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58-533: The AS-90 ("Artillery System for the 1990s"), known officially as Gun Equipment 155 mm L131 , is an armoured self-propelled artillery used by the British Army . It can fire standard charges up to 24.7 km (15.3 mi) using 39-calibre long barrel and 30 km (19 mi) with 52-caliber long barrel. The maximum rate of fire is 3 rounds in 10 seconds (burst); 6 per minute for 3 minutes (intense); and 2 per minute for 60 minutes (sustained). AS-90

116-439: A combination of these mechanisms. Railguns utilize electromagnetic fields to provide a constant acceleration along the entire length of the device, greatly increasing the muzzle velocity . Some projectiles provide propulsion during flight by means of a rocket engine or jet engine . In military terminology, a rocket is unguided, while a missile is guided . Note the two meanings of "rocket" (weapon and engine): an ICBM

174-621: A few Komsomolets tractor-mounted 57   mm ZiS-2 guns early in the war. By 1943, the series of Samokhodnaya Ustanovka casemate-armored vehicles had started to appear at the front, starting with the SU-85 , and by late 1944 the SU-100 , which mounted powerful guns on modern chassis adopting the full-casemate enclosure of the crew compartment as the Germans had done with the StuG III. These had

232-763: A new 155 mm self-propelled gun. The MoD was also required to consider the US "Paladin", an upgraded M109 howitzer . The MoD undertook studies in 2006–09 to "up-gun" the Royal Navy's main shipboard gun armament , the 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun , to accept 155   mm ammunition from the AS-90. This would have introduced a common gun calibre for the British Army and Royal Navy , helping with ammunition logistics, and encouraging joint Army-Navy development of extended-range and precision-guided shells. The development of this gun for

290-642: A new system is decided upon as part of the Mobile Fires Platform program, where Archer was a competitor. On April 23, 2024 the UK government announced that the AS-90 would be replaced by the RCH 155 . AS-90 started in the mid-1980s as a private venture on the gamble that the tri-national SP70 would fail. When this did occur, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a cardinal point specification on one page for

348-427: A part of BAE Systems . 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 programme 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

406-418: A range of 24.7 km (15.3 mi). However, this was a new design of ordnance using a split sliding block breech with Crossley obturation, instead of the more usual screw breech, to permit bagged charges (no metal cartridge cases). The breech mechanism has a primer magazine holding 18 primers. The standard ammunition is that designed for FH-70 (L15 HE and associated propelling charges) although in training

464-505: A significant role throughout the Cold War era conflicts and in the 1991 Gulf War . Modern SP artillery is highly computerized, with the ability to self-survey firing positions using systems such as GPS and inertial navigation systems . This, in conjunction with digital fire control /ballistic computers and digital communications, allows individual guns to disperse over a wide area and still deliver rounds on target simultaneously with

522-535: A simple rocket rack on the back, a cheap and crushingly effective weapon, provided area saturation was called for rather than accurate fire. The Axis powers had captured the Katyusha and made their own versions; Germany created the 8 cm Raketen-Vielfachwerfer , while Romania developed the Mareșal tank destroyer , an early prototype of which was armed with a Katyusha. It also had self-propelled howitzer versions. After

580-687: A specific angle θ {\displaystyle \theta } : 1. Time to reach maximum height. It is symbolized as ( t {\displaystyle t} ), which is the time taken for the projectile to reach the maximum height from the plane of projection. Mathematically, it is given as t = U sin ⁡ θ / g {\displaystyle t=U\sin \theta /g} where g {\displaystyle g} = acceleration due to gravity (app 9.81 m/s²), U {\displaystyle U} = initial velocity (m/s) and θ {\displaystyle \theta } = angle made by

638-436: A tracked chassis so they superficially resemble tanks. However, they are generally lightly armoured, which is insufficient to withstand direct-fire combat; nonetheless this protects their crews against shrapnel and small arms and therefore they are usually included as armoured fighting vehicles . Many are equipped with machine guns for defense against enemy infantry. The key advantage of self-propelled over towed artillery

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696-508: Is a projectile weapon based solely on a projectile's kinetic energy to inflict damage to a target, instead of using any explosive , incendiary / thermal , chemical or radiological payload . All kinetic weapons work by attaining a high flight speed — generally supersonic or even up to hypervelocity — and collide with their targets, converting their kinetic energy and relative impulse into destructive shock waves , heat and cavitation . In kinetic weapons with unpowered flight ,

