AH4 howitzer
{{Short description|Chinese 155 mm towed artillery}}
{{Infobox weapon|is_artillery=yes|
|name=AH4 Lightweight Towed Howitzer
|origin=China
|type=Towed howitzer
|design_date=
|production_date=2016–present
|caliber=155 mm (6.1 in)
|elevation=−3° to +72°
|carriage=split trail
|cartridge=155mm ERFB-HB/HE, ERFB-Base Bleed/HE, ERFB-Rocket Assist/HE, Laser Guided GP6
|range=ERFB-HB/HE: {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}}
ERFB-Base Bleed/HE: {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} base bleed
ERFB-Rocket Assist/HE: {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}}
LGP GP6: {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}}
|crew=7
}}
The AH4 howitzer is a Chinese 155 mm towed howitzer system manufactured by Norinco.{{Cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/62341/china-completes-development-of-155-mm-ah4-howitzer|title=China completes development of 155 mm AH4 howitzer {{!}} IHS Jane's 360|website=www.janes.com|access-date=2017-02-28}} Its main characteristic is that it has been designed to be lightweight, which allows greater tactical mobility. The weight of {{convert|4.5|t|abbr=on}}, compared to a traditional system that can weigh {{convert|18|t|abbr=on}},{{Cite web|url=http://quwa.org/2016/07/19/norinco-ready-produce-ah4-lightweight-howitzer/|title=NORINCO is ready to produce the AH4 lightweight howitzer|website=quwa.org|date=19 July 2016|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-28}} allows the system to be airlifted via heavy-lift helicopters like the CH-47 or Mi-26, or transport aircraft like a C-130 or Y-8. Also, as a modern towed howitzer system, it possesses a range of engagement of up to {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} using rocket-assisted projectiles.
Design
The body of the system has forward stabilizers as well as spades and dampers.{{Cite web|url=http://armyrecognition.com/defense_security_2015_news_official_online_show_daily_coverage_report/china_presents_its_ah4_155mm_lightweight_towed_howitzer_as_counterpart_of_american_m777_10411153.html|title=China presents its AH4 155mm lightweight towed howitzer as counterpart of American M777 10411153 {{!}} Defense Security 2015 News Official Online Show Daily Coverage Report {{!}} Defence security military exhibition 2015|last=Administrator|website=armyrecognition.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-02-28}} It has a cannon that can fire 155mm L/39 calibre shells with an elevation angle from -3° up to 72° with a traverse limit of 22°. The hydro-pneumatic suspension allows for quick deployment of around 3 minutes and packing in 2 minutes.
AH4 has an initial rate of fire up to 5 rounds per minute, and with continuous firing at 2 rounds per minute.
Variants
- AHS-4: a {{convert|3.5|-|3.8|t|abbr=on}} variant that is designed for mountain warfare.{{cite web |url=http://www.zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class39/Class150/200802/20080216151624.html |title=中国Ah4型155毫米超轻型榴弹炮 |website=www.zgjunshi.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418185541/http://zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class39/Class150/200802/20080216151624.html |archive-date=2016-04-18}}
Export to the United Arab Emirates
According to Defense World, in 2016 Norinco's AH4-155 won its first export order from an unidentified customer from the Middle East, it beat the M-777 counterpart from BAE systems.{{cite web |title=Chinese AH-4 Howitzer Wins First Middle-East Export Order |url=http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17507/Chinese_AH_4_Howitzer_Wins_First_Middle_East_Export_Order |website=Defense World |accessdate=1 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101120207/http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17507/Chinese_AH_4_Howitzer_Wins_First_Middle_East_Export_Order |archivedate=1 November 2016 |date=31 October 2016 |url-status=live}} In February 2019, the United Arab Emirates confirmed it had procured the AH4 howitzers, and that it had received at least one batch of six systems.{{cite web |last1=Foss |first1=Christpher F |title=UAE confirms Chinese 155 mm AH4 gun-howitzer acquisition |url=https://www.janes.com/article/86928/uae-confirms-chinese-155-mm-ah4-gun-howitzer-acquisition |website=Jane's 360 |accessdate=1 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301204816/https://www.janes.com/article/86928/uae-confirms-chinese-155-mm-ah4-gun-howitzer-acquisition |archivedate=1 March 2019 |location=Abu Dhabi |date=28 February 2019 |url-status=live}}
Comparable howitzers
- {{annotated link|M777 howitzer}}