From Akatsiya to Koalitsiya: post-war heavy self-propelled guns
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In the 21st century, tracked self-propelled artillery is still a key part of the artillery arm in many armies. In spite of the fact that many interesting designs have appeared, wheeled artillery remains a secondary weapon which use is determined by terrain.
During approximately one hundred years of history, the evolution of tracked self-propelled artillery had a lot in common with tanks, which is not surprising because many tracked artillery vehicles are based on tank chassis. Just like with tanks, caliber and mass were getting larger, but this tendency remained until a certain moment. When it comes to tanks, they stopped getting bigger when the main battle tank concept arose. As for SPGs, they stopped at 152 mm — 155 mm barrels.
Although in the 20th century, SPGs equipped with 200 mm and larger guns were designed and accepted into service, modern SPGs are usually limited to 155 mm. Large-caliber guns were considered as a way to increase the range of a projectile. But scientific progress (e.g. the invention of rocket assisted projectiles) allowed to increase the range up to 70 km without making large gun systems. Moreover, long-range artillery was partly replaced by tactical ballistic missiles.
155 mm M44 howitzer, USA. In production since 1954. The photo depicts an M44 on military exercises in 1960, Germany. The vehicle carries a crew of five, is equipped with a 500-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 56 km/h, and weighs 31 tonnes. Its ammunition includes 24 projectiles. The fire rate is 1 round per minute, and the operational range is 14,600 m. About 600 M44s were built
M110, USA. The production started in 1962. This 203 mm howitzer weighs 28,3 tonnes and is equipped with a 450-horsepower engine. Its maximum speed is 55 km/h. Its ammunition includes two projectiles. The operational range equals 16, 8800 m. Over 1000 M110s were built. This vehicle is still in service in the armies of Greece, Iran, South Korea, Turkey, Japan etc
M-50, Israel. This 155 mm howitzer was designed in the early 60s and is based on the Sherman tank. It carries a crew of eight. The vehicle weighs 47 tonnes and is equipped with a 460-horsepower engine. Its ammunition includes 47 projectiles. About 120 vehicles were assembled
L-33 Ro'em, Israel. 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. Another one SPG based on the Sherman. About 200 vehicles must have been built
M107, USA. The production started in 1962. In the picture, the M107 is participating in the San Angelo operation in 1968, Vietnam. The crew includes five soldiers. The vehicle weighs 28,3 tonnes and is equipped with a 450-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 55 km/h. It carries 2 rounds of ammunition. The operational range is equal to 32,7000 m. M107s are still in service in Israel, Turkey, and Vietnam
M109, USA. This howitzer was first introduced in the early 1960s. In the picture, you can see an Egyptian M109 during the military exercises called Operation Bright Star on September 15, 2005. The crew includes six people. The vehicle weighs 23.8 tonnes and is equipped with a 450-horsepower engine. The ammunition includes 28 projectiles. The fire rate is 6 rounds per minute. The operational range equals 22, 000 m. It is a standard NATO SPG
Bandkanon 1, Sweden. The 155 mm howitzer was in use by the Swedish Army from 1967. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 52 tonnes and is equipped with an engine that can produce 240 – 290 horsepower. The engine modification A produces 290 – 300 horsepower. The maximum speed is 28 km/h. The system carries 14 projectiles; its fire rate is 15 rounds per 45 seconds
2S3 (SO-152), USSR. The SPG also has an additional designationAkatsiya, which is Russian for acacia. In service since 1971. The crew includes 4 people. The vehicle weighs 27,5 tonnes and is equipped with a 520-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The ammunition includes from 40 to 46 projectiles. The fire rate is 3,5 rounds per minute, and the operational range equals 25, 000 m. About 4000 2S3s were built. The vehicle is in use by armies of approximately twenty states