754-400: Is a 120 mm automatic twin-barrelled, breech-loaded mortar turret. There are also numerous AFVs and even main battle tanks that can be equipped with a mortar, either outside or inside the cabin. The Israeli Merkava main battle tank carried a 60 mm mortar in the small troop compartment in the rear, which fired through an opening in the roof, allowing the crew to remain protected. This

812-429: Is a guided missile with a rocket engine. An explosion, whether or not by a weapon, causes the debris to act as multiple high velocity projectiles. An explosive weapon or device may also be designed to produce many high velocity projectiles by the break-up of its casing; these are correctly termed fragments . In projectile motion the most important force applied to the ‘projectile’ is the propelling force, in this case

870-727: Is propelled by the application of an external force and then moves freely under the influence of gravity and air resistance . Although any objects in motion through space are projectiles, they are commonly found in warfare and sports (for example, a thrown baseball , kicked football , fired bullet , shot arrow , stone released from catapult ). In ballistics mathematical equations of motion are used to analyze projectile trajectories through launch, flight , and impact . Blowguns and pneumatic rifles use compressed gases, while most other guns and cannons utilize expanding gases liberated by sudden chemical reactions by propellants like smokeless powder . Light-gas guns use

928-414: Is that it can be brought into action much faster. Before the towed artillery can be used, it has to stop, unlimber and set up the guns. To move position, the guns must be limbered up again and brought—usually towed—to the new location. By comparison, self-propelled artillery can stop at a chosen location and begin firing almost immediately, then quickly move on to a new position. This shoot-and-scoot ability

986-433: Is the maximum height attained by the projectile OR the maximum displacement on the vertical axis (y-axis) covered by the projectile. It is given as H = U 2 sin 2 ⁡ θ / 2 g {\displaystyle H=U^{2}\sin ^{2}\theta /2g} . 4. Range ( R {\displaystyle R} ): The Range of a projectile is the horizontal distance covered (on

1044-561: Is very useful in a mobile conflict and particularly on the advance in open battlefields. Conversely, towed artillery was and remains cheaper to build and maintain. It is also lighter and can be deployed in areas that self-propelled guns cannot reach. Since the Vietnam War , heavy transport helicopters have also been used for rapid artillery deployment albeit at considerable expense and risk, mitigating one of towed artillery's disadvantages. Both self-propelled and towed artillery remain in

1102-727: The Brummbär ), leftover chassis from cancelled programs ( Elefant and Sturer Emil ); others were converted from battle-damaged tanks ( Sturmtiger ). The single most-produced armored fighting vehicle design for Germany in WW II, the Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun, in 1936–1937 pioneered the later casemate-style fully enclosed armor that would be used on almost all late-war German self-propelled artillery and Jagdpanzer -format tank destroyers. The Soviets experimented with truck- and tank-based self-propelled weapons, producing

1160-515: The Islamic gunpowder empires , especially those of Iran, especially in the rugged Iranian plateau , where the transportation of heavy cannons is difficult. The British Gun Carrier Mark I was the first example of a self-propelled gun, fielded in 1917 during World War I . It was based on the first tank , the British Mark I and carried a heavy field gun. The gun could either be fired from

1218-542: The M3 half track and M113 APC , to vehicles specifically intended to carry a mortar, such as the 2S31 Vena . The Israeli Makmat is a mortar carrier based on the M4 Sherman tank chassis. The Russian army uses a 2S4 Tyulpan (Tulip) self-propelled 240 mm heavy mortar. Patria Hägglunds , a joint venture between Finnish Patria and Swedish BAE Systems Hägglunds , manufactures AMOS (Advanced Mortar System), which

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1276-819: The Marder I , using captured French Lorraine 37L tractors, the Marder II , using the Panzer II light tank chassis, and the Marder III , which was based on the Panzer 38(t) Czech chassis. These led to better-protected assault guns – Sturmgeschütz – with fully enclosed casemates , built on medium tank chassis. In the same way self-propelled anti-tank guns such as the Jagdpanzer IV and Jagdpanther were built. Some designs were based on existing chassis (such as

1334-554: The arsenals of many modern armies. During the Thirty Years' War , early 17th-century experiments were made with early types of horse artillery . Batteries towed light field guns where most or all of the crew rode horses into battle. The gunners were trained to quickly dismount, deploy the guns and provide instant fire support to cavalry, and act as a flexible reserve. The Russian army organized small units of horse artillery that were distributed among their cavalry formations in

