G6 howitzer
| G6 | |
|---|---|
| File:G6Rhino.jpg | |
| Type | Self-propelled artillery |
| Place of origin | South Africa |
| Service history | |
| Used by | South Africa, Oman, United Arab Emirates |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Denel |
| Produced | 1987— |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 48,000 kg (48 t) |
| Length | 10.4 m |
| Width | 3.4 m |
| Height | 3.5 m |
| Crew | 6 3-5 (G6-52L) |
| Caliber | 155 mm |
| Rate of fire | 8 round/min (G6-52) 4 round/min 2 round/min sustained |
| Effective firing range | 30 km (standard HE) 39 km (base bleed rounds) 53 km (V-LAP rounds) 67 km M9703A1 V-LAP round |
| Maximum firing range | ~70 km |
Main armament | 155 mm howitzer (47 rounds) |
| Engine | air-cooled diesel 525-hp |
| Suspension | 6 x 6 |
| Maximum speed | 85 km/h (road) 30 km/h (off-road) |
The G6 self propelled howitzer was developed around the ordnance of the G5 howitzer. It is currently the most powerful self-propelled equipment on a wheeled chassis. Artillery such as the G6 can be obviously used where the enemy has good anti-aircraft defence, as no army currently has the ability to destroy howitzer rounds in mid air. However, the G6 is not as powerful as aerial bombardement, if one considers the weight of aerial bombs (at least 250 pounds).
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.
Main armament characteristics:
- Maximum range:
- 30,000 m with standard HE rounds,
- 39,000 m with HE base bleed rounds, and
- 53,000 m with a special Velocity enhanced Long Range Projectile (V-LAP).
- 67,450 m M9703A1 V-LAP round (tested successfully to 73,000 m by Denel in G6-52 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.
Production history
- Manufacturer: LIW division of DENEL Corporation in South Africa.
- Date entered production: 1987.
Variants
- G6
- G6-52 (23L chamber)
- G6-52L (25L 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 MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact) 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.
Operators
South Africa (43 systems)
United Arab Emirates (78 systems)
Oman (24 systems)
Combat history
The G6 saw limited action in 1987/88 during the South African Border War
See also
- G5 howitzer, towed howitzer from Denel using similar gun and ammunition.
- Self-propelled artillery
- List of artillery