Type 75, Japan. The 155 mm Type 75 howitzer was accepted into service in 1975. The crew includes 6 people. The vehicle weighs 25.3 tonnes and is equipped with a 450-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 47 km/h. The ammunition includes 28 projectiles. The fire rate is 6 rounds per minute, the operational range equals 19, 000 m. 201 vehicle was built
2S7 Pion (peony in English), USSR. The production of this 203 mm heavy artillery started in 1975. The photo shows an Azerbaijani 2S7 in Baku. The system carries a crew of seven. It weighs 45 tonnes and is equipped with a 780-horsepower engine. The maximum speed is 50 km/h. The vehicle carries four projectiles. The gun has a range of 50, 000 m. Over 500 2S7s were built. The vehicle is in service in the armies of Azerbaijan, Angola, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine
2S5 Giatsint-S (hyacinth in English), USSR. It is a 152 mm self-propelled gun whit a range of 33, 000 m. The production started in 1976. The photo shows the Belarusian 2S5 at a victory parade in Minsk. The system carries a crew of five. It weighs 27.5 tonnes and is equipped with a 520-horsepower engine. The maximum speed is 63 km/h. It carries 30 rounds of ammunition. More than 2000 2S5s were built. The vehicle is in service in Belarus, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Finland
AMX-30 AuF1, France. It is a 155 mm howitzer with a range of 30, 000 m. The production of the AMX-30 AuF1 started in 1977. The photo shows a Saudi Arabian AuF1 with the crew. The system carries a crew of four and 42 rounds of ammunition, weighs 46 tonnes, and is equipped with a 720-horsepower engine. Its maximum speed is 60 km/h. The fire rate equals 8 rounds per minute. The vehicle is currently in use by the armies of Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and France
M-1978 Koksan, North Korea. This 170 mm SPG is in service since 1978. The crew includes eight people. The system weighs 46 tonnes and has a maximum speed of 40 km/h. It does not carry any projectiles. The fire rate is 1-2 shots per 5 minutes, the gun range is between 40, 000 and 60, 000 m. Iran and Iraq were supplied with these SPGs
The 155 mm Palmaria howitzer, Italy. Its production started in 1982. In the picture, you can see Libyan Palmarias near Ajdabiya in 2011. The vehicle has a crew of five and carries 30 projectiles. Its mass equals 46 tonnes, the equipped engine can produce 750 horsepower. It has a maximum speed of 60 km/h and an operational range of 30, 000 m. Its fire rate is 4 rounds per minute. 235 artillery pieces were built. Libya and Nigeria were supplied with the vehicles, and towers were sent to Argentina
2S19 Msta-S, USSR. This 152 mm howitzer entered service in 1989. It carries a crew of five. The mass equals 42 tonnes, the equipped engine can produce 780 — 840 horsepower. The vehicle has a maximum speed of 60 km/h. It carries 50 rounds of ammunition and has a range of 29, 000 m, and a fire rate of 7 — 10 rounds per minute. Over 720 vehicles were built. They are in use by the armies of Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Ethiopia
The 155-mm howitzer M109A6 «Paladin», USA. It is an improved variant of the М109 with a new turret, radio station, and FCS. The system was accepted into service by the USA army in 1992. It carries a crew of five and weighs 32 tonnes. Its ammunition includes 39 projectiles. The gun range is 30, 000 m, and the fire rate 4 rounds per minute. About 1200 SPGs were produced and are currently in use by the armies of the USA and Saudi Arabia
AS-90, UK. It is a 155 mm howitzer, which production started in 1992. It carries a crew of five, weighs 45 tonnes, and is equipped with a 660-horsepower engine. Its maximum speed is 53 km/h. The system carries 48 rounds of ammunition. Its gun range equals 40, 000 m. 179 vehicles were built. They are in service in the UK army now
PLZ-45, China. It is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, which is in service since 1997. The photo shows a PLZ-45 of the Kuwaiti army. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 43 tonnes and is equipped with a 520-horsepower engine. The maximum speed is 55 km/h. The system carries 30 rounds of ammunition. The operational range is 39, 000 m, and the fire rate is 4 – 5 rounds per minute. The vehicle is in service in China, Algeria, Bangladesh, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia were also supplied with it
