm - Scope estimated 33Km to 42Km)
Engine air-cooled diesel
525 hp (391.49 kW)
Suspension 6×6
Operational
range
 Road: 700 km (430 mi)
Off-road: 350 km (220 mi)[1]
Speed Road: 85 km/h (53 mph)
Off-road: 30 km/h (19 mph)[2]

The G6 self-propelled howitzer is a South African artillery piece, developed around the ordnance of the G5 howitzer. It is one of the most powerful self-propelled guns on a wheeled chassis.

In addition to the logistical mobility afforded by a wheeled chassis, the G6 is protected against counter battery fire and is able to defend itself in an unsecured area.

The chassis is mine-protected. The G6 is produced in South Africa by the Land Systems division of Denel. It entered production in 1987.

Ammunition characteristics

  • Maximum range:
    • 30,000 m with standard HE rounds,
    • 39,000 m with HE base bleed rounds, and
    • 42,000 m with HE base bleed rounds (BB—fired from G6-52)
    • 50,000 m with HE base bleed rounds (BB—fired from G6-52 Extended Range)
    • 52,500 m with a special velocity-enhanced Long Range Projectile (V-LAP—fired from G6).
    • 58,000 m with a special velocity-enhanced Long Range Projectile (V-LAP—fired from G6-52).
    • 67,450 m M9703A1 V-LAP round (tested successfully to 73,000 m by Denel in G6-52 Extended Range platform)
  • Minimum range: 3,000 m.
  • Rate of fire: 4 round/min, 2 round/min sustained.
  • Ammunition: 155 mm ERFB. 47 rounds, 50 charges, 64 primers and fuzes.
  • Accuracy: 0.1% of range in azimuth, 0.48% of range in range.
  • In 2012 four rounds of M982 Excalibur precision guided munitions were fired to a range of 38 km, all landing within 5 m of the target.[3]

Variants

  • G6
  • G6 M1A3: Exported UAE version
  • G6-52 (23 litre chamber)
  • G6-52 Extended Range (25 litre chamber)
    • Reduced crew to 3–5;
    • can fire projectile up to 67 km at a rate of fire of eight rounds/minute;
    • increased off-road speeds to nearly 70 km/h;
    • implemented Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) technology and can land six (G6-52L variant) or five (G6-52) rounds simultaneously at targets up to 25 km away; and
    • is currently undergoing extensive trials.
  • G6 Marksman: a British SPAAG version, combining the G6's base vehicle with the Marksman turret.[4]

Operators

Combat history

The G6 saw limited action in 1987/88 during the South African Border War, in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale.

See also

G5/G6 ammunition

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Weapon systems: Artillery - GV6". South African Army. Retrieved 4 January 2010. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Greeff, I.B. (June 1992). "South Africa's Modern Long Tom". Military History Journal (The South African Military History Society) 9 (1). ISSN 0026-4016. 
  3. ↑ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-290906341.html
  4. ↑ "Denel in UK gun link-up". Flight International (Flightglobal.com) (14–20 September 2004): 10. September 2004. ISSN 0015-3710. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "G6 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer, South Africa". army-technology.com. Retrieved 1 January 2010. 
  6. ↑ G6 L45 self-propelled towed gun-howitzer
  7. ↑ "G6 Rhino 155mm SELF-PROPELLED GUN-HOWITZER". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 1 January 2010. 

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