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The Chinese AH-4 howitzer was designed for maximum mobility and air transportability
Country of origin China
Entered service ?
Crew 8 men
Armament
Gun bore 155 mm
Barrel length 39 calibers
Projectile weight 46.7 kg
Maximum range of fire 25 - 40 km
Maximum rate of fire 4 rpm
Sustained rate of fire 2 rpm
Elevation range - 2.5 to + 72 degrees
Traverse range 46 degrees
Dimensions and weight
Weight 4.5 t
Length (in travelling order) ~ 9.5 m
Length (in combat order) ~ 10.2 m
Mobility
Towing vehicle 6x6 truck
Road towing speed ~ 70 km/h
Cross-country towing speed ~ 25 km/h
Emplacement 3 minutes
Displacement 2 - 3 minutes
The AH-4 is a Chinese clone of the M777lightweight towed howitzer. It is intended mainly for export. The original M777 was adopted in 2005 and is currently the primary towed artillery piece of the US Army and Marine Corps. It is also used by Australia and Canada. Its Chinese clone, the AH-4, was revealed in 2014. Soon after its introduction this howitzer reportedly received first export order from Middle-East.
The AH-4 has an unconventional layout and unusual proportions. This artillery system was designed to be as lightweight as possible for maximum mobility and air transportability. It weights nearly twice less than a typical 155 mm howitzer. Many parts of this howitzer were designed to serve multiple functions in order to reduce weight. For example it lacks conventional trails. Due to its unusual appearance this howitzer is easily recognizable. The AH-4 is well suited for airborne forces, where its light weight is especially important. There are only few equivalent artillery systems in the world, similar in terms of both bore and weight to the M777 and AH-4. These include a British Light Towed Howitzer, Russian 2A61 Pat-B, and Singaporean Pegasus. Though only M777, AH-4 and Pegasus were ever adopted and produced in quantity.
The Chinese AH-4 has a 155 mm/L39 tube. It can use a wide array of ammunition, including High Explosive (HE), High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), smoke, incendiary, cluster, mine -scattering and other specialized projectiles. The AH-4 howitzer is compatible with any NATO-standard 155 mm projectiles. This feature hugely expands the variety of ammunition it uses. Maximum range is 25 km with standard projectile and 40 km with rocket-assisted projectile. The AH-4 can also use precision guided munitions, such as GP155 laser-guided projectiles (Chinese copy of the Krasnopol), GP155B GPS-guide projectiles (Chinese copy of the M982 Excalibur), GP155G, also known for export as GS1, smart anti-armor projectiles (Chinese copy of the Bonus).
The AH-4 has a total weight of 4 500 kg, thus it is slightly heavier that the M777. Most likely that Chinese found a way to replace expensive titanium alloy components of the M777 with way cheaper aluminum and steel alloy components. The original M777 is plagued with many problems due to its unusual design and titanium alloy components. Some of these problems, such as metal fatigue, instability while firing and damage caused by violent recoil could not be fully resolved. It appeared that the M777 was too light for the powerful 155 mm ammunition. Most likely that the Chinese AH-4 howitzer inherited most of these problems.
However this lightweight howitzer has a high price tag. It is way more expensive than a typical 155 mm howitzer. Another significant drawback of the AH-4 is that it has a short gun. The US Army began using 155 mm/L39 howitzers back in the 1960s. By the early 1980s leading NATO countries began using more capable 155 mm/L45 howitzers, that had longer barrel and as a result longer range. Currently these, in turn, are being gradually supplanted by long-ranged 155 mm/L52 howitzers with even longer barrels. So the Chinese AH-4 with its 155 mm/L39 tube has a much shorter range than most current and latest Western howitzers.
This artillery system is operated by a crew of 8. In case of emergency it can be operated by a crew of 5, though with significantly reduced rate of fire. Most other 155 and 152 mm towed howitzers need larger crews. It takes around 3 minutes to emplace the AH-4 and another 2-3 minutes to leave the firing position. When emplaced the AH-4 sits extremely low to the ground. Maximum rate of fire is 4 rounds per minute. Sustained rate of fire is 2 rounds per minute.
This howitzer has got no auxiliary power unit, which is present on a number of modern 155 mm howitzers. As a result elevation and traversal of the AH-4 are completely unpowered. It has to be manhandled into position and is not capable of auto-propulsion. Also there is no rammer, so several crewmembers with a long, curved ramrod must physically drive each shell and powder charge into the breech with their own strength.
The AH-4 can be towed by any military truck with 6x6 and even 4x4 configuration. The truck also carries the crew and ammunition for the howitzer. Due to its light weight it can be towed by smaller vehicles, that can not handle standard 155 mm howitzers. This howitzer is towed by its muzzle. Unlike most towed howitzers, the AH-4 is not traversed 180 degrees for towing. In travelling position its two aft spades being folded upward. The AH-4 can be airlifted underslung by medium transport helicopters, such as CH-47 Chinook, or Chinese Z-18.
AH-4
155 mm Lightweight Towed Howitzer
AH-4
155 mm Lightweight Towed Howitzer
AH-4
155 mm Lightweight Towed Howitzer
AH-4
155 mm Lightweight Towed Howitzer
AH-4
155 mm Lightweight Towed Howitzer
AH-4
155 mm Lightweight Towed Howitzer
AH-4
155 mm Lightweight Towed Howitzer
http://www.military-today.com/artillery/ah4.htm
