Denel/GDLS Canada LAV III/T7 (LAV III Light SP Howitzer)
Notes: Though
using the LAV III as a base, this version with a compact turreted 105mm howitzer
was developed primarily by Denel.
(Users of the LAV III and Stryker are reportedly already interested in the
design, and the South Africans are already advertising it as the LAV III Stryker
T7.) It is also known as the LSPH
(Light Self-Propelled Howitzer). Denel approached GDLS Canada after the
cancellation of the US NLOS-C, which South Africa was to be a major player in.
GDLS is also a major player, and Rheinmetall is developing a new range of
ammunition for the gun. The Stryker
Brigades are already putting the LAV III Stryker through heavy field testing,
and the US Marines are reportedly also interested. Other possible future users
include South Africa, Canada, Britain, and Australia.
The T7 turret
makes the LAV III a useful fire support platform, while keeping the advantages
of the LAV III. Key to the
development of the T7 turret was the development of a new lightweight howitzer
cannon, including the incorporation of new materials such as composite laminates
in gun and mechanism as well as technology borrowed from the G6 1A3 Rhino heavy
artillery vehicle, particularly the electronics.
The LAV III/T7
relies greatly on automation; the crew is only three and one is the driver.
The commander also serves as the gunner and there is an assistant gunner.
The resulting vehicle is small, and can be airdropped from a C-130
aircraft. Virtually all rounds are autoloaded and autorammed.
The autoloading elements and fire control elements have a high degree of
redundancy. All functions are
controlled from flat panels displayed around the turret; even the driver has a
screen displaying vehicle state, fuel, and mapping information.
The 105mm howitzer does not require any sort of jacks or outriggers to be
lowered. The rear door doubles as
an ammunition replenishment door.
The gun is much longer than most 105mm howitzers at L/52.
It is tipped with a multibaffle muzzle brake and a fume extractor, and in
a pinch, may be used as a direct-fire vehicle. The gun is fed by two magazines
in the hull below the turret – one 56-round projectile magazine, and one
42-charge magazine to the left. The
gun has a fully functional autoloader, but if necessary, the commander and
assistant gunner may crawl through a tunnel to operate the turret manually.
The T7 Gun has even demonstrated the extreme-precision shooting of firing
three rounds into the same hole in the target.
As with the LAV
III the LAV III/T7 has a Caterpillar 31236 turbocharged diesel developing 350
horsepower and coupled to an automatic transmission.
The driver is in the front left with conventional controls, and a night
vision block. The drive is 8x8 and has a central tire inflation system, traction
control, and antilock braking. The commander/gunner is on the right side of the
turret, with the AG on the left; the commander/gunner has a manually-operated
cupola with a weapon mount. The AG
can also operate as a gunner if needed.
However, in most cases, the turret is unmanned, with the commander,
gunner, and driver in the front hull, operating the howitzer by remote control.
The vehicle has a 10kW APU to run the systems while the vehicle’s engine is off.
Add-on appliqué
armor as well as MEXAS ceramic appliqué armor is available.
(In both cases, this includes an antimine panel on the floor.) The gun
itself is actually a gun/howitzer, designed for both direct fire and indirect
fire with equal aplomb. It is meant
to reduce fortifications as well as fire support missions, as well as the
occasional engagement of enemy vehicles and personnel by direct fire. A new line
of ammunition was developed to take advantage of this fact.
In recognition of the reduced crew, the ammunition is unitary, with
combustible shell casings.
Also in recognition of
the reduced crew, computers reduce the workload as much as possible, though they
allow the LAV III/T7 to act as its own FDC, it can also rapidly and digitally
take data from FISTs and FDCs and send them directly to the gun, which at the
push of a button will slew and elevate/depress itself to the correct coarse
position, requiring only fine adjustments. A GPS and backup intentional
navigation system is supplied, along with a mapping computer module.
The LAV III
Stryker is airportable via sling load from a heavy-lift helicopter, and
internally in an aircraft at least the size of a C-130.
