Yugoimport Aleksander

     Notes: The Aleksander is sort of a wheeled howitzer taken to the next level – and then some.  Built specifically for export sales, it has virtually all the bells and whistles a Western customer would ask for, and as the interior construction is modular, other equipment can be added easily. Aleksander is currently undergoing its final operational tests.  No hard offers for the Aleksander have yet been tendered, but the Pakistanis are reportedly take a hard look at the vehicle, and may soon acquire two or three for testing. (Pakistan plans to spend up to $844 million on new self-propelled artillery vehicles by 2024, including a large number of lighter pieces like the Aleksander.)

     The Aleksander is mounted on a modified 8x8 KamAZ truck, lengthened, slightly armored, and with a greatly beefed up suspension.  The engine is a turbocharged diesel developing 400 horsepower, and with an oil pre-heater, fuel pre-heater, automatic transmission, and power steering and brakes. With its central tire pressure regulation system, it is capable of crossing a trench 1.6 meters wide and ford up 1.1 meters. The strong suspension also incidentally lead to a smooth ride when in traveling order, though there is quite a shock when firing a round.  Tires are run-flat and puncture resistant; for example, the Aleksander can run directly over a field or short steel spikes without flattening the tires.

     The gun module has enough space inside for up to two crewmembers, but it is designed to fire autonomously, with input from the gunner and commander in the cab.  The gun is a 155mm L/52 model, designed and built in Serbia with some Chinese input.  The gun is capable of firing any Western or Chinese 155mm round; reportedly, it can even fire the new US Excalibur round, though where they got the design specs for the Excalibur is unknown. It is also capable of firing a new Chinese round with similar guidance and capabilities.  The gun module is completely autoloader-fed, from three 12-round magazines and charge magazines.  The magazines must then be reloaded, and that is when the gunner and commander go back to the gun module, where two more magazines may be loaded after removing the empty ones.  The autoloader functions, loading the gun whether at maximum elevation or depression, or whether the elevation or depression changes during a loading cycle.  The gun may fire forward without any special stabilization, but shots to the rear or sides a set of four stabilization jacks must be lowered. A 10kW APU powers the electronics and the turret when the engine is off; this APU runs from vehicle fuel.

     As mentioned briefly above, the Aleksander has a complete fire control, navigation, and vehicle state system.  A BMS may be added if desired by the customer.  Fire control systems include extra data-capable radios, a computerized fire control system capable of being controlled from inside the cab or gun module, multiple autoloaders and loading cassettes for the gun, a computer-controlled breech for programming certain rounds which allow this flexibility, and gun stabilization and a direct-fire control computer with laser rangefinder for use at light vehicles, armor, and direct engagement of soft-skinned vehicles and rampaging infantry if necessary.  It should be noted that while the Aleksander has an elevation limit of +73 degrees and a depression limit of 5 degrees from 320 degrees of it’s gun module’s arc, it has a depression limit of +3 degrees when fired over the cab.  (The top of the cab is also where the travel lock for the gun it mounted, and the travel lock has an automatic electrical system.  The gun is capable of MRSI fire or pinpoint attacks on targets, as well as long bombardments, particularly if a vehicle carrying reloads is present.

     The cab and gun module have an NBC Overpressure system with a Vehicular NBC backup, as well has a heater and air conditioner.  There is no commander’s weapon, as the projection of such a weapon above the cab would block certain rotation ranges of the main gun (which projects just ahead of the main gun).  However, the vehicle is designed for the stowage of an automatic rifle/light machinegun, a pair of assault rifles, and three rocket launchers up to the size of an RPG-7, along with two extra rounds (alternatively, the cab can house three AT-4-type weapons). The crew consists of a commander/assistant gunner, a gunner, and a driver who also keeps touch with friendly forces.  The crew has access to a complete vehicle state computer, which gives the crew information related to navigation and components ranging from the gun and ammunition to suspension damage.  Armor protection is nothing to write home about, though it will stop assault rifle, PDW, and submachinegun rounds, as well as certain higher-power rifle rounds.  The underside, however, is more heavily-armored, though it not a true V-shaped MRAP hull. The vehicle systems include a GPS/Inertial navigation system, with mapping module and direction and distance traveled. All crewmembers have access to this information, though the driver has more complete system such as speed, upcoming terrain, and fuel state.  Note that the night vision modules are in the gun module, and not in the cab; the night vision pictures show on screens in the cab.  The Day/Night CCD cameras are in the two rear corners of the cab, the right front, and in the gun module, however; they too show on the screen in the cab.

