ARTILLERY: Lightweight Self-Propelled Howitzer
December 3, 2003: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has put 18 new
SSPH1 Primus Self Propelled Howitzers into service. The name Primus
is derived from the Latin motto of the Singapore Army's Artillery
Formation: In Oriente Primus, 'First in the East'.
The Primus was developed and tested in secrecy over six years to
fill a requirement for a tracked howitzer for use with armored
battle groups, and is a pretty interesting example of what you can
achieve by setting modest goals. For a start, the Primus is a
light, 28 ton, 155mm, 39 caliber SPH (self-propelled howitzer),
roughly half the weight of the German PzH 2000 (itself an improved
version of the U.S. M-109). Weight was the principle design element
of the Primus, as it was designed for use in the close, soft jungle
terrain of South East Asia, and it could not exceed the 30 ton
weight limit for crossing narrow road bridges.
The weight limitation means that the Primus seems limited when
compared to other SPHs, like the AS90 Braveheart, and the PZH 2000.
For example, its barrel is only 20 feet long, compared to 26 feet
for most other SPH. Its its automated loader can carry only 22
ready rounds as opposed to the PzH2000's 55. Also, it only has a
traverse of about 34 degrees.
In compensation, the Primus is a very agile for a tracked howitzer.
It's 550Hp Detroit Diesel engine gives it a power to weight ratio
of 19.43hp/ton, as opposed to the Braveheart's 15.7hp/ton. This
means that it can accelerate from rest faster than the Braveheart,
which helps gunners shoot and scoot away from counter artillery.
With it's automatic Fire Control System and ring laser gyro and GPS
navigation systems, the Primus can unlimber from march in less than
a minute, fire an accurate 3 round burst in 20 seconds, and then
scoot off within a minute. An automated fuse setter currently being
developed will further shorten the firing time, which currently has
a maximum of 6 rounds/minute.
The shorter barrel length may give the Primus a range disadvantage
when compared to most other current SPHs, but a larger calibre
howitzer would have increased the weight of the Primus above the
maximum 30 ton limit. The Primus is also meant to operate just
behind the Forward Edge of Battle, where response times and
availability are more crucial than range.
Singapore has a long history of developing artillery. It's first
howitzer,the FH88 155mm 39 caliber, was developed in 1988 with
rumored input from South Africa, and was followed by the FH2000 52
caliber 155mm howitzer in the 1995. In 2002, during Asian Aerospace
2002, Singapore Technologies Kinetics unveiled a lightweight, 7
tons, 39 caliber 155mm howitzer mounted on a 4x4 chassis which can
be carried under a Chinook. -- Shawn Chung
http://www.strategypage.com/fyeo/howtomakewar/default.asp?target=HTART.HTM