K9 Thunder, South Korea. The production of this 155 mm howitzer started in 1999. It carries a crew of five, weighs 47 tonnes, and is equipped with an engine that can produce one thousand horsepower. It has a maximum speed of 67 km/h and carries 48 rounds of ammunition. Its gun range is 40, 000 m, and the fire rate equals 6 — 8 rounds per minute. 1140 artillery pieces were built. Turkey has a license to produce the K9 Thunder and has already assembled 180 SPGs
Panzerhaubitze 2000 (abbreviated PzH 2000), Germany. The production of this 155 mm howitzer started in 1998. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 55 tonnes and has a 986-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. It can carry 60 rounds of ammunition, its gun range equals 40, 000 m (the world record is 56, 000 m), and the fire rate is 8 — 10 rounds per minute. Over 300 vehicles were built. The PzH 2000 is currently in use by the armies of is Germany, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands
Type 99, Japan. The production of this 155 mm howitzer started in 1999. The crew includes four people. The system weighs 40 tonnes and is equipped with a 600-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. It carries 30 rounds of ammunition; its operational range equals 38, 000 m, and the fire rate is 6 rounds per minute. 111 vehicles were built. They are currently in use by the Japanese army
SSPH Primus, Singapore. This 155 mm howitzer entered service in 2004. The crew includes 4 people. The vehicle weighs 28.3 tonnes and is equipped with a 550-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 50 km/h. The system carries 26 rounds of ammunition; the operational range equals 30, 000 m, and the fire rate is 6 rounds per minute. 48 SPGs were built and are currently in service in Singapore
PLZ-05, China. The 155 mm howitzer is in production since 2007. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 35 tonnes and is equipped with a 520-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 55 km/h. The system can carry 30 projectiles; its operational range equals 52, 000 m, and the fire rate is 8 rounds per minute. About 276 SPGs were built and are currently in service in China
AHS Krab (crab in English), Poland. The 155-mm howitzer adopted a turret from the British AS-90 and a chassis from the Polish modification of the T-72 (see the picture). The production of this 155 mm howitzer started in 2008. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 52.1 tonnes and is equipped with an 850-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The system can carry 26 rounds of ammunition; its operational range equals 40, 000 m, and the fire rate is 6 rounds per minute. 10 SPGs were built
2S35 Koalitsiya-SV (direct translation is “coalition”), Russia. The production of this 152 mm howitzer started in 2013. It has a three-man crew, weighs 48 tonnes, and has an engine that can produce one thousand horsepower. The system can carry 50 – 70 rounds of ammunition; its operational range equals 70, 000 m and the rate of fire is 16 rounds per minute. 12 vehicles were built. It was first seen in public in 2015 during rehearsals for the Moscow Victory Day Parade
If the background of the pictures causes difficulties while you are reading reference information, hover the mouse over the text.
In the 21st century, tracked self-propelled artillery is still a key part of the artillery arm in many armies. In spite of the fact that many interesting designs have appeared, wheeled artillery remains a secondary weapon which use is determined by terrain.
During approximately one hundred years of history, the evolution of tracked self-propelled artillery had a lot in common with tanks, which is not surprising because many tracked artillery vehicles are based on tank chassis. Just like with tanks, caliber and mass were getting larger, but this tendency remained until a certain moment. When it comes to tanks, they stopped getting bigger when the main battle tank concept arose. As for SPGs, they stopped at 152 mm — 155 mm barrels.
Although in the 20th century, SPGs equipped with 200 mm and larger guns were designed and accepted into service, modern SPGs are usually limited to 155 mm. Large-caliber guns were considered as a way to increase the range of a projectile. But scientific progress (e.g. the invention of rocket assisted projectiles) allowed to increase the range up to 70 km without making large gun systems. Moreover, long-range artillery was partly replaced by tactical ballistic missiles.
