AS-90 Braveheart in Detail

The 155mm self-propelled howitzer resulted from a fairly adventurous move taken by the development unit of the Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited (VSEL), seated in the United Kingdom. It came to life by the manufacturer's private initiative in the early eighties of the last century. At that time already, the British ground forces expressed their need to replace the obsolescent ABBOT artillery systems by a new, more powerful one. There were two optional approaches under considerations: the U.S. offer to purchase the partially renovated self-propelled howitzers, Development Series M109, or the joint European project, later called SP-70, being then prepared. The pre-tender theoretic discussions followed at the British military top positions, driven by the need of a new turret, which would then be mounted on an appropriate chassis. During 1981, when the VSEL Company was offering its new gun turret, the SP-70 international project was underway in order to standardize the artillery systems within the framework of NATO in the territory of Europe where nobody else, but VSEL was playing one of the priority roles. But this project used to run into numerous obstacles, mostly in the form the diverging interests and requirements of

Above and below: A group of AS-90s near Banja Luka (Bosnia) in November 1996. Opposite p a g e above: AS-90 at the Brezicani village, belonging to the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, Bosnia 1996. Opposite page below: AS-90 during the live ammunition gunfi re practice at the Glamoc village, Bosnia 1996 The weapons modified like this were committed to the acti ons in the territory of former Yugoslavia and within the "Operation Iraq Freedom" at the last time. Despite all the ef forts these systems could not be turned out en masse for ex port. The only success ever reached is the Licensi Convention Contract entered between BAE System and HSW (Huta Stalowa Wola). The latter is the Polish ordnance factory active in the field of heavy weaponry, which wanted to find a successor of the Soviet made artillery at the end of its service life. respecting the requirements of the Polish Ground Forces

The initial information was about the license to be sold only for the production of gun turrets with their complete systems. Two of them should have been delivered to Poland in an assembled form and the following (maybe) 72 pieces should have already been built in Poland. is still unknown what was the Polish headquarters' decision about the chassis section. Both the T-72 machine chassis and the OBRUM one, made in Poland, went under considerations.. To make the things complete, one has to stress that there were several AS 90 turret assemblies (some sources are speaking about three of them) that were also tested in India, using the modified machine substructures of the medium-weight T-72 tanks of the Indian provenance.

AS-90 Walk Around

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Given their technical aspects

the AS 90s imply no deviation from the standardself-propelled artillery systems of the late

last century. The machine consists of a mechanical substructure resting on the track motion system. In its front part right (viewed in the direction of motion) the armored hull with its hatched front and vertical sides and steer houses the Cummins VTA 660T drive unit, a liquid-cooled, supercharged Varranged eight-cylinder diesel set with its radiator making a considerable portion of the hull's hatched front armor surface. The power is 660 HP at 2,800 RPM. Attached to the engine, there is an automatic gearbox with four forward gears and two reverse ones. Coming out of the gearbox, there are two drive shafts leading to the front driving toothed wheels via the system of the hydraulic directional brakes. On each side of the hull,

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Opposite page: AS-90 leaving the shooting range near Giamoc after a live ammunition gunfire practice (view from behind).

A S - 9 0 Walk Around

there are six twin rubber-rimmed travel wheels, one tensi-

oning wheel at the very steer of the vehicle, and three we-

ight-releasing pulleys are in the upper section of the track guide. The driver's compart-

ment is in the front left section of thehull. At this position, there are combined indicators, which monitor the operation of the machine substructure, along with the tester for prompt indication of any possible malfunction. For the nighttime operations one of the watching instruments is fitted with a passive infrared device. The large fold-down armored door is available at the rear end, to be used by the reimaining crew members when they are embarking the combat area of the turret. Opposite page: AS-90 leaving the shooting range near Glamoc after a live ammunition gunfire practice (view from behind

AS-90

Walk Around

Above: Triumphal arch during the parade on the Banja Luka Base. August 2001. Opposite page: Once again the groups at Brezicani a Glamoc.

