Tweet
Primus, Singapore's indigenous self-propelled 155mm Howitzer
Primus, Singapore's new 155mm Howitzer
THE Singapore Armed Forces yesterday unveiled the latest addition to its arsenal - a 155mm artillery gun that moves like a tank.
Called the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 or Primus, the locally developed guns will give the army's combined arms divisions more firepower, speed and accuracy.
This has been achieved by combining the armour and mobility of a tracked vehicle, like a tank, with the firepower of a 155mm gun, the largest calibre artillery piece in the SAF.
The decision to develop the Primus was made after a survey of some of the world's best self-propelled guns from the United States, Britain, Japan and Russia found them either too heavy or too wide for local terrain, said the Defence Ministry.
Chief Artillery Officer Lim Teck Huat said: 'We made a market survey in 1995 and 1996 and considered the operational guns around the world. Well, they had a lot of firepower, were highly mobile and very survivable but they were also very heavy, mostly around 50 tonnes, and we needed something lighter.'
The SAF needed the Primus to weigh less than 30 tonnes and be no wider than 3m, for it to move across bridges and through vegetation here.
By April 2000, the first working prototype was rolled out, using a vehicle chassis adapted from the US Army's Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle and M109 self-propelled gun.
After another three years of testing, the guns were unveiled by Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday.
The result, Mindef says, is the creation of 'arguably the lightest and most responsive self-propelled howitzer in its class'.
Before the Primus, the SAF's stable of 155mm guns - the FH-88 and FH-2000 - usually had to be towed by trucks.
Towed guns require more time to get into action and at least eight gunners to operate, compared to the Primus which only needs a crew of four and is ready to fire in less than a minute.
Beneath its tough armour-plated exterior is a host of sophisticated on-board computers that control navigation and automate the handling of ammunition.
Altogether, the Primus is the SAF's 'most technologically complex product designed to date', added Mindef.
At its commissioning yesterday, there were no formal military parades. Instead, the ceremony took place out in the field at Kranji Camp, where six guns swung into action in a demonstration that showcased its ability to 'hide, shoot and scoot'.
The first artillery unit to receive these guns is the 21st Battalion, Singapore Artillery.
The unit started using them early this year and is gearing up for a battalion live-firing exercise code-named Thunder Warrior. This will take place in New Zealand early next year.
After seeing the guns in action, Rear Admiral (NS) Teo said: 'It's an example of the cooperation between the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the SAF and Singapore Technologies Kinetics that we're able to develop something which can fit our unique needs.'
http://www.universalmetropolis.com/m...?articleid=417
Primus, Singapore's new 155mm Howitzer
THE Singapore Armed Forces yesterday unveiled the latest addition to its arsenal - a 155mm artillery gun that moves like a tank.
Called the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 or Primus, the locally developed guns will give the army's combined arms divisions more firepower, speed and accuracy.
This has been achieved by combining the armour and mobility of a tracked vehicle, like a tank, with the firepower of a 155mm gun, the largest calibre artillery piece in the SAF.
The decision to develop the Primus was made after a survey of some of the world's best self-propelled guns from the United States, Britain, Japan and Russia found them either too heavy or too wide for local terrain, said the Defence Ministry.
Chief Artillery Officer Lim Teck Huat said: 'We made a market survey in 1995 and 1996 and considered the operational guns around the world. Well, they had a lot of firepower, were highly mobile and very survivable but they were also very heavy, mostly around 50 tonnes, and we needed something lighter.'
The SAF needed the Primus to weigh less than 30 tonnes and be no wider than 3m, for it to move across bridges and through vegetation here.
By April 2000, the first working prototype was rolled out, using a vehicle chassis adapted from the US Army's Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle and M109 self-propelled gun.
After another three years of testing, the guns were unveiled by Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday.
The result, Mindef says, is the creation of 'arguably the lightest and most responsive self-propelled howitzer in its class'.
Before the Primus, the SAF's stable of 155mm guns - the FH-88 and FH-2000 - usually had to be towed by trucks.
Towed guns require more time to get into action and at least eight gunners to operate, compared to the Primus which only needs a crew of four and is ready to fire in less than a minute.
Beneath its tough armour-plated exterior is a host of sophisticated on-board computers that control navigation and automate the handling of ammunition.
Altogether, the Primus is the SAF's 'most technologically complex product designed to date', added Mindef.
At its commissioning yesterday, there were no formal military parades. Instead, the ceremony took place out in the field at Kranji Camp, where six guns swung into action in a demonstration that showcased its ability to 'hide, shoot and scoot'.
The first artillery unit to receive these guns is the 21st Battalion, Singapore Artillery.
The unit started using them early this year and is gearing up for a battalion live-firing exercise code-named Thunder Warrior. This will take place in New Zealand early next year.
After seeing the guns in action, Rear Admiral (NS) Teo said: 'It's an example of the cooperation between the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the SAF and Singapore Technologies Kinetics that we're able to develop something which can fit our unique needs.'
http://www.universalmetropolis.com/m...?articleid=417