On November 4, an article by Peter Ong appeared in the online edition of Naval News, "Analysis: 155mm Wheeled Mobile Howitzers Could Become Anti-Ship Artillery". As the name implies, the topic of the publication was the possibility of returning self-propelled artillery to coastal defenses. It is noted that such a concept is not new, but modern technologies and products will dramatically increase the potential of coastal artillery.
Missile issues and artillery advantages
It is noted that most of the developed countries use mobile coastal missile systems to protect the coast from enemy ships. They allow you to keep the enemy at distances of hundreds of miles from the coast and provide a high probability of hitting the designated target. At the same time, the ammunition load of the launcher is usually limited, after which reloading is required with the participation of a transport-combat vehicle - also carrying a small number of missiles.
Such coastal defense is capable of holding back or hitting a limited number of ships, but a large assault force will simply overload it. The missile systems will use up their ammunition, after which the coast will be left without protection, and the enemy will successfully land or deliver a missile strike.
Modern self-propelled artillery is distinguished by its high rate of fire, automatic preparation for firing, significant ammunition load and high mobility. In addition, modern means of fire control and ammunition allow you to get a high percentage of hits on moving targets.
These qualities and capabilities attract the attention of the armies, and in the future may interest the coastal troops. A relatively large ammunition load, made up of guided shells, allows you to effectively use self-propelled guns against ships or amphibious assault vehicles.
New technologies
Modern self-propelled artillery combines a number of advanced technologies to ensure high efficiency. In addition, it allows completely new tasks to be solved. In this context, Naval News recalls the September trials in the United States, when an M109A6 self-propelled gun using an HVP projectile shot down an unmanned cruise missile simulator target.
Thus, an ACS with modern guided ammunition, using external target designation from various sources, is capable of striking stationary and mobile ground and surface targets and even fighting some air targets. This artillery potential must be used in the concept of a "multi-domain operation". ACS should be one of the means of fire and ensure the solution of those combat missions in which it is able to show the best results.
It is noted that the USMC and the marines of other countries have long abandoned self-propelled artillery in caliber up to 155 mm. Instead, towed systems with the ability to transport by air are used. However, modern technologies and products may interest the ILC, which will lead to the restoration of self-propelled units.
Army request
P. Ong recalls that in June 2020, the US ground forces published a "request for proposals" for a promising 155-mm self-propelled howitzer on a wheeled chassis. It should become a more mobile addition to the existing tracked self-propelled guns of the M109 family and give the army new opportunities. There are a few existing designs that fit the army as a whole, but Naval News is considering only two of them.
The first is the ACS Brutus from AM General. This project provides for the open installation of an M776 howitzer with an improved gun carriage on an FMTV vehicle. The carriage is equipped with original anti-recoil devices that provide a shot when rolling, which reduces the recoil impulse. There are modern fire controls.
Brutus has a mass of 14.8 tons, is serviced by a crew of 5 people and can fire at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. (steady rate of fire - 2 shots / min.) The maximum firing range of an active-rocket projectile is 30 km. Ammunition is transported by a separate truck and transferred to the ACS directly during firing.
The Brutus product is currently being tested and has already attracted the attention of the US ILC. At the same time, orders for production for the American army have not yet been received, but the development company is optimistic.
At the beginning of next year, tests of the Archer ACS from BAE Systems will begin at the American proving ground. This is a wheeled combat vehicle on a chassis of the required type (the original version was built on the Volvo A30D platform) with an original automated combat module. A 155 mm gun with a 52 clb barrel is used; it is possible to use another barrel group.
The Archer combat module is equipped with a built-in 21-shot magazine and an automatic loader. The rate of fire reaches 8-9 rds / min. Shooting by the MRSI method is possible. Range with an active rocket projectile - up to 50 km; declared the possibility of increasing the range by using promising shells or even by replacing the gun.
Defense prospects
Both samples under consideration show sufficiently high characteristics and have the potential for modernization. Due to their high mobility and available fire characteristics, they can find application not only in the army, but also in the marines, which in the United States is responsible for coastal defense.
Naval News points out that the simultaneous deployment of coastal missile systems and self-propelled artillery systems will create an effective layered defense system. In this case, howitzers will use relatively cheap shells against surface and air targets within a radius of tens of kilometers, and at long ranges, anti-ship missiles will provide defense.
An important factor in this context is the mobility of the self-propelled guns and its ability to quickly switch to a combat or traveling position. Due to this, it will be possible to carry out a maneuver taking into account the changing situation, increasing the effectiveness of artillery.
All this shows that in the construction of coastal and anti-amphibious defense it is now necessary to use not only anti-ship missiles. Self-propelled artillery is also able to have its say - and move between positions, quickly throwing high-precision shells at the enemy.
Illustrative example
An article in Naval News raises an interesting question and even suggests possible solutions. At the same time, giving examples, the online edition forgot the most obvious and striking example. For several decades, the coastal forces of the Russian Navy have been using the specialized artillery complex A-222 "Bereg", designed to combat ships and amphibious assault vehicles. It clearly shows how a modern coastal self-propelled gun should look like.
A-222 includes a self-propelled central post with a radar for target detection and control over the results of firing, 4-6 self-propelled artillery guns with automated 130-mm guns and duty support vehicles. "Coast" independently finds surface targets at ranges of up to 30 km, generates data for firing and attacks objects at a distance of 23 km. The rate of fire of one combat vehicle is up to 12 rds / min. The ammunition load includes high-explosive and anti-aircraft shells of several types. The standardized four-axle chassis allows for quick arrival and departure from position.
Complex "Coast" is capable of hitting surface targets at speeds up to 100 knots, air and coastal objects with known and unknown coordinates in advance. He can act independently or by external target designation.
The A-222 artillery system demonstrates the fundamental possibility of creating a highly effective coastal defense weapon, even using technologies of previous years. Using modern developments and larger-caliber guns, in theory even more formidable weapons can be developed. At the same time, it is not necessary to create a complete complex from scratch; it is quite possible to improve the actual means of reconnaissance and control in order to integrate the finished ACS into the contours of coastal defense.
Thus, practice has long confirmed the correctness of the conclusions of the author of Naval News. Indeed, both howitzers and missiles are needed to fully protect the coast - and the efficiency of the multi-component echeloned defense has been confirmed in practice. However, it is unclear whether the US command will heed such advice and whether self-propelled coastal artillery will be returned to service.