AS-90 Walk Around

The GBT 155 combat turret is pivoted at the rear hull. Currently, a pa- coupled to an ammunition truck - back to back with the howitzer ir of barrels can be encountered. The turret is either equipped with from where the ammunition would be continuously supplied to the the 39 caliber gun barrel or with the 52 caliber one. The on-board loading system. The turret as a whole can be turned by 360 degrestock of ammunition consists of 48 rounds with 31 out of this number es in azimuth with the gun barrel elevation in the range from -5 to available in the AGLS (Automatic Gun Laying System) and remaining +70 degrees. To meet these purposes there are the high-speed e17 in the stowage boxes inside the machine superstructure com- Iectric motors. All the turret drive systems are being powered from partment. Operation of the automatic loading system is coordinated the autonomous power-supply unit (APU). The combat turret is equboth in feeding of the shells themselves and in handling of the gun- ipped with an on-board computer with the information system able powder charges. Just the gun loader is in charge of the automatic to process the muzzle velocity of the shell, climatic conditions, wind loding system and its replenishing. Concerning the speed of fire speed, etc. Its output is further processed by the fire control system the first three shots can be fired in 10 seconds, followed by six ones complete with the GPS terrain reconnaissance data. The results are

per minute over the period of three minutes. Then, the standard spe- available to the commander and gun layer on the screens of their two shots a minute. T tionary. The barrel is not stabilized by the precise fire and aiming is facilitated by the hydro-pneumatic arrangement of the shock-absorbing units'chassis sections and by their stabilization. There are the considerations that the AS 90 could be alternatively

AS-90 Walk Around

precisely aimed fire, in particular the electro-optical sight called DFSA (Direct Fire Sight from Avimo), the newer TO (Thales Optronics) for both the daytime and nighttime actions and those in the aggravated weather conditions.

An auxiliary armament can consist of the 12.7mm anti-aircraft machinegun with the ammunition stock of 1,000 pieces and its carriage mounted on the combat turret's ceiling and of the pairs of the smoke trail shells throwers, five of them seated on each side of the turret front. The weapon as a whole is armored to withstand the flat trajectory bullets fired from the small infantry guns up to 12.7 mm in caliber and the destructive affects of the hand grenades and mortar shells. The armor plates maximum thickness is 17 mm. The crew compartment is sealed and air-conditioned to withstand the effects of the moss destruction warfare.

Left above: Note here the removed cover of the gun's muzzle brake, hung on the left mud guard where it is used as a litter bin. Opposite page: Details of the travel mechanism's front section. Right below: Note here another type of the rubber aprons' front parts.

AS-90 Walk Around

AS-90

Hull E x t e r i o r D e t a i l s

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Hull Details

Above: Boxes with the air-conditioning and ventilation system on the turret' back wall (viewed from below), other pictures show the details of the hull's rear door.

AS-90

Hull E x t e r i o r D e t a i l s

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Some operational data at the end. Weight of the complete weapon is 42,000 kg, its length complete with barrel 9,700 mm, length of the separate chassis section 7,200 mm, height of the combat turret up to its ceiling 3,000 mm, and its width is 3,300 mm. Capacity of the internal fuel tanks is 750 liter, allowing the travel range of 370 km. Maximum speed is around 55 km per hour. Clear height of the hull bottom from the ground is 410 mm, the upright obstacles can be surmounted when they are not higher than 880 mm, the trenches can be passed over up to the width of 2,800 mm, and watercourses can be forded up to 1,500 mm in depth without any prior alternations. The firing range (with the 39 caliber barrel and standard ammunition) is not more than 24,700 meter, but with the rocket-boosted shells this

range can be prolonged up to 30,000 meter. With the 52 caliber barrels the values are put off to 30,000 meter as a standard and 40,000 meter with rocket boosters. In all its aspects the AS 90 is a contemporary, highly powerful, and mobile weapon used by the artillery of the British ground forces and - given the interest in its continuous renovation - it will not be superceded by anything new in a foreseeable future.