1392-724: The muzzle velocity or launch velocity often determines the effective range and potential damage of the kinetic projectile. Kinetic weapons are the oldest and most common ranged weapons used in human history , with the projectiles varying from blunt projectiles such as rocks and round shots , pointed missiles such as arrows , bolts , darts , and javelins , to modern tapered high-velocity impactors such as bullets , flechettes , and penetrators . Typical kinetic weapons accelerate their projectiles mechanically (by muscle power , mechanical advantage devices , elastic energy or pneumatics ) or chemically (by propellant combustion , as with firearms ), but newer technologies are enabling

1450-567: The trunnion . All main turret functions are controlled by a Turret Control Computer (TCC) with control and display units for the No 1 (Detachment Commander), No 2 (loader) and No 3 (layer). The combination of the DRU, TCC and powered laying controls provide autolaying. Every gun is fitted with a radar Muzzle Velocity Measuring Device. Reversionary mode laying uses deflection laying via the direct fire sight. The gun can be brought into action fully closed down;

1508-541: The AS-90 had been 2030, but this was later delayed to 2032 with a replacement planned to enter service in 2029. On 24 April 2022, the Daily Express reported that AS-90s and 45,000 artillery rounds would be sent to Ukraine but that was subsequently denied by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace . On 14 January 2023, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that Britain would send 30 AS-90 to Ukraine, amongst other supplies (including 14 Challenger 2 tanks), for use in

1566-739: The British Sexton (25 pdr) and the German Wespe and Hummel being typical examples. A different route was chosen by the Soviets, who did not develop a specialized indirect-fire vehicle, but following a tradition of dual-purpose towed artillery, built a series of versatile assault guns with indirect-fire capabilities (example ISU-152 ). A related and novel program was the development of the Soviet Katyusha self-propelled multiple rocket launchers , which were unarmored trucks with

1624-572: The British land component, General Brims , commented that "the phenomenal accuracy of it, [was] way beyond anything that one might have expected". AS90s were used to shell Iraqi mortar positions during the Battle of Basra , one of the opening battles of the conflict. In October 2023, Defence Minister Adam Ingram stated it had a 92% availability rate during the war. A total of 20 battle-ready AS90s and 12 non-functional spares were donated to Ukraine by

1682-457: The Oryx blog recorded Ukrainian losses at 12 units (7 destroyed and 5 damaged). AS-90D AS-90 Braveheart AHS Krab  – ( Armatohaubica Krab , Cannon-howitzer crab ) Self-propelled artillery In the past, self-propelled artillery has included direct-fire vehicles, such as assault guns and tank destroyers , which were typically well-armoured vehicles often based upon

1740-646: The Royal Navy was stopped due to budget cuts in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010 . In 1963 certain NATO nations, including the UK, agreed to a "Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding" for a 155 mm 39 calibre ordnance and a baseline projectile with the shape used for the US M549 rocket-assisted shell. The AS-90 uses a conforming 39 calibre barrel which fires the L15 unassisted projectile out to

1798-492: The StuG III, and the immense 152 mm howitzer-armed, Soviet ISU-152 , both fully casemated in their design, are examples of this type of self-propelled artillery. All major nations developed self-propelled artillery that would be able to provide indirect support while keeping pace with advancing armoured formations. These were usually lightly armoured vehicles with an open-topped hull; the American M7 Priest ,

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1856-648: The UK in 2023 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine , with first combat usage in June 2023. According to Ukrainian forces, the AS90 outperforms their existing Soviet-era artillery systems, such as the 2S1 Gvozdika and 2S3 Akatsiya , in both range and accuracy. In July 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence announced a new package of support for Ukraine including 10 AS90s and support for previously gifted ones. As of July 2024,

1914-510: The War. This mounted an 18-pounder field gun, capable of both the usual artillery trajectories and high-angle anti-aircraft fire , on a Vickers medium tank chassis. It was designed and built for investigations into a general approach to warfare where all arms, infantry and artillery included, would be able to operate over the same terrain as tanks. The Red Army also experimented with truck- and tank-mounted artillery, but produced none in quantity. At

1972-511: The advantage of being relatively cheap to build and mounting a larger gun compared to the conventional tank that they were derived from, but at the expense of flexibility. Heavily armoured assault guns were designed to provide direct-fire support to infantry in the face of enemy defenses. Although often similar to tank destroyers, they carried larger-caliber guns with weaker anti-armor performance but capable of firing powerful HE projectiles. The German 105 mm howitzer-armed StuH 42 based on

2030-544: The barrel can be clamped and unclamped from within the vehicle. In-to and out-of action times are less than one minute. The gun is compatible with the extended-range guided projectile M982 Excalibur . The AS90 was deployed in Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s to support NATO peacekeeping efforts during the Yugoslav Wars . 32 AS90s were also deployed during the 2003 Iraq War . Speaking of their capability, Commander of

2088-403: The chassis of a tank . In lieu of the standard tank's general-purpose main gun that fired both high-explosive and anti-tank ammunition, direct-fire vehicles had specialized roles, with assault guns providing close fire-support for infantry and tank destroyers mounting an anti-tank gun to take on enemy armour. Modern self-propelled artillery vehicles often mount their main gun in a turret on

2146-408: The development of potential weapons using electromagnetically launched projectiles, such as railguns , coilguns and mass drivers . There are also concept weapons that are accelerated by gravity , as in the case of kinetic bombardment weapons designed for space warfare . Some projectiles stay connected by a cable to the launch equipment after launching it: An object projected at an angle to

2204-415: The earlier TOT ( time on target ) concept. The necessary rapid reloading is made possible by an automated ammunition feed system. Rockets have greater ranges and carry much more complex " shells " than guns, since there is less restriction on size (calibre). A multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) can be used to saturate a large area with sub-munitions. Projectile A projectile is an object that

2262-659: The early 18th century. While not forming large batteries and employing only lighter 2- and 3-pound guns, they were still effective and inflicted serious losses to Prussian units in the Seven Years' War . This inspired Frederick the Great to organize the first regular horse artillery unit in 1759. Other nations quickly realized the capability of the new arm and by the start of French Revolutionary Wars in 1790s Austria, Hannover, Portugal, Russia, France, Great Britain and Sweden had all formed regular units of horse artillery. The arm

2320-707: The end of World War II , the assault gun fell from use with a general trend towards a single heavy gun-equipped vehicle, the main battle tank , although some wheeled AFVs such as the South African Rooikat , the Maneuver Combat Vehicle of the JGSDF , and the US M1128 MGS , among others, are still developed with large-caliber, direct-fire weapons. Self-propelled indirect-fire artillery remains important and continues to develop alongside

2378-509: The general-purpose field gun. Many vehicles have used ancillary smoke mortars for local defense, which project one or more smoke grenades in a pattern that allows them to lay down a smoke screen some distance in order to conceal the vehicle from enemy observers. Mortar carriers are vehicles which carry a mortar as a primary weapon. Numerous vehicles have been used to mount mortars, from improvised civilian trucks used by insurgents , to modified infantry fighting vehicles , such as variants of

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2436-408: The gun and its crew. Many of the early designs were improvised, and the lessons learned led to better designs later in the war. For example, the first British design, " Bishop ", carried the 25 pdr gun-howitzer on a Valentine tank chassis, but in a mounting that severely limited the gun's performance. It was replaced by the more effective Sexton . The first battery of self-propelled artillery guns

2494-481: The horizontal has both the vertical and horizontal components of velocity. The vertical component of the velocity on the y-axis is given as V y = U sin ⁡ θ {\displaystyle V_{y}=U\sin \theta } while the horizontal component of the velocity is V x = U cos ⁡ θ {\displaystyle V_{x}=U\cos \theta } . There are various calculations for projectiles at

2552-525: The increased firepower provided by modern mobile howitzers is the latest version of the 155 mm G6 howitzer , the G6-52. It can fire up to six rounds in quick succession that will land nearly simultaneously. This is achieved by firing the shells at different trajectories so that the first round has the longest flight time and the last round the shortest. This is an improvement of the concept of multiple-round simultaneous impact (MRSI), itself an enhancement of

2610-488: The less effective but cheaper M107 with Green and White propelling charges is used. It is fitted with an auxiliary power unit to eliminate the need to run the main engine to keep the batteries charged while stationary; electrical servos drive the automated elevation, traverse, magazine, shell transfer arm and loader as well as power for electronics and communications. The vehicle is fitted with an autonomous navigation and gun laying dynamic reference unit (DRU) mounted on

2668-553: The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War . To fill the gap in British Army artillery left by the donation, the UK government announced they were buying 14 Archer Artillery Systems in March 2023. The deal was negotiated in just eight weeks as part of the Urgent Operational Requirement procurement process; the first vehicles are to be fully operational by April 2024. The purchase will fill a hole in capabilities until

2726-528: The other guns in their battery. These capabilities also increase survivability manyfold as modern SP artillery can displace and avoid counterbattery fire much more quickly and effectively and, if desired, more frequently than previously possible. In conjunction with modern logistic systems (where the SP gun's systems can track and report on ammunition consumption and levels) with similar navigation systems and palletized load dropping / lifting capabilities mean that

2784-558: The outbreak of World War II, virtually all artillery was still being moved around by artillery tractors or horses. While the German Blitzkrieg doctrine called for combined-arms action, which required fire support for armoured units, during the invasion of Poland and France this was provided by the Luftwaffe using Junkers Ju 87 'Stuka' dive-bombers effectively acting as artillery. Conventional towed howitzers followed. As

2842-447: The projectile with the horizontal axis. 2. Time of flight ( T {\displaystyle T} ): this is the total time taken for the projectile to fall back to the same plane from which it was projected. Mathematically it is given as T = 2 U sin ⁡ θ / g {\displaystyle T=2U\sin \theta /g} . 3. Maximum Height ( H {\displaystyle H} ): this

2900-648: The propelling forces are the muscles that act upon the ball to make it move, and the stronger the force applied, the more propelling force, which means the projectile (the ball) will travel farther. See pitching , bowling . Many projectiles, e.g. shells , may carry an explosive charge or another chemical or biological substance. Aside from explosive payload, a projectile can be designed to cause special damage, e.g. fire (see also early thermal weapons ), or poisoning (see also arrow poison ). A kinetic energy weapon (also known as kinetic weapon, kinetic energy warhead, kinetic warhead, kinetic projectile, kinetic kill vehicle)

2958-452: The rapid displacement can occur without significant disruption to actually firing missions as it is possible for the ammunition to keep up with the guns. A modern battery of six guns, each firing 43 kg projectiles with a burst firing speed of four rounds per minute, can deliver over a tonne of ordnance per minute for up to four minutes. This is an immense weight of fire , which can be delivered with very high accuracy. One example of

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3016-420: The requirement for insensitive munitions and the project was terminated. It remains in UK service and equips three field regiments supporting armoured infantry brigades for the foreseeable future. In 2008, there were 134 AS-90 in service further reduced to 117 by 2015. In 2008 and 2009, a capability enhancement programme primarily upgraded AS-90's electronic system. The initial expected out-of-service date for

3074-534: The vehicle, or removed and set up as normal. In effect, the carrier replaced the use of a separate horse team or internal combustion engine-powered artillery tractor , and allowed a new way for the gun to be used. The next major advance can be seen in the Birch gun developed by the British for their motorised warfare experimental brigade (the Experimental Mechanized Force ) after the end of

3132-431: The war progressed, most nations developed self-propelled artillery. Some early attempts were often no more than a field gun or anti-tank gun mounted on a truck—a technique known in the British Army as carrying portee . These were mobile, but lacked protection for the crew. The next step was to mount the guns on a tracked chassis (often that of an obsolete or superseded tank) and provide an armoured superstructure to protect

3190-548: Was created when Hauptmann Alfred Becker , a mechanical engineer and battery captain in the 227th Infantry Division , mounted his 10.5 cm leFH 16 howitzers on the chassis of captured British Vickers Mk.VI light tanks to mobilize his guns. His 10.5 cm leFH 16 Geschützwagen Mk VI 736 (e) was the forerunner to German tracked field guns such as the Wespe and Hummel . The Germans also mobilized their anti-tank guns, using light, obsolete or captured tracked vehicles. Examples include

3248-521: Was designed and built by the armaments division of Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (VSEL). Between 1992 and 1995, VSEL supplied 179 vehicles at a cost of £300 million ($ 480 million). The AS-90 was first deployed by the British Army in 1993. The AS-90s were acquired to re-equip six of the eight self-propelled field artillery regiments (each of 24 guns) in the I (BR) Corps , replacing the 105 mm FV433 Abbot and older M109 155 mm Self Propelled Gun and FH70 towed howitzer. In 1999, VSEL became

3306-464: Was employed throughout the Napoleonic Wars and remained in use throughout the entire 19th century and into the first half of the 20th century, when advances in weapons technology finally made it obsolete. Zamburak was a specialized form of self-propelled artillery from the early modern period . It featured small swivel guns to be mounted and fired from the back of camels. It was used by

3364-465: Was useful for fighting nearby infantry, as a mortar is shorter-ranged and cheaper to shoot than the large main gun, as well as being better suited to wounding enemy infantry taking cover behind objects. However, since the mortar is only a secondary weapon in this case, the Merkava is not considered a mortar carrier. Self-propelled artillery remains important in the equipment of many modern armies. It saw

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