155 mm M44 howitzer, USA. In production since 1954. The photo depicts an M44 on military exercises in 1960, Germany. The vehicle carries a crew of five, is equipped with a 500-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 56 km/h, and weighs 31 tonnes. Its ammunition includes 24 projectiles. The fire rate is 1 round per minute, and the operational range is 14,600 m. About 600 M44s were built
M110, USA. The production started in 1962. This 203 mm howitzer weighs 28,3 tonnes and is equipped with a 450-horsepower engine. Its maximum speed is 55 km/h. Its ammunition includes two projectiles. The operational range equals 16, 8800 m. Over 1000 M110s were built. This vehicle is still in service in the armies of Greece, Iran, South Korea, Turkey, Japan etc
M-50, Israel. This 155 mm howitzer was designed in the early 60s and is based on the Sherman tank. It carries a crew of eight. The vehicle weighs 47 tonnes and is equipped with a 460-horsepower engine. Its ammunition includes 47 projectiles. About 120 vehicles were assembled
L-33 Ro'em, Israel. 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. Another one SPG based on the Sherman. About 200 vehicles must have been built
M107, USA. The production started in 1962. In the picture, the M107 is participating in the San Angelo operation in 1968, Vietnam. The crew includes five soldiers. The vehicle weighs 28,3 tonnes and is equipped with a 450-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 55 km/h. It carries 2 rounds of ammunition. The operational range is equal to 32,7000 m. M107s are still in service in Israel, Turkey, and Vietnam
M109, USA. This howitzer was first introduced in the early 1960s. In the picture, you can see an Egyptian M109 during the military exercises called Operation Bright Star on September 15, 2005. The crew includes six people. The vehicle weighs 23.8 tonnes and is equipped with a 450-horsepower engine. The ammunition includes 28 projectiles. The fire rate is 6 rounds per minute. The operational range equals 22, 000 m. It is a standard NATO SPG
Bandkanon 1, Sweden. The 155 mm howitzer was in use by the Swedish Army from 1967. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 52 tonnes and is equipped with an engine that can produce 240 – 290 horsepower. The engine modification A produces 290 – 300 horsepower. The maximum speed is 28 km/h. The system carries 14 projectiles; its fire rate is 15 rounds per 45 seconds
2S3 (SO-152), USSR. The SPG also has an additional designationAkatsiya, which is Russian for acacia. In service since 1971. The crew includes 4 people. The vehicle weighs 27,5 tonnes and is equipped with a 520-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The ammunition includes from 40 to 46 projectiles. The fire rate is 3,5 rounds per minute, and the operational range equals 25, 000 m. About 4000 2S3s were built. The vehicle is in use by armies of approximately twenty states
Type 75, Japan. The 155 mm Type 75 howitzer was accepted into service in 1975. The crew includes 6 people. The vehicle weighs 25.3 tonnes and is equipped with a 450-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 47 km/h. The ammunition includes 28 projectiles. The fire rate is 6 rounds per minute, the operational range equals 19, 000 m. 201 vehicle was built
2S7 Pion (peony in English), USSR. The production of this 203 mm heavy artillery started in 1975. The photo shows an Azerbaijani 2S7 in Baku. The system carries a crew of seven. It weighs 45 tonnes and is equipped with a 780-horsepower engine. The maximum speed is 50 km/h. The vehicle carries four projectiles. The gun has a range of 50, 000 m. Over 500 2S7s were built. The vehicle is in service in the armies of Azerbaijan, Angola, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine
2S5 Giatsint-S (hyacinth in English), USSR. It is a 152 mm self-propelled gun whit a range of 33, 000 m. The production started in 1976. The photo shows the Belarusian 2S5 at a victory parade in Minsk. The system carries a crew of five. It weighs 27.5 tonnes and is equipped with a 520-horsepower engine. The maximum speed is 63 km/h. It carries 30 rounds of ammunition. More than 2000 2S5s were built. The vehicle is in service in Belarus, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Finland
AMX-30 AuF1, France. It is a 155 mm howitzer with a range of 30, 000 m. The production of the AMX-30 AuF1 started in 1977. The photo shows a Saudi Arabian AuF1 with the crew. The system carries a crew of four and 42 rounds of ammunition, weighs 46 tonnes, and is equipped with a 720-horsepower engine. Its maximum speed is 60 km/h. The fire rate equals 8 rounds per minute. The vehicle is currently in use by the armies of Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and France
M-1978 Koksan, North Korea. This 170 mm SPG is in service since 1978. The crew includes eight people. The system weighs 46 tonnes and has a maximum speed of 40 km/h. It does not carry any projectiles. The fire rate is 1-2 shots per 5 minutes, the gun range is between 40, 000 and 60, 000 m. Iran and Iraq were supplied with these SPGs
