According to open sources, the Turkish ground forces are armed with almost 1,100 self-propelled artillery units of various types. One of the most numerous examples of such equipment is the T-155 Fırtına ACS. This self-propelled gun was developed on the basis of a foreign combat vehicle, which was brought in line with the wishes of the Turkish army and the capabilities of the industry. To date, about 300 serial T-155s have been built, making them the most massive modern self-propelled artillery pieces in the Turkish army.
The history of the T-155 Fırtına ("Storm") project began at the turn of the nineties and two thousandths. At the very end of the last century, the Turkish command came to the conclusion that it was necessary to create or purchase a new model of a 155-mm self-propelled howitzer. Such a combat vehicle in the future was supposed to replace the hopelessly outdated samples of foreign development, created back in the middle of the century. It soon became clear that the Turkish industry could not cope with the task of independently developing the required sample.
ACS T-155 Fırtına on parade. Photo Military-today.com
A successful way out of this situation was considered the acquisition of a license for the production of any foreign self-propelled guns. Based on the results of studying the available proposals, the Turkish military chose the K9 Thunder self-propelled gun from the South Korean company Samsung Techwin. In this case, it was about the construction of a modified combat vehicle. Turkey made some changes to the design of the original sample, and also replaced some of the onboard equipment. All these improvements meant the use of components of our own Turkish production.
In 2001, Turkey and South Korea signed an agreement to launch the production of modified self-propelled guns in the interests of the Turkish army. In the same year, the first two prototypes were built and tested. The revised K9 ACS received the Turkish designation T-155 Fırtına. In 2002, this self-propelled gun was adopted by the Turkish army and put into series. In accordance with a bilateral agreement, the first serial machines were built by the Korean industry, all the rest - by the Turkish side. The license to manufacture the equipment cost Turkey $ 1 billion.
South Korean self-propelled guns K9 Thinder. Photo Rep. of Korea, Defense Photo Magazine
Together with the self-propelled artillery gun, the Poyraz ARV ammunition transporter was delivered to the series. This machine is a modified version of the Korean product K10 ARV and also differs from it in some design features.
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ACS T-155 Fırtına, like the basic model of the K9 Thunder, is built according to the traditional scheme for this technique. The vehicle is based on an armored tracked chassis, on which a fully revolving turret with weapons is mounted. The hull and turret are welded from armor plates that provide protection against small arms. All-aspect protection against rifles and machine guns is declared; frontal projection withstands 14.5mm bullets. Also, the body is able to withstand the detonation of a light explosive device under the track or the bottom.
The hull has a layout traditional for modern self-propelled guns. Its front part is given under the engine-transmission compartment, to the left of which there is a compartment for the driver. All other volumes of the hull are occupied by the turret part of the fighting compartment. The hull has frontal armor made of inclined sheets, developed fenders and a vertical stern with a hatch for access to the fighting compartment. The welded turret has large dimensions required for mounting a unit with a 155-mm gun and stowage of ammunition.
General view of the Turkish T-155. Photo Armyrecognition.com
Under the frontal armor plate is a German-made MTU-881 Ka 500 diesel engine with a capacity of 1000 hp. Associated with it is the Allison X-1100-5 automatic transmission with four forward gears and two reverse gears. The undercarriage includes six double track rollers on each side. An independent hydropneumatic suspension is used. The drive wheels are located at the front of the body; above the track rollers there are three pairs of support rollers.
The main weapon of the "Storm" is a South Korean-made 155-mm rifled howitzer. This gun is equipped with a 52 caliber barrel with a slotted muzzle brake and an ejector. The breech is equipped with a semi-automatic shutter. The barrel is installed on advanced hydropneumatic recoil devices. Unlike the basic K9 ACS, on the Turkish T-155, the cylinders of the recoil devices are not covered with a cylindrical mask.
A mechanized stowage for 48 separate loading rounds and a mechanical rammer are mated with the gun. The presence of these devices has a positive effect on the fighting qualities of the vehicle. The maximum rate of fire reaches 6 rounds per minute and can be maintained for 3 minutes. In the "barrage of fire" mode, three shots are executed in 15 seconds. For prolonged firing, a rate of fire of no more than 2 rounds per minute is allowed. Ammunition replenishment can be carried out manually or using the Poyraz transporter.
Back view. Photo Armyrecognition.com
The howitzer can use the entire range of NATO standard 155mm rounds. The firing range of a conventional high-explosive fragmentation projectile reaches 30 km. When using modern rocket projectiles, this parameter increases to 40 km.
T-155 Fırtına is equipped with a fire control system based on the products of the Turkish company Aselsan. Telescopic and panoramic sights are used, as well as satellite navigation equipment, a ballistic computer, etc. Communication facilities are available that are compatible with other NATO equipment. With their help, the crew can receive third-party target designation or transmit the necessary data to other vehicles or command.
Self-defense armament consists of one M2HB heavy machine gun on one of the roof hatches. In the first version of the project, the machine gun was controlled manually, for which one of the crew members had to protrude from the hatch.
Self-propelled gun T-155 overcomes an obstacle. Photo Defense.pk
The self-propelled crew includes five people. The driver is located at the front of the hull and has its own hatch. The remaining jobs are in the fighting compartment. Access to it is provided by hatches in the roof and sides of the tower, as well as in the rear of the hull. Inhabited compartments have a collective defense system against weapons of mass destruction.
The length of the T-155 self-propelled guns with a cannon in front reaches 12 m, width - 3.5 m, height - 3.43 m. Combat weight - 56 tons. Power density is slightly less than 18 hp. per tonne provides a maximum highway speed of 66 km / h. The power reserve is 480 km. The self-propelled gun is capable of overcoming obstacles and moving in some columns with other armored vehicles.