Though airdropping and LAPES delivery has not yet been tested, Denel
asserts that these methods of delivery will be feasible for the LAV III Stryker.
The T7 turret is
also compatible with the Patria AMV and Rooikat, though these configurations
have not yet been built.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
LAV III Stryker |
$1,095,671 |
D, A |
680 kg |
18.3 tons |
3 |
20 |
Passive IR (D, C, AG), 2nd Gen Image Intensification (C, AG),
FLIR (C) |
Enclosed |
With Appliqué Armor |
$1,097,549 |
D, A |
581 kg |
18.98 tons |
3 |
22 |
Passive IR (D, C, AG), 2nd Gen Image Intensification (C, AG),
FLIR (C) |
Enclosed |
With MEXAS |
$1,129,830 |
D, A |
431 kg |
19.48 tons |
3 |
22 |
Passive IR (D, C, AG), 2nd Gen Image Intensification (C, AG),
FLIR (C) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
LAV III/T7 |
165/83 |
46/23 |
400 |
129 |
Trtd |
W(6) |
TF7Sp TS6Sp
TR4 HF9Sp
HS6Sp HR5* |
With Appliqué Armor |
162/82 |
45/23 |
400 |
131 |
Trtd |
W(6) |
TF7Sp TS10
TR7 HF12Sp
HS8Sp HR6** |
With MEXAS |
160/81 |
44/23 |
400 |
133 |
Trtd |
W(6) |
TF10Cp TS8Sp
TR4 HF12Cp
HS9Sp HR5*** |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
LAV III Stryker |
+3 |
Fair |
105mm L/52 T7 Howitzer, MG4 (C) |
56x105mm, 2000x7.62mm |
*Floor AV is 5; Roof AV is 3.
**Floor AV is 5Sp, Roof AV is 4.
***Floor AV is 5Cp, Turret Roof AV is 4Cp, Hull Roof AV is 4.
Denel T5-52 Condor
Notes: The T5-52
is sort of a counterpart to the French Caesar, but the similarities quickly end
as the T5-52 is based on a larger, heavier truck, about a heavy truck. During
development, the T5-52 was called the Condor and it still retains that name
amongst many of its users and even the chain of command.
The T5-52 is offered for export, and has taken part in many Arms
Expositions, but so far only India had bought more than evaluation versions.
However, SANDF is very interested in the design, and Pakistan has the
Condor under consideration. SANDF does appear to be more interested in the L/45
version.
The Condor is
based on the Tatra WN 8x8 truck chassis, but the South Africans actually get the
trucks from India, where they are manufactured under license. This chassis has a
turbocharged diesel engine, developing 355 horsepower.
The truck chassis has automatic transmission, power steering and brakes,
antilock brakes, traction control, and run-flat tires which are also puncture
resistant and have central tire inflation regulation. The cab is enlarged to fit
the four crewmembers that normally ride in the cab, as well as their personal
gear and a 30-liter chilled drinking water tank. The cab has air conditioning
and heating, as well as a Vehicular NBC system.
The truck can ford 1.4 meters and cross a 2-meter trench.
Suspension is 8x8. The
Condor is fitted with a 30kW APU to provide complete power for the complete gun
mechanisms and electronics of the host vehicle and up to two more Condors or 2-5
other types of vehicles such as FDC or command sections.
Before firing, three
stabilizers are lowered; two of these have steps in them to enter the fighting
compartment, while the rear jack has a ladder.
In testing, the Condor was to have an L/45 gun, but production versions
have an L/52 gun. The gun has a compact muzzle brake and a fume extractor.
The gun is fed by a magazine; the autoloader takes the projectile from
the magazine and a power rammer pushes the projectile into the breech, where
manually-loaded charges are added.