The 155 mm Palmaria howitzer, Italy. Its production started in 1982. In the picture, you can see Libyan Palmarias near Ajdabiya in 2011. The vehicle has a crew of five and carries 30 projectiles. Its mass equals 46 tonnes, the equipped engine can produce 750 horsepower. It has a maximum speed of 60 km/h and an operational range of 30, 000 m. Its fire rate is 4 rounds per minute. 235 artillery pieces were built. Libya and Nigeria were supplied with the vehicles, and towers were sent to Argentina
2S19 Msta-S, USSR. This 152 mm howitzer entered service in 1989. It carries a crew of five. The mass equals 42 tonnes, the equipped engine can produce 780 — 840 horsepower. The vehicle has a maximum speed of 60 km/h. It carries 50 rounds of ammunition and has a range of 29, 000 m, and a fire rate of 7 — 10 rounds per minute. Over 720 vehicles were built. They are in use by the armies of Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Ethiopia
The 155-mm howitzer M109A6 «Paladin», USA. It is an improved variant of the М109 with a new turret, radio station, and FCS. The system was accepted into service by the USA army in 1992. It carries a crew of five and weighs 32 tonnes. Its ammunition includes 39 projectiles. The gun range is 30, 000 m, and the fire rate 4 rounds per minute. About 1200 SPGs were produced and are currently in use by the armies of the USA and Saudi Arabia
AS-90, UK. It is a 155 mm howitzer, which production started in 1992. It carries a crew of five, weighs 45 tonnes, and is equipped with a 660-horsepower engine. Its maximum speed is 53 km/h. The system carries 48 rounds of ammunition. Its gun range equals 40, 000 m. 179 vehicles were built. They are in service in the UK army now
PLZ-45, China. It is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, which is in service since 1997. The photo shows a PLZ-45 of the Kuwaiti army. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 43 tonnes and is equipped with a 520-horsepower engine. The maximum speed is 55 km/h. The system carries 30 rounds of ammunition. The operational range is 39, 000 m, and the fire rate is 4 – 5 rounds per minute. The vehicle is in service in China, Algeria, Bangladesh, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia were also supplied with it
K9 Thunder, South Korea. The production of this 155 mm howitzer started in 1999. It carries a crew of five, weighs 47 tonnes, and is equipped with an engine that can produce one thousand horsepower. It has a maximum speed of 67 km/h and carries 48 rounds of ammunition. Its gun range is 40, 000 m, and the fire rate equals 6 — 8 rounds per minute. 1140 artillery pieces were built. Turkey has a license to produce the K9 Thunder and has already assembled 180 SPGs
Panzerhaubitze 2000 (abbreviated PzH 2000), Germany. The production of this 155 mm howitzer started in 1998. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 55 tonnes and has a 986-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. It can carry 60 rounds of ammunition, its gun range equals 40, 000 m (the world record is 56, 000 m), and the fire rate is 8 — 10 rounds per minute. Over 300 vehicles were built. The PzH 2000 is currently in use by the armies of is Germany, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands
Type 99, Japan. The production of this 155 mm howitzer started in 1999. The crew includes four people. The system weighs 40 tonnes and is equipped with a 600-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. It carries 30 rounds of ammunition; its operational range equals 38, 000 m, and the fire rate is 6 rounds per minute. 111 vehicles were built. They are currently in use by the Japanese army
SSPH Primus, Singapore. This 155 mm howitzer entered service in 2004. The crew includes 4 people. The vehicle weighs 28.3 tonnes and is equipped with a 550-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 50 km/h. The system carries 26 rounds of ammunition; the operational range equals 30, 000 m, and the fire rate is 6 rounds per minute. 48 SPGs were built and are currently in service in Singapore
PLZ-05, China. The 155 mm howitzer is in production since 2007. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 35 tonnes and is equipped with a 520-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 55 km/h. The system can carry 30 projectiles; its operational range equals 52, 000 m, and the fire rate is 8 rounds per minute. About 276 SPGs were built and are currently in service in China
AHS Krab (crab in English), Poland. The 155-mm howitzer adopted a turret from the British AS-90 and a chassis from the Polish modification of the T-72 (see the picture). The production of this 155 mm howitzer started in 2008. The crew includes 5 people. The vehicle weighs 52.1 tonnes and is equipped with an 850-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The system can carry 26 rounds of ammunition; its operational range equals 40, 000 m, and the fire rate is 6 rounds per minute. 10 SPGs were built
2S35 Koalitsiya-SV (direct translation is “coalition”), Russia. The production of this 152 mm howitzer started in 2013. It has a three-man crew, weighs 48 tonnes, and has an engine that can produce one thousand horsepower. The system can carry 50 – 70 rounds of ammunition; its operational range equals 70, 000 m and the rate of fire is 16 rounds per minute. 12 vehicles were built. It was first seen in public in 2015 during rehearsals for the Moscow Victory Day Parade
