155 GH 52 APU
Encyclopedia
155 GH 52 APU is a Finnish
gun developed in 1998. It is an enhanced and upgraded version of the 155 K 83
. The acronym APU stands for auxiliary power unit, which means that in can be moved on the field for short distances with its own auxiliary diesel engine. The type of the diesel engine, which is used in 56 units used by the Finnish defence forces is a 78-kilowatt Deutz diesel engine.
The 155 GH 52 is considered to be one of most modern field artillery cannons to date and was originally manufactured by Oy Tampella
AB industries (today a part of Patria
, Patria Vammas Systems Oy). It has a high rate of fire (6 rounds per minute) and can fire all types of 155 mm ammunition.
of Kainuu Brigade
in Vuosanka shooting range and the Artillery Brigade
in Niinisalo in Pohjankangas shooting range operates the guns in Finland. The artillery units train also in Rovajärvi shooting range in Rovaniemi
in Lapland.
In Finnish practice one infantry readiness brigade has one organic artillery regimet consisting two artillery fire battalions. Both of the artillery fire battalions have 18 cannons divided in three six cannon batteries, which means that an artillery remiment, which is an organic unit for a readiness brigade, should have 36 cannons in its two artillery battalions. Finland has three readines brigades.
chassis for use as a self-propelled gun prototype. This vehicle was designed primarily as a design study for the Egyptian Army
. It was later sold to Egypt.
On 21 May 2007, the Finnish Yleisradio
revealed some problems with the 155 GH 52 APU, dealing with reliability issues of the towing system and the barrel behavior when firing long-distance round. These facts had been withheld from the Egyptians at the time of the deal. The major challenges has been the accuracy of fire in the longest distances and barrel wearing with same distances.
The arms deal lead into a juridical process formally presented as an allegation of corruption. Inspector Janne Järvinen and state prosecutor Ari-Pekka Koivisto investigated if the 10% trade commission had been partly allocated to the directors of the buying organisation using the commercial agent.
After having encountered the problmes with firing to 35 km - 40 km, the Finnish Army
concentrated in its artillery gun development to M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System
(in Finnish arsenal 298 RsRakH 06, later 298 RSRAKH 06)bought as Dutch surplus.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
gun developed in 1998. It is an enhanced and upgraded version of the 155 K 83
155 K 83
The Tampella 155 K 83 is a Finnish towed 155 mm field gun, manufactured in the 1980s by Tampella.-History:The development process for the 155 K 83 began in 1960 when Tampella presented their concept of a new 122 mm gun for the Finnish Army. It was a sound concept, but quite a heavy gun. It was only...
. The acronym APU stands for auxiliary power unit, which means that in can be moved on the field for short distances with its own auxiliary diesel engine. The type of the diesel engine, which is used in 56 units used by the Finnish defence forces is a 78-kilowatt Deutz diesel engine.
The 155 GH 52 is considered to be one of most modern field artillery cannons to date and was originally manufactured by Oy Tampella
Tampella
Oy Tampella Ab was a Finnish heavy industry manufacturer, a maker of paper machines, locomotives, military weaponry, as well as wood-based products such as packaging. The company was based mainly in the city of Tampere....
AB industries (today a part of Patria
Patria (company)
Patria is a Finnish company which produces a wide range of defence, aviation and aerospace technology. It carries on the firearms tradition of Valtion Kivääritehdas and the aerospace tradition of Valtion lentokonetehdas.-Patria Aviation:* NH90* Mini-UAVs...
, Patria Vammas Systems Oy). It has a high rate of fire (6 rounds per minute) and can fire all types of 155 mm ammunition.
Domestic operators
The Kainuu Artillery RegimentKainuu Artillery Regiment
Kainuu Artillery Regiment is an artillery unit of the Kainuu Brigade, which is the norhernmost one of the three readines brigades of the defence forces of Finland....
of Kainuu Brigade
Kainuu Brigade
Kainuu Brigade is a Finnish Army unit situated in Kajaani. The brigade trains most conscripts, approximately 4000 annually...
in Vuosanka shooting range and the Artillery Brigade
Artillery Brigade (Finnish Army)
Artillery Brigade is a Finnish Army unit situated in Niinisalo, in Western Finland. The Artillery Brigade trains conscripts and regular personnel for war-time artillery duties. In addition, it provides a weather service in the Niinisalo region, and trains most of the Finnish Defence Forces' dogs...
in Niinisalo in Pohjankangas shooting range operates the guns in Finland. The artillery units train also in Rovajärvi shooting range in Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is a city and municipality of Finland. It is the administrative capital and commercial centre of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland. It is situated close to the Arctic Circle and is between the hills of Ounasvaara and Korkalovaara, at the confluence of the Kemijoki River and its...
in Lapland.
In Finnish practice one infantry readiness brigade has one organic artillery regimet consisting two artillery fire battalions. Both of the artillery fire battalions have 18 cannons divided in three six cannon batteries, which means that an artillery remiment, which is an organic unit for a readiness brigade, should have 36 cannons in its two artillery battalions. Finland has three readines brigades.
Export
In 2003 a gun was mounted on a Soviet T-55T-55
The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of...
chassis for use as a self-propelled gun prototype. This vehicle was designed primarily as a design study for the Egyptian Army
Egyptian Army
The Egyptian Army is the largest service branch within the Egyptian Armed Forces and holds power in the current Egyptian government. It is estimated to number around 379,000, in addition to 479,000 reservists for a total of 858,000 strong. The modern army was created in the 1820s, and during the...
. It was later sold to Egypt.
On 21 May 2007, the Finnish Yleisradio
Yleisradio
The Finnish Broadcasting Company , abbreviated to YLE , is Finland's national broadcasting company, founded in 1926. YLE is a public-broadcasting organization which shares many of its characteristics with its British counterpart, the BBC, on which it was largely modelled...
revealed some problems with the 155 GH 52 APU, dealing with reliability issues of the towing system and the barrel behavior when firing long-distance round. These facts had been withheld from the Egyptians at the time of the deal. The major challenges has been the accuracy of fire in the longest distances and barrel wearing with same distances.
The arms deal lead into a juridical process formally presented as an allegation of corruption. Inspector Janne Järvinen and state prosecutor Ari-Pekka Koivisto investigated if the 10% trade commission had been partly allocated to the directors of the buying organisation using the commercial agent.
Characteristics
The gun's deployment power is 78 kW and its driven speed (in terrain, to location) is 7.5 km/h or 15 km/h when pulled by a heavy truck. The cost of one system is 500,000 euros.After having encountered the problmes with firing to 35 km - 40 km, the Finnish Army
Finnish Army
The Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry , field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops.-History of the Finnish Army:Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of...
concentrated in its artillery gun development to M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System
The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System is an armored, self-propelled, multiple rocket launcher; a type of rocket artillery.Since the first M270s were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1983, the MLRS has been adopted by several NATO countries. Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured in the...
(in Finnish arsenal 298 RsRakH 06, later 298 RSRAKH 06)bought as Dutch surplus.
Operators
- 56 units, it is known as 155 K 98 in Finnish Army service.-
- Kainuu Artillery RegimentKainuu Artillery RegimentKainuu Artillery Regiment is an artillery unit of the Kainuu Brigade, which is the norhernmost one of the three readines brigades of the defence forces of Finland....
- 400 units (Locally made - under license)
- Kainuu Artillery Regiment