*The cab and gun module are Shielded, but the rest of the truck is not.

**Cab Roof AV and Turret Roof AV is 3; Vehicle floor armor is 5Sp.

Yugoimport B-52 NORA

     Notes: This Serbian self-propelled howitzer is based on a copy of an armored FAP-2832 8x8 truck chassis.  Despite it’s relatively old design (inherited from it’s earlier developmental models), it has surprisingly-modern features and relatively clean lines.  The design is modular; engines, transmissions, and even the main gun and ammunition storage can be switched out fairly easily given the right facilities.  So far, export customers are limited to Myanmar, Kenya, and Bangladesh. Though the design overall is a bit dated, this is merely the exterior appearance and the internal design is of modern construction.  The B-52 NORA was developed in several versions, some of which were development versions and no longer being built, and some of which were developed alongside and available to the Serbian military or to export customers.

NORA B-52 K0

     The K0 is essentially divided into two sections; the front section contains the mechanical internals such as the engine and transmission, along with an air conditioner and heater, and the computers for the fire control and general computers that tie the B-52 in with the local friendly computer network. The front section also has the cab, in which the commander and driver sit (over the transmission).  The front section is divided from the rear by a stout bulkhead; the front section does not have direct access to the rear section. No crewmember need be in the front section during normal firing, though it is procedure to have the driver stay up front to allow shoot-and-scoot fire missions. During travel, it is normal for the crew to travel in the front half of the vehicle. An FDC is necessary for accurate firing, as the fire control computer merely processes coordinates and information, as well as storing maps in memory. 

     The gun is capable of a depression of -5 degrees, enough to allow self-defense direct fire is necessary.  Maximum elevation is +65 degrees.  The gun turret has limited traverse, 30 degrees left and right.  Before firing, four bracing legs are lowered to the ground; two of these are at the rear corners and there is one at the center on either side. The gun fires to the rear of the vehicle. The rear section contains a variant of the Primus 155mm Gun -- a 152mm L/45 howitzer, downsized to L/39.  The howitzer is tipped with a large muzzle brake, and does not have a fume extractor. The working components that are not under armor are covered by a tarp custom-made for the B-52. The gun can be brought into firing position in 60 seconds, and can fire three rounds and be ready to pull away within 60 seconds. The gun is fed by a 12-round rotary autoloader on the floor of the modular; it also carries enough to reload the autoloader two more times.

     The engine is a locally-built Mercedes-Benz OM-501LA turbocharged diesel design developing 410 horsepower, and matched to a fully-automatic transmission. The suspension is 8x8, with the wheels on the front half turning independently of those on the rear half.  On each half, however, the wheels turn as pairs.  The vehicle is not NBC sealed; indeed, the turret does not have a full roof.  The commander’s position is armed with a heavy machinegun on a pintle mount.  The vehicle can be fitted with a CROWS-type commander’s station, though this will not be discussed here. Note, however, that the driver is on the right and the commander’s position is on the left. The commander’s gun is on a large non-rotating cupola with all-around vision blocks; the forward vision block has a night channel. The B-52 K0 is capable of deep fording to a depth of 1.2 meters.

     The K0B version is the same, but has an L/45 barrel.

Variants

     A variant version of this vehicle, the K0B, is equipped with a NATO-compatible 155mm L/45 howitzer; as Serbia does not use 155mm howitzers, this version is produced for export.  The howitzer used on this variant is a version of that found on the AS-90 Braveheart SP artillery vehicle. 

     A variant of the K0, the B-52 K1, has enhanced armor protection, especially against explosions underneath the vehicle (though it does not have the “V” hull of a true mine-protected vehicle).  The gun is coupled to a more advanced fire control system, mostly modified in ways not quantifiable in Twilight 2000 v2.2 terms.  However, it does have inertial navigation with a mapping module, and can function to a limited extent as its own FDC (though an actual FDC will be required if the vehicle’s location is in doubt, the target’s location is not known, if a long bombardment is called for, or area firing is requested).  If all pertinent information is known or instructions from an FDC are available, the K1 can fire within 30 seconds of a halt, and when the K1 comes to a stop, the gun traverses and elevates/depresses and lays itself automatically onto the target. Starting with the K1, these vehicles have a 10kW APU. The K1 also has an L/52 barrel. The K1B version has an improved electrical system as well as a fully-enclosed gun module, giving the crew complete armor protection. The K-I version is designed for domestic use; it is essentially the same vehicle at the K1, but mounts an L/54 152mm gun/howitzer.  The K-IB is again similar, but has a fully-enclosed gun module. It has an NBC Overpressure system.  In general, armor protection for all these vehicles is somewhat increased.