This double-page gives the details of the upper front hull with the rain-caused stains on the surface fully covered with dust before. The gun barrel rest must have been raised as it almost stainless (page 17 above). A

S-90

Hull

Exterior

Details

This double-page gives the details of the turrets of several AS-90s. The boxes rest on the holders and can be removed The identical boxes on the turrets sides are to accommodate the The sides are further fitted with the engineering tools holding crew's equipment, which does not fit inside. clamps.

A S - 9 0 Turret

Details

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Turret This p a g e gives the details of the box with the air-conditioning system on the rear turret. Some AS-90s had the spare track links under this box.

Above: Here you can see where the dust Can infiltrate, when a rain converts it to a fine mud.

A S - 9 0 Turret

Details

Above a n d left below: Details of the gun layer's a n d commander's hatch; in front of the hatch you can see the colored strap to be used by the own air force for the identification purposes. In this case the colored strap is painted directly on the turret ceiling.

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Above a n d below: Sides of the gun recoil brake system cover, bearing the aforementioned sketches. Below you can see the emblem of the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, which this AS-90 bore only on the left side of the cover. Note here the s a g g e d condition of the bellows covering the movable/recoiling section of the gun.

Above: Above view of the gun's recoil brake system holding the ballistic radar designed to measure the current velocity of the shell once it leaves the barrel.

On this page, there are some other details of the above-mentioned cover, this time its bottom side with another sketch.

AS-90

Turret Details

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• river's C o m p a r t m e n t

Details

This double-page gives the details of the driver's position.

•river's C o m p a r t m e n t Details

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Above: Though the door you can see the flare shells, painted blue-green. Olive-green color designates the live HE ammunition.

Above: Details of the flare shells. Below: White-colored smoke generating shells, the blue one with yellow marks is to be used for the marking targetes by colour smoke.

Left: Various equipment on the rear door. Right, two pictures above: Details of the pressurized boiling box - something like a pressure cooker. Right: detail of the open stowage area for the crew' food and other indispensables above the rear left mud guard.

Above left: View through the barrel with its open breech, on the picture below the breech is closed.

Turret

Interior Details

Above: The direct fire sight control panel is seen behind the breech, Below: Detail of the breech viewed from above.

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Opposite page: Details of the loading system.Hence it is o b v i o u s w h y three

rounds can be fired consecutively within the first volley. The first round inside the barrel, the second in the main loading chamber, a n d the third ready in another smaller one, p l a c e d left off the barrel axis.

Above: Manhole from the sub-turret area d o w n to the driver's position. Below: Rear bulkhead of the engine compartment, separating it from the sub-turret area. Two more flare shells are stowed to the right.

Next double-page: Details of the gun layer's position a n d commander's position with the gun layer computer, ballistic calculations, a n d gun c o m m a n der computer a n d with the controls designed to operate the gun a n d turret p a n a n d tilt system in either manual or motorized m o d e .

Turret Interior Details

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Turret Interior Details

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The white-colored box at the bottom of the picture houses the computer controlling the turret mechanisms. Above it, there a r t the control panels of the filtering and ventilation system and communications.

This p a g e gives the detail of the area to the left from the gun carriage, with the turret driving hydraulic and electrical systems.

Left: Downward view of the turret interior with the gun loader's seat. Above and two pictures below: Positions of the first and second gun loader's in the left half of the turret's combat area.

Turret Interior Details

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Right a n d left side of the turret rear with the ammunition magazines a n d the automatic feeder. There are four motors to drive the former. The shells are stored on the bottom racks, the gunpowder charges on the upper ones. The ammunition proceeds to the central channel from both sides.

The personal weapons of the crew members are stored along the circumference of the turret. Below: All the types of the vehicle-borne ammunitions that have already been mentioned.

