Some months ago China introduced a new self-propelled howitzer SH16, which is very different from many other weapons of this type. Now there is a wheeled version of the SH16 too and it will reportedly be developed for export markets.
Chinese troops in a Victory Day parade in Moscow. Image credit: Kremlin.ru via Wikimedia (CC BY 4.0)
A self-propelled howitzer is a complex artillery system that requires people to operate. The German Panzerhaubitze 2000, the Polish Krab, and the South Korean K9 Thunder typically have a crew of five, while the American M109 sometimes has as many as 6 soldiers in its crew. It takes several strong soldiers to load a howitzer. It is true that now the military tech is moving down the road of crew reduction. The PzH 2000 is being taught to work with four people, the K9A2 can get by with just three.
Howitzers with automatic loaders can be handled by much smaller crews. But there are not many of such weapons, because the automatic loading mechanism is a rather complex system, which can be unreliable at times. A very reliable loader is needed to really reduce the size of the crew.
The Swedish Archer, which is easily one of the most advanced self-propelled artillery systems in the world, can operate efficiently with a crew of just 3-4 people. If it was really needed, just one person would be enough for the Archer. The Czech howitzer DITA has a crew of just 2 people. These two howitzers are perfect for shoot-and-scoot operations, especially in scenarios where counter-battery fire is needed.
China’s new self-propelled howitzer SH16 joins the ranks of the world’s most advanced artillery systems in this regard, Tech.wp.pl reports. Its most important innovation is an unmanned, fully automated turret mounted on a tracked chassis with a crew of just 2 people.
SH-16 howitzer. Image credit: YouTube video screenshot
As you can tell from the other examples mentioned, this is not entirely unique, but it shows that the Chinese are producing extremely advanced artillery systems and are not taking the cheapest route. It’s not like China lacks soldiers to man the simpler, cheaper howitzers. It’s just that the SH16 will work more efficiently, faster and, in the event of a war, will put fewer soldiers in danger.
The SH16 is reported to weigh 32 tonnes, 14 of which are the turret housing the 155mm gun. The same turret from the SH16, as announced in February of this year, will also be mounted on a wheeled 6×6 chassis.
Dennis Blasko, a former US defence attache in Beijing and Hong Kong, told Defense News that a wheeled version of the SH16 would be aimed at the export market.
By the way, the tracked version of the SH16 howitzer has not yet been shown in public much at all. That howitzer likely only exists in prototype form.
The war in Ukraine showed that self-propelled artillery is still very important in modern warfare. Especially howitzers that are powerful and quick to move before counter-battery fire and drones arrive.
Written by Povilas M.
Source: Tech.wp.pl