Nation of Origin: Israel

Notes: In 1986, Israel converted some of its older Centurion tanks to carry a turret mounting a 155mm howitzer. There were only a few of these conversions, however, as a decision was made to concentrate on the development of a new SP howitzer, the Slammer (q.v.). Those that were converted were placed in reserve status, but these were only a very few.

Country of Origin: South Africa

Notes: This South African vehicle was designed for the Indian self-propelled howitzer competition. The turret is developed from the turret of the G-6, and the chassis is taken from captured and home-manufactured T-72 chassis. The turret has ammunition-loading hatches on the right and left, and a conveyor belt may be extended from either of these hatches for ammunition loading or direct feeding of the gun from a ground pile. There are two hatches on the roof of the turret. The vehicle is equipped with GPS and a fire control computer for direct laying of the gun, or firing at a target where the location is known.

Twilight 2000 Notes: When the Twilight War broke out, the remaining prototypes were taken into South African service and production was begun.

Merc 2000 Notes: After losing in the Indian SP Howitzer competition, one prototype T-6 was placed in a museum, and the rest dismantled.

Country of Origin: United States

Notes: The Crusader is a completely automated system, with the gun and ammunition being aimed, loaded, and fired by remote control. The turret is unoccupied, with the weapons being operated by the crew in the front of the hull. The gun is laid and controlled by computer. The Crusader requires no FDC and its fire control system is totally self-contained, requiring only information from forward observers or reconnaissance aircraft. Accurate fire can begin within three phases of a halt. Rate of fire is vastly improved over normal howitzers, as is armor protection and fire control for direct fire. Note that the turret is only capable of traverse 20 degrees on either side of center, but the vehicle is capable of rapid pivot steers for larger deflection changes. If the turret is penetrated in combat, no crew casualties are possible. The Crusader has become a political football in the budgetary process; the last I heard, it has been cancelled, but this has gone back and forth several times.

Twilight 2000 Notes: This vehicle does not exist, except for four evaluation vehicles that were used against the Mexicans in Texas.

Merc 2000 Notes: The Crusader made it through the budgetary process, but the first vehicles were not delivered to operational units until 2008.

Country of Origin: United States

Notes: These vehicles are issued to units along with the Crusader SPH; they are issued