     The B-52 KE is a lighter version of the same K0; though the armor is somewhat lighter, (not a difference in game terms) the primary difference is in the use of aluminum alloy in the armor. (IRL, it is much more expensive due to the armor.) The B-52 KE is fitted with an inertial navigation system and mapping module. Though computerized fire control is normally used, legacy analog devices, telescopic sights, and indirect fire equipment in case of computer malfunction or damage.  That said, its fire control suite is quite sophisticated and like the M03, can function to a limited extent without an FDC.  The KEB version has a fully-enclosed gun module (the KE has the open module of the early versions).

     The M03 is a further development of the K1B, with the ability to fire longer laser-guided shells and RAP shells and computer updates that mean that an FDC is no longer needed, though an FDC can help quicken for process of coming to a fire position and getting ready for firing.  It has GPS navigation (GLONASS may be substituted at the buyer’s request), and the fire control system is fully modernized, including the ability to compact fire missions at a slow movement speed and the ability to conduct direct fire missions against point targets, infantry, or even armored vehicles.  It has enhanced armor, including a fully-enclosed gun cabin, though gun traverse is still limited.  This allows for the M03 to use an NBC Overpressure system.  The M03B further increases the M03’s armor protection, while providing modular mounts for radios, a further enhanced fire control system (including for direct fire), and comes in a version (the M03B1) which mounts 152mm L/54 ordnance and has the ability to fire all known 152mm rounds.  The M03 and M03B cannot fire the new US Excalibur rounds, but may fire any other type of 155mm round (though some of the older rounds may not fit into the M03 or M03B’s autoloader).

*Roof armor for the turret is 0.

**Roof armor for the turret is 0.  Floor armor is 4Sp. Armor for the rest of the roof is 3.

***Roof armor, including for the turret, is AV3. Floor armor is 4Sp.

****Roof Armor is AV4.  Floor armor is 5Sp.

Yugoimport M09

     Notes: This new SP artillery vehicle was designed to be more compact than 122mm, 152mm, and 155mm-carrying vehicles.  It has thusfar been offered only for export; the Serbian Army does not use it. It looks like a smaller version of the B-52, but is smaller and lighter.  It is marketed as a fire support solution for rapid deployment units, airborne and air assault units, and airborne units. It is intended t6o operate with company and battalion-sized units, to provide immediate, if short-ranged, fire support heavier than can be offered by mortars.  It is also meant to close-combat support, and is meant to carry a good amount of antipersonnel, beehive, FRAG, and high-explosive rounds, as well as a few HEAT-type rounds to deal with light vehicles and light armored threats. The gun and ammunition supply are designed for a quick rate of fire.

     The suspension is 6x6 and the entire vehicle is shorter and more compact than the B-52.  However, many of the same components are used in construction of the M09, and internally, the fire control components are the same. Unlike the B-52, the M09 is air-portable and air-droppable. Like the B-52, the M09 has two sections, front and aft.  The crew, during transit, normally rides inside the front section, though during transit it is not uncommon for the gunner to ride in his gunner’s seat, and during stops it is not uncommon for the driver to remain in his seat to facilitate shoot & scoot operations. The cab has large armored windows that can have shutters pulled over them.  At the rear of the front section is a comprehensive computer suite that allows it to operate without an FDC, has a GPS module, and has a complete mapping program, as long as the map to the area is on the computer’s hard drives; these hard drives can be updated remotely, usually by the FDC or command elements.. (It is rumored that the M09’s computer has the capacity to have a few low-space games installed). The computer also controls the fire direction and indirect fire direction modules, which are in easy reach of the gunner when he is on the gun.  Optionally, a BMS with a vehicle state system may be added.  The M09 has a 10kW APU for operation with the engine of the vehicle off.

     The commander’s position is in the front left, and it can operate like a CROWS-type installation when not in his seat. The commander has full night vision gear, which is also downlinked to his seated position. The OHWS has heavy armored shields to the front and sides (AV3).  The LCD panel for the CROWS is mounted on the left-side door.  The CROWS is armed with an M87 heavy machinegun, which is a Serbian-designed weapon based on the NSVT.  The M87 can be aimed, fired, and reloaded without the commander exposing himself outside of the armor envelope. The CCD camera is mounted on a retractable mast, allowing the commander to see all around him and monitor the gun and crew.  The M87 is directed by a laser rangefinder and for day use has a 4x telescopic sight.  In addition to the CROWS, the M09 is equipped with an M55 20mm autocannon, with the same fire control and the same day/night vison devices.  This is operated from a projecting pod at the rear of the cab. This gun can also operated remotely, by the commander or gunner if he is in the cab.  The M55 in this mounting has a limited traverse of 120 degrees in either direction.

     The gun is manned by a gunner, loader, and the commander; it feeds from an autoloader which has a 12-round supply, and can also use a secondary semiautomatic autoloader which can supply types of ammunition not in the autoloader, line it up with the breech, and ram it into position to be fired, with the loader needing only to close the breech, and gunner then may fire it.. At the rear of the turret, partially out of the turret and partially in, are 48 more rounds of ammunition. The gun was designed specifically for this use and can fire any sort of 105mm howitzer rounds available in the world.  In addition, Yugoimport has designed an HE-ER-BB projectile and a new HE-ER-BT round.  The gun has a depression of -3 and an elevation +65.  The turret has limited traverse and the gun has a total of 30 degrees of left or right traverse.  Though referred to as a “turret” for convenience, the gun’s mounting is on more of a gun module, surrounded on three sides by a heavy armored plate (AV4) and a specially fitted tarpaulin on the front of the gun and snapped down onto the gun shield. The turret has no roof, and the rear of the turret is also open for access to the lockers carrying the ammunition not in the autoloader.  The back of the ammunition supply has AV5 armor plate.  The vehicle is air-portable, whether as a sling-load with an appropriate helicopter, an internal load for an aircraft or sufficiently-large helicopter (there are a few out there), or even as an air-dropped vehicle or delivered via the LAPES method.  When set up for a long bombardment, four strut/spades are lowered at the corners of the bed; for short fire missions, such stabilization can be done without; a rule of thumb is that if the gun it to fire 10 rounds or more consecutively, the spades should be lowered.  Long bombardments without the spades will result in 15% damage to the suspension.

     Armor is kept light to keep the weight of the system down, though it is still proof against assault rifle rounds and 7.62mm NATO and 7.62mm Nagant rounds from most angles.

     The suspension is a 6x6 cross-country suspension with central tire regulation antilock brakes, and run-flat tires. Transmission is automatic and the vehicle is powered by a Czech-designed 341-horsepower turbocharged diesel.

*Turret armor listed is for the gun module, which also does not have a roof.  The cab has a roof and the hull armor listed is for the cab.  The cab has an AV5 roof and the entire vehicle has an AV4Sp floor. The CROWS module has AV3 gun shields to the front and sides; the rear has AV0.

**Stabilization for the main gun is Basic; for the machinegun in the OHWS, it is Fair.  The 20mm gun in the rear of the cab has no stabilization, though it has the same Fire Control modifier.

MTI D-30/04 SORA-122

     Notes: This SP howitzer resulted from a Serbian Army need to mechanize it’s large amount of 122mm D-30 gun/howitzers, while keeping the costs of this endeavor down.  What they got was a D-30 mounted on the back of a FAP-2026 medium truck, with a somewhat armored cab and a strengthened suspension.  Design work began in 2004, and the first prototype appeared in 2009.  The second prototype, largely brought up to modern standards and with a modern fire control system, appeared in 2013.  The protype version is typically known as the SORA-122 or simply SORA, while the second version is generally known as the SORA-122B or simply SORA-B. The SORA is now in service for several years, having passed it’s its initial firing tests in 2009, and the second prototype in 2013. The New Iraqi Army is said to be interested in the vehicle, as it also has a number of 122mm D-30s they’d like to mechanize.

     The installation of the D-30 on the FAP-2026 consists of putting the entire upper part of the D-30 onto a simple mount made integral to the truck; while the mount is simple, it is specially made for this vehicle. The gun and mount are different enough from a standard D-30 that it has been given a new designation, the D-30J. The modifications include a radically-different mount, more powerful recoil recuperators, a larger and more efficient muzzle brake, and a modified breech and a power rammer for operation with the autoloader.  The breech and firing chamber are also more robust, allowing for the use of a new HE round called the M76, which has more powerful propellant giving it about 2.5 kilometers more range than the standard OF482 round.  The XM08 ER BT and the XM09 ER BB rounds have also been developed for the D-30J, giving the gun even longer ranges. The autoloader is also modified; it comes in two drums, one on each side of the drum; rounds are in the right drum, while charges are in the left drum.  Rounds and charges may be reloaded in the drums at the rate of 10 seconds per round and 5 seconds per charge. 

     The gun installation includes an autoloader similar to that for the M09 and M03, consisting of a 6-round rotary magazine.  If firing only the ammunition in the autoloader and which is already fuzed, the gun can be controlled with a wireless control module that has a range of 200 meters.  This is an interesting, possibly unique feature that may be desirable, since the gun platform has not only no protection for the crew, it does not even have sides. (A spare tire in mounted on the right rear of the gun platform; I suppose one could crouch behind it…)  The gun can be set from the cab to automatically transition to firing order upon a stop, or upon command from the cab, allowing a quicker first round to be fired. The guns stabilization system had to be modified after firing trials began, as the stabilizers used could not absorb all the recoil forces.  The four stabilizers were redesigned, and firing trials were passed in March 2014.  The gun has a limited traverse of 25 degrees right or left, and has an elevation limit of +70 degrees and a depression limit of -5 degrees; this does allow for some limited direct fire applications. The SORA is capable of going into a halt and into firing position in 90 seconds if operating as its own FDC and the target coordinates are known; from there, it can empty the autoloader in 60 seconds.  (The crew does not need to be in the gun module to fire from the autoloader.) It takes 60 seconds for the SORA to come out of firing order and get underway, and the autoloader can be reloaded while the SORA is moving (assuming at least two men are in the gun module).  In addition to the autoloader, the D-30J can be loaded manually, one round at a time. The SORA-122B is equipped with inertial navigation, which is less expensive than GPS.  It can, however, use the vehicle’s fire control computers to produce accurate firing coordinates without the use of an FDC, if the target and vehicle location are known. Other computers have data for inputting and programming maps, and these are partially handed off to a small screen where the driver can see it.

     The D-30/04 SORA-122C version introduced in 2015 does have GPS and the associated navigation and fire control equipment; these are being produced for the Serbian Army in more limited numbers, and is the version that the Iraqis are interested in. It also has enhanced fire control computers and systems.  This version retains the inertial navigation equipment as a backup.  It also has AV2 shields for the gun module. A 7kW APU is added to control the gun and computers while the engine is off. This version is normally called the SORA-122C, or simply SORA-C.  This is the final production version, now being produced for the Serbian Army and an unknown number of other armies.

     The base chassis is a modified form of the Serbian-made FAP 2026, known as the FAP 2026 BS/AV.  This is a 6x6 off-road chassis which has been substantially beefed up to handle the weight and recoil of the gun mount.  In addition to carrying the weight of the gun, it’s onboard ammunition, and ancillary equipment, the truck can tow a trailer of not more than 7.2 tons total weight. The truck has a standard transmission, a locking differential, and a suspension with both leaf springs and additional hydraulic shock absorbers on the two rear wheels. There is a central tire pressure regulation system with run-flat tires. . The SORA is powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM-906 LA 279-horsepower turbocharged diesel.  The truck cab has been given a thin layer of armor, as has the section behind the cab which is where the electronics are installed and controlled from. The cab has a hatchway above the commander’s seat, with a simple pintle mount for a weapon.  The cab also has three seats behind the driver and commander, which is where the rest of the crew ride during most travel moves.

     The SORA-122 is equipped with inertial navigation, which is less expensive than GPS.  It can, however, use the vehicle’s fire control computers to produce accurate firing coordinates without the use of an FDC. Other computers have data for inputting and programming maps, and these are partially handed off to a small screen where the driver can see it.

*The “Shielded” rating applies only to the cab and the computer module Only; the gun module of the SORA-B is open, while the gun module of the SORA-C is Enclosed

**The floor of the truck has an AV of 2Sp, except under the cab, where it is 5Sp.  The gun module has no overhead projection, and the SORA-B has no side protection, either.