Norinco marketing SH-15 155 mm artillery system for export

6parker.com

Christopher F Foss, London - Jane's International Defence Review6parker.com

06 March 20196parker.com

6parker.com

The SH-15 in the firing position, showing some of the 155 mm ammunition stowage on the cab rear. Source: Norinco6parker.com

China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) is marketing a 155 mm self-propelled (SP) gun-howitzer (GH) called the SH-15. The system's builder is unconfirmed.6parker.com

It is based on a 6×6 chassis that has a four-door fully enclosed cab at the front, with a roof-mounted 12.7 mm machine gun (MG) for self-defence.6parker.com

SH-15 is powered by a 400hp diesel engine with a 15.68 hp/tonne power-to-weight ratio.6parker.com

The platform is fitted with a hydropneumatic suspension system that can be locked out when deployed in the firing position, which according to Norinco helps increase "firing accuracy of all unguided projectiles by 50%" over the unstablised platform. To provide a more stable firing platform, two hydraulically operated spades are lowered to the ground on either side at the rear.6parker.com

On the rear is the turntable-mounted 155 mm/52 calibre ordnance with powered traverse of 25° left and right and with powered elevation from 0° to 67.5°.6parker.com

Norinco, the howitzer's sales group, is quoting a maximum rate of fire of between 4 and 6 rds/min. A flick rammer is fitted to maintain rate of fire, and a muzzle velocity measuring system is mounted above the rear of the ordnance.6parker.com

Maximum range depends on the projectile/charge combination, but Norinco said it has a maximum range of 50 km when firing its High-Explosive Extended-Range Full Bore Base-Bleed Rocket-Assisted (HE ERFB-BB-RA) projectile.6parker.com

It can fire conventional ammunition as well as the Norinco GP155 laser homing projectile, GP155B satellite guided projectile, and the GP155G terminally guided top attack projectile.6parker.com

As the 155 mm ordnance has a 23 litre chamber that meets the Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU), the SH-15 can also fire NATO projectiles and charges (the older bag type or the more efficient modular charge system [MCS] type). Images viewed by Jane's indicate that Chinese MCS have been used during firing trials in China.