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Roof Details

Turret: Interior Roof Details

41

This d o u b l e - p a g e shows the g u n loader in the stance of the external m a c h i n e g u n operator, stand i n g on his f o l d e d seat. The box is full of the live a m m u n i tion. Size of the o r a n g e identification field is well obvious from the p h o to to the right.

Below: Crew members are reheating their c a n n e d f o o d in the pressurized box. In its original version the box could a c c o m m o date 4 cans next to e a c h other, but with the second gun loader present, the fifth one fits in as well, though a bit d e f o r m e d , resting on the other four. This "cooker" can also be encountered on the other vehicles

AS-90's

Crew

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Middle: Two pictures of the vehicles' commander. Below: It is noteworthy here what deposits of mud were "produced" by the driver of another AS-90. Other pictures have captured the crew members enjoying their respite; below they are together with their weapons.

AS-SO's

Crew

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DROP Foden Truck

This a n d other pages depict the details of the DROP Foden 8x8 pallet loader, above is the same during the live gunfire practice at Glamoc. Below: A c a m p at Banja Luka.

Foden

D R O P Details

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Foden D R O P Details

This p a g e gives the unloading details of the American155mm a m -unition. The second gun loader must be e m p l o y e d where this ammunition is to be used, as the automatic loading system will not cope with these pieces.

A m m u n i t i o n Loading

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Ammunition Details

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opposite page: Saxon armored personal carrier during the live gunfire practice near Glamoc.

On this p a g e there are theMAOV Warriors (Mechanized Artillery Observation Vehicles). Right: The vehicle at Banja Luka in August 2001. Below: The same vehicle during the live gunfire practice at Glamoc

Warrior MAOV Walk A r o u n d

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MAOV Warrior at the Brezicani Village. In this version the warrior has only a mock-up gun, so that it is not obvious at the first sight that it is merely an unarmed observation vehicle designed to support the artillery batteries.

In the f o r e g r o u n d there are two MAOV Warriors in the m u d at G l a m o c , where they were supporting a battery of AS-90s during its gunfire practice. W a r r i o r

M A O V

Walk

Around

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Other vehicles set apart to back AS90s in their service in Bosnia were the FV432 armored personal carri---. Here you can see them on their base near Banja Luka, on the opposite page near Glamoc.

FV 434

On this and following pages there are the FV434 ARVs (Armored Repair Vehicles). This vehicle of REME (Royal Electrical a n d Mechanical Engineers) is near the Brezicani Village. FV434s are equipped with a small hydraulic arm/crane (HIAB) with the bearing c a p a c i t y from 1,250 to 3,050kg, a n d can be used to handle the ammunition pallets on their way between AS-90 and DROP re-supplying trucks.

FV434 Armored Repair Vehicles Support F V 4 3 4 A R V

FV434 ARV

On their right side they are transporting the FV434 ARV, consisting of a traction rod and a cable used to recover and pull away the fairly light vehicles. i Support. F V

434

A R V

This double-page shows another version of FV432 - the FV439 Communication Vehicle, which is equipped with the telescopic mast antennas o be erected on its roof.

FV439 Communication Vehicles

FV

439

Communication Vehicles

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Behind the c o m m a n d FV 432s and communication FV 439 a tent, brought normally on its folded state on the rooftop, could be pitched. Both vehicles, positioned back-to-back, could thus be coupled together. Below right: Two cooking boxes on the inner side of the rear door, described already at.

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F V 4 3 2 / 9 C / C Vehicles

On this p a g e you c a n see the interior of the c o m m a n d vehicle. Behind amidst on the floor there is a big radio, the foldable counters are on the right side. Note the c a r d b o a r d s with PET bottled drinking water under the right-side benches.

Challenger A R R V Details

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Here the crews of both vehicles are affixing the pulling rods bet ween the backs of both vehicles. Below: The train is ready to set in motion.