The Poyraz ARV ammunition transporter is built on the same chassis, but instead of a turret, it uses a fixed wheelhouse. In the frontal leaf of the wheelhouse there is a characteristic conveyor unit for the transfer of ammunition, similar to a weapon. The transporter carries 96 rounds (2 full T-155 ammunition). The transfer of a full ammunition load is carried out automatically and takes 20 minutes. The Turkish vehicle differs from the basic Korean K10 transporter in the presence of an auxiliary power unit. With its help, it is possible to reload ammunition when the main engine is off.
Poyraz ARV ammunition transporter. The conveyor for feeding the projectile is clearly visible Photo Realitymod.com
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The first serial self-propelled guns T-155 Fırtına were built in 2002. In accordance with a bilateral agreement, the first 8 machines were manufactured by Samsung Techwin. In the future, self-propelled guns were built only in Turkey. The order for the production of equipment was received by the Turkish Defense Companies consortium, which includes several companies with different tasks. Some make weapons, others are responsible for electronics, etc. This approach to production continues to this day.
In the past decade, the Turkish Ministry of Defense placed several orders for the production of 350 serial self-propelled guns. To date, about 300 units have been built and delivered to the customer. On average, every year the customer received 20-25 vehicles. Until 2017, the new equipment was built according to the original project, after which they mastered the assembly of the updated self-propelled guns called Fırtına 2.
ACS Fırtına and Poyraz transporter in position for reloading ammunition. Photo Esacademic.com
The Fırtına 2 modernization project was developed taking into account the operation and combat use of self-propelled guns during recent conflicts. It provides for some updating of electronic systems and the introduction of a couple of new products. Due to the refinement of the MSA and automatic loading, a certain increase in the rate of fire, range and accuracy of fire is provided. It also improves the safety and comfort of the crew.
A remotely controlled weapon station with an M2HB machine gun appears on the turret of the improved self-propelled gun. The fighting showed that the machine gunner, when firing, is exposed to significant risks and therefore must not leave the protected volume. It was also found that the climate in the habitable compartments makes it difficult for the crew. To maintain comfortable conditions, the car was equipped with air conditioning. Its external block with heat exchangers and fans is located on the frontal plate of the turret, to the left of the gun.
According to known data, the new T-155 self-propelled guns are being built according to an improved design. Already built machines will have to go through a similar modernization in the future. The timing of the processing of the entire fleet to the state of Fırtına 2 is unknown.
Upgraded ACS T-155 Fırtına 2. Photo Defense.pk
So far, the T-155 self-propelled guns serve only as part of the Turkish ground forces. In 2011, a contract appeared for the supply of 36 vehicles to the Azerbaijani army. However, the fulfillment of this order turned out to be impossible. Germany refused to supply engines due to the ongoing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Later, information appeared about a possible start of production and supplies in 2014, but this did not happen. Not so long ago, the Azerbaijani press once again appeared to speculate about the imminent start of supplies. It is not known whether it will be possible to resolve the issue of engines this time.
Other countries have shown limited interest in the Turkish self-propelled gun. For example, Poland was considering using the T-155 or K9 chassis in its AHS Krab ACS project. As for the original South Korean vehicle K9 Thunder, it enjoys a certain popularity in the arms market and is supplied to different countries. Probably, its Turkish version will no longer be able to repeat this success.
The Turkish army first used the T-155 self-propelled guns at the end of 2007 during another operation against the Kurdish armed formations. Self-propelled howitzers fired at enemy targets in northern Iraq. The gunners inflicted serious damage on the enemy. There were no losses or significant damage to their own equipment.
The howitzer is firing. Photo Military-today.com
Since 2012, Turkish artillery, including the T-155 self-propelled guns, has been regularly used on the border with Syria and in the northern regions of the latter. In April 2016, the illiterate organization of combat work and placement in positions led to sad results. Errors of the Turkish army allowed one of the local armed groups to fire at the Storm self-propelled guns from anti-tank missile systems. Three cars were destroyed. In the future, it was repeatedly reported about new attempts to shell and destroy self-propelled guns, but there were no losses of equipment. The ammunition transporters for the T-155, as far as we know, did not suffer losses.
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The Turkish project T-155 Fırtına was based on a fairly successful South Korean K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery installation. At the same time, a number of key components of the combat vehicle were transferred to a new project without any noticeable changes, which made it possible to maintain the desired characteristics and capabilities. In addition, the Turkish project provided for some original solutions and innovations. All this made it possible to preserve some of the characteristics at the level of the basic model, but to adapt the design to the capabilities of the Turkish industry and the requirements of the army.
To date, Turkey has built about 300 Storm self-propelled guns for its needs, and about fifty more such vehicles will appear in the coming years. After that, most likely, mass production will be stopped. Probably, the Turkish army does not need the further release of the T-155, and foreign countries do not show interest in this model. There is only one export contract, the fulfillment of which is impossible due to the special position of the subcontractor. New orders are unlikely. Perhaps the main reason for this is the direct connection between the K9 and T-155 ACS. Potential customers prefer the South Korean original to the Turkish copy.
Despite the known problems in the international market and the virtual absence of export supplies, the T-155 Fırtına self-propelled howitzer can be considered a fairly successful example of its class. It can be considered as a worthy modern model with high performance and wide capabilities, meeting current requirements. Nevertheless, as the experience of recent armed conflicts shows, the effectiveness and survivability of technology depends not only on its characteristics, but also on its competent use.
