Extract
Howitzer on Power.
The self-propelled howitzers, very much like armoured fighting vehicles, are undergoing a major change in that wheels might partly take over from the track. This due to many factors. The first results from the extraordinary progress recently achieved in vehicle technology, particularly in terms of suspension and lyres. The second is the change in the new world order.
In Europe, when Bofors and Giat embarked on their respective projects of mounting a howitzer on a lorry chassis, few took the projects very seriously, although Royal Ordnance since toyed with the idea of installing a gun on a Mowag Piranha (the fate of this design is not clear). One of the main criticisms opposed to these designs was the lack of massive armour protection for the crews, which is perfectly correct. On the other hand, one shouldn't forget that these vehicles have a phenomenal manoeuvrability and speed which, associated with incredibly short `stop-lay-shoot-scoot' times, makes them very difficult to track. Secondly, they are purpose-designed for the kind of conflict we are currently faced with (as opposed to the past expectancy of an East-West conflict involving massive concentrations of weapons relentlessly shooting at each other over an imaginary red line). Finally, these offer the best performance-to-weight ratio if one brings the aero transportability factor into the equation. VCA 155 Although the Argentine VCA 155 self-propelled howitzer is usually regarded as a local product produced under the Tamse label, ...See the full content of this document
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