Bhim self-propelled howitzer

{{Infobox weapon

|name=Bhim Self Propelled Howitzer

| image= Bhim SPH side view.jpg

| image_size = 240

|caption=Side view of the Bhim SPH prototype

|origin= South Africa/India

|type=Self-propelled artillery

|is_vehicle=yes

|is_artillery=yes

|design_date=1994

|production_date= 1999-

| traverse = 360°

|wars=

|max_range={{convert|52|km|mi|abbr=on}}

|length={{convert|12.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{Cite web|author=ARG |url=http://www.military-today.com/artillery/bhim.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411091239/http://www.military-today.com/artillery/bhim.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=11 April 2013 |title=Bhim 155-mm - Prototype self-propelled howitzer |access-date=2013-05-13}}

|width={{convert|4.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|height={{convert|3.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight=Combat: {{convert|54|t|ST|abbr=on}}

|suspension=hydropneumatic

|speed=Road: 60 km/h (38 mph)
Off-road: 45 km/h (28 mph)

|vehicle_range=450 km (281 mi)

|unit_cost=US$4.5 million

|primary_armament=Denel 155 mm L52 G5 howitzer
(50 rounds)

3 rounds in 9.0 seconds (Burst)
8 round/min

|secondary_armament= MAG 7.62 mm machine gun

|armour=welded steel, 14.5 mm resistant
additional bomblet protection

|engine=MTU 838 Ka-501

|crew=4 (commander, loader, driver and gunner)

|engine_power=1400 hp(1000 kW)

|pw_ratio=26 hp/t

}}

The Bhim self-propelled howitzer was a type of self-propelled artillery developed by the South African company Denel under the supervision of the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation. It was designed to meet the Indian Army's requirements for self-propelled artillery units.{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/army-assures-orders-for-drdo-howitzers_780954.html |title=Army assures orders for DRDO Howitzers |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |date=2012-06-10 |access-date=2013-05-13}} The howitzer is named after Bhima, one of the main protagonists and brother to Arjun of the Indian epic "Mahabharata".

History

The Bhim artillery system was developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation in the 1990s. Trials of the Bhim artillery system were successfully conducted in 1998 and 1999, but its development remained on pause for over ten years, as Denel was blacklisted by the Indian government.

Development

Bhim is a self-propelled howitzer. It consists of the Denel T6 turret mounted on an Arjun MBT chassis. It was developed and tested successfully and was cleared for production but was put on hold after Denel was banned from working on the project.

= Specifications =

The Indian army required 400 mounted 155-mm /52 howitzer, of which 200 would be mounted on the Arjun chassis and another 200 to be mounted on modified TATRA trucks.

The Bhim artillery system has a fully automatic ammunition loading system{{cite web |url=http://www.defencenow.com/news/453/indias-self-propelled-artillery-project-bhim-to-get-a-new-lease-of-life.html |title=Indias Self-Propelled Artillery Project Bhim To Get a New Lease of Life |publisher=Defence Now |date=2012-01-04 |access-date=2013-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109170407/http://www.defencenow.com/news/453/indias-self-propelled-artillery-project-bhim-to-get-a-new-lease-of-life.html |archive-date=2013-11-09 |url-status=dead }} as well as a turret-mounted auxiliary power unit, which powers all systems. The Bhim's primary armament is a Denel 155{{nbsp}}mm howitzer gun, while its secondary armament consists of a single 7.62{{nbsp}}mm machine gun.

References

Category:Self-propelled howitzers of India

Category:155 mm artillery

Category:Tracked self-propelled howitzers