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.
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.
SH-15 is powered by a 400hp diesel engine with a 15.68 hp/tonne power-to-weight ratio.
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.
The SH-15 in the firing position, showing some of the 155 mm ammunition stowage on the cab rear. (NORINCO)
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°.
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.
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.
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.
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