Fuze affixing is semiautomatic. The gun has the G5-2000 top carriage of the
ground-mounted G5. The gun
turntable may rotate 360 degrees for travel, but may normally be fired in a
40-degree deflection from the centerline to the rear (Emergency shots may be
taken outside of that 80-degree arc, but it is possible that the vehicle will
become overbalanced if the gun is fired very far outside that arc.)
The gun also has a direct fire capability, with a maximum depression of
-3 degrees and a maximum elevation of 75 degrees. The T4-52 has considerable
computer power to calculate position of the gun given fire control coordinates;
among these is an enhanced artillery ballistic computer allowing the gun to
execute MRSI fire and may use any sort of Western or Chinese 155mm ammunition.
The gun includes a second autoloader which lifts rounds from the ground
and lifts them as a three-round autoloader cassette, from which the round can be
loaded into the breech and rammed into position.
The normal crew
for the Condor is eight, but only four travel with the Condor, and are in the
cab when traveling. Four others are
transported on ammunition or supply trucks. No commander’s weapon is normally
fitted, though the armored versions sometimes mount a light machinegun.
Fire Control and
truck electronics include an inertial navigation system with mapping module,
generation of fire coordinates, and automatic gun elevation and turning to get
the proper shot. Though the onboard
system can normally generate accurate fire coordinates, targeting will be more
accurate if an FDC is used. The
systems may be run off vehicle power or be provided by another vehicle or an
external generator. The vehicle’s
engine has a Power Take-Off for this purpose.
The truck
chassis has a 355 horsepower turbocharged diesel engine.
Normally, the truck has no armor protection; however, a kit of light
armor able to stop assault rifle rounds and shell splinters may be added.
Despite this, the crew, when working on the gun, has no armor protection.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
T5-52 |
$923,189 |
D, A |
750 kg |
28 tons |
4(+4) |
27 |
Passive IR (G, C) |
Enclosed |
With Armor Kit |
$924,974 |
D, A |
574 kg |
28.71 tons |
4(+4) |
27 |
Passive IR (G, C) |
Enclosed |
T5-45 |
$908,762 |
D, A |
783 kg |
27.87 tons |
4(+4) |
25 |
Passive IR (G, C) |
Enclosed |
With Armor Kit |
$910,547 |
D, A |
607 kg |
28.58 tons |
4(+4) |
25 |
Passive IR (G, C) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
T5-52 |
125/63 |
34/18 |
700 |
131 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF1 TS1
TR1 HF1
HS1 HR1 |
With Armor Kit |
124/62 |
34/18 |
700 |
133 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF1 TS1
TR1 HF2
HS2 HR2* |
T5-45 |
125/63 |
34/18 |
700 |
131 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF1 TS1
TR1 HF1
HS1 HR1 |
With Armor Kit |
124/62 |
34/18 |
700 |
133 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF1 TS1
TR1 HF2
HS2 HR2* |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
T5-52 |
+2 |
Basic |
155mm G5-2000 L/52 Howitzer |
27x155mm |
T5-45 |
+2 |
Basic |
155mm G5-DLS L/45 Howitzer |
27x155mm |
*The AV value listed is primarily for the cab; however, the underside of the
vehicle also benefits from the armor kit.
LIW G6 Rhino
Notes:
This is the standard South African self-propelled howitzer, and is also
in service with Oman and the United Arab Emirates. It is essentially a mobile
version of the G5 howitzer. Chile
briefly produced the G6 under license as the CC-SP-45, though the vehicle had a
short service life in Chile and production was very limited.
The New Iraqi Army also uses a version of the G6.
The Iraqis called their version of the G6 the Al-Manjoon, The Al-Fao
version of the Al-Manjoon’s main modification allows for the storage and use of
chemical-warhead munitions, something the Al-Manjoon lacks.
The electronics
are just short of being able to act as it’s own FDC – The G6 still requires an
FDC for proper firing information, but once the coordinates are transmitted, the
G6’s own electronics calculate the fire solution.
These are collected into the indirect fire computer, and the gunner must
then only push one button for the gun and turret to automatically lay itself.
The gun also has a telescopic sight for direct fire out to 3 kilometers,
plus the gunner’s night vision gear.
Both L/45 and L/52 systems are in service with South Africa, who is in
the process changing to L/52; most other countries that use the G6 use the L/52
barrel. In addition there is the
G6/52, which has more advanced systems. The commander has a heavy machinegun on
his manually-operated cupola. Eight
smoke grenades launchers round out the armament; these are four per side. The
ammunition bins have blow-off panels.
The gun is capable of firing any Western or Chinese 155mm ammunition. The
gun has a large muzzle brake and a fume extractor made of glass fiber; this is
the subject of some controversy, as an few fume extractors have been discovered
with cracks in them. The turret has a rear door on the right for ammunition
replenishment. The gun has a maximum elevation of +75 and a maximum depression
of -5 degrees.
Armor is fairly
decent for its type of vehicle, able to usually stop 20mm hits from the front,
and 7.62mm and grenade and artillery shell splinters all around the vehicle.
The G6 has an MRAP hull, and is capable of surviving a blast from a TM-46
antitank mine (though it may roll the vehicle over).
Power is provided by a 525-horsepower turbocharged diesel, with an
automatic transmission and conventional controls.
The engine is located behind the driver. Originally, the G6 had 4x6
suspension, with the front axle not being powered; however, this was quickly
upgraded to a 6x6 configuration. The crew is protected by an NBC overpressure
system and an automatic fire detection and suppression system. Navigation is by
GPS. One striking feature of the G6
is a powerful 22kW APU, and the G6 is capable of conducting a fire mission on
only the APU as power or of powering several vehicles and command-post-type
shelters at once..
The G6 has an
interesting driver’s position: it is at the front center, self-contained, with
unusually large (for an armored vehicle) armored windows, giving the driver
excellent visibility. He has a
swing-down night vision scope. The
driver benefits from an automatic transmission; the driver may also select
manual or semiautomatic modes as desired.
He has conventional driving controls.
The large ballistic glass windows can be protected by swing-down armored
panels with vision slits in them.
In front of the driver is a wedge-shaped bin that normally stows extra
ammunition and doubles as a brush cutter. The driver has no direct access to the
fighting compartment; should he wish to go back there, he has to climb out of
his compartment, climb up on the turret, and enter through one of the hatches
there. The commander is on the top of the right side of the turret, with a
manually-operating cupola and all-around vision blocks.
One of these blocks has a night channel.
The second hatch is essentially for everyone else in the crew.
The crew has an air conditioning and heating system, as well as three
chilled drinking water tanks, a 10-liter one in the driver’s compartment, a
60-liter one in the turret, and a 60-liter one near the rear door.
The vehicle commander has a limited ability to drive the G6 from his
position should the driver become a casualty.
The G6 is powered by a
German-manufactured Magirus Deutz BF12L513 FC V12 turbocharged diesel engine
developing 525 horsepower. Instead
of being up front like most armored vehicles, the engine is in between the
driver and the crew compartments.
The G6 has large 21x25 run-flat puncture resistant tires.
G6/52
In addition to having a longer barrel, the G6/52 has additional electronics,
self-surveying capability, and the ability to generate its own fire coordinates,
thus being able to act as its own FDC.
The G6/52 has been successfully tested with the US M982 Excalibur round.
The G6/52 mounts a more powerful 34 kW APU mounted outside the turret.
Al-Manjoon and Al-Fao
The Al-Manjoon version
of the G6/52 has a crew reduced to five (one less loader), can support sustained
fire rates of 8 rounds per minute, has a more powerful version of the standard
G6/52 engine which develops 575 horsepower, and is capable of MRSI fire and
burst rates of six rounds per minute for 3 minutes.
The Al-Manjoon has additional computer power and software, primarily in
the area of processing fire requests and passing them on to the fire control
computer more efficiently. The Al-Fao version of the Al-Manjoon is capable of
firing and storing properly up to six chemical-warhead rounds, but fire rate is
reduced to 6 rounds per minute in a sustained bombardment, or a burst rate of 3
rounds per minute when firing chemical rounds. Armor protection is slightly
increased. The Al-Fao also has a special FC computer mode for the firing of
chemical projectiles. (The Al-Manjoon does not have the storage racks, gun
breech, charges, or special FC settings necessary to fire chemical rounds.)
Iraq is
considering replacing the commander’s M2HB with a CROWS-type station, but
details on this have not yet been released, and this version has not been
included below.
G6 1A3
In addition to
the improvements of the G6/52, the G6 1A3 features a steel fume extractor
instead of the glass fiber fume extractor.
Additional safety interlocks are installed; for example, it is no longer
possible to double-load the gun.
The power rammer has been improved, allowing sustained fire rates of six per
minute, or a burst rate of about 3 minutes firing at the rate every phase.
This pace puts an additional level of fatigue on the crew (except for the
driver). The vehicle state is
monitored; the driver has a Windows-based touch screen which allows him to
monitor all aspects of the vehicle’s operation.
The commander’s touch screen functions integrally with the GPS and
mapping module. The gunner has a digital rangefinder and display, meaning he can
aim without having to look into eyepieces.
The G6 1A3 is capable of MRSI firing.
The driver has a simple screen which allows him to drive in the correct
route and range, and monitor systems such as the fuel, engine, and transmission.
The only user of the G6 1A3 is the UAE; it was specifically designed for
their use, but is also available on the export market.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
G6 |
$886,610 |
D, A |
750 kg |
36.5 tons |
6 |
22 |
Image Intensification (D, C, G), Passive IR (G, C) |
Enclosed |
G6/52 |
$906,457 |
D, A |
715 kg |
36.64 tons |
6 |
24 |
Image Intensification (D, C, G), Passive IR (G, C) |
Enclosed |
Al-Manjoon |
$1,071,442 |
D, A |
676 kg |
36.8 tons |
5 |
25 |
Passive IR (C), Image Intensification (D), 2nd Gen Image
Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
Al-Fao |
$1,108,342 |
D, A |
676 kg |
36.8 tons |
5 |
26 |
Passive IR (C), Image Intensification (D), 2nd Gen Image
Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
G6 1A3 |
$1,166,413 |
D, A |
629 kg |
36.98 tons |
6 |
25 |
Image Intensification (D, C, G), Passive IR (G, C), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
G6 |
122/62 |
34/17 |
700 |
193 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF14 TS7
TR7 HF18
HS6 HR5 |
G6/52 |
122/62 |
34/17 |
700 |
193 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF14 TS7
TR7 HF18
HS6 HR5 |
Al-Manjoon |
131/66 |
37/18 |
700 |
213 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF15Sp TS8Sp
TR7 HF19Sp
HS7Sp HR5* |
Al-Fao |
131/66 |
37/18 |
700 |
213 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF15Sp TS8Sp
TR7 HF19Sp
HS7Sp HR5* |
G6 1A3 |
121/62 |
34/14 |
700 |
194 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF14 TS7
TR7 HF18
HS6 HR5* |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
G6 |
+1 |
Basic |
155mm L/45 Howitzer, M-2HB (C) |
47x155mm, 2000x.50 |
G6/52 |
+2 |
Basic |
155mm L/52 Howitzer, M-2HB (C) |
47x155mm, 2000x.50 |
Al-Manjoon/Al-Fao |
+2 |
Good |
155mm L/52 Howitzer, M-2HB (C) |
47x155mm, 2000x.50 |
G6 1A3 |
+2 |
Fair |
155mm L/52 Howitzer, M-2HB (C) |
47x155mm, 2000x.50 |
*The Al-Manjoon, Al-Fao, and G6 1A3 have a Hull Floor of 5Sp in addition to
their normal MRAP hull.