SIDAM 25

[1]SIDAM 25

SIDAM 25
Type Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin  Italy
Specifications
Weight 12,500 kg (27,600 lb)
Length 5.04 m (16 ft 6 in)
Width 2.69 m (8 ft 10 in)
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) minus turret
Crew 3
Armor 38 mm aluminum
Main
armament
 4 × 25 mm Oerlikon KBA cannon
Engine Detroit 6V-53 Diesel
215 hp (160 kW)
Suspension torsion-bar
Operational
range
 500 km (310 miles) [2]
Speed 68 km/h (42 mph)

The SIDAM 25 [3] is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed in Italy from the chassis of the American M113 armoured personnel carrier. Due to the choice of basic chassis for the Sidam 25, components and spare parts were both cheap, and readily available due to the widespread use of the basic M113. Beginning production in 1987, OTO Breda built a large turret to accommodate the four Oerlikon KBA cannons and remodelled the hull of the M113 slightly to provide side-access to the internal space of the vehicle by the addition of a side-mounted door.

Armament

The Oerlikon KBA cannon has an effective range of about 8,700 m (28,500 ft) and can engage low-flying targets with accuracy within that range. Firing at 2,400 rounds per minute, the turret contains 8,600 rounds of high-explosive fragmentation ammunition for each gun, providing, usually, 120 bursts of fire for around two seconds each. An internal magazine also houses 300 armour-piercing rounds that can be used against enemy vehicles. The turret can rotate through 360° and the guns can be raised 87° or lowered 15° from the horizontal position. A secondary M136 7.62mm 6-barreled Minigun with a 10,500 combined-effect (incendiary, explosive, fragmenting) round magazine is equipped. Firing slots in the turret and hull are provided.

Fire control and observation

Target engagement is made using an optronic fire control system and a laser rangefinder, but due to the lack of radar reduces its targeting capability in deteriorated weather conditions.[1]

Propulsion

The Sidam 25 is powered by a single 6-cylinder Detroit 6V-53 engine, which will deliver 215 hp (160 kW) and drive the Sidam 25 to a top road speed of 68 km/h (42 mph) and allow the vehicle to climb vertical obstacles of 0.6 m (2.0 ft) in height and climb gradients with a 60% incline and cross trenches up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft) wide.[1]

Operators

See also

Non-NATO

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.military-today.com/artillery/sidam.htm
  2. ↑ Hogg, Ian. Twentieth-Century Artillery. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2000. ISBN 0-7607-1994-2 p. 249
  3. ↑ http://www.esercito.difesa.it/Equipaggiamenti/Artiglierie/Controaerei/SistemidArma/Pagine/SIDAM.aspx
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, January 10, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.