G6 howitzer

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 – Current
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 33 km to 42 km)
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

G5/G6 ammunition

Variants

G6 Rhino

Operators

Map of G6 operators in blue

Combat history

The G6 was deployed by expeditionary units of the South African Defence Force during the Angolan Civil War, making its combat debut during Operation Moduler (part of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale) in December 1987. On one occasion reconnaissance elements observed Angolan interceptors attempting to take off from an airfield near Cuito Cuanavale and directed G6 artillery fire that destroyed four Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s on the ground.[8] However the advantage that the G5 and G6's gave the South Africans on the ground could not be pressed to their advantage against the Cubans who held air superiority, so a military stalemate was reached.[9]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Weapon systems: Artillery - GV6". South African Army. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 "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.
  8. South Africa's Modern Long Tom. South African Military History Society, June 1992, Volume 9 Issue 1.
  9. Onslow, Sue (2009). Cold War in Southern Africa: White Power, Black Liberation. Routledge. p. 231. ISBN 1135219338.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to G6 howitzer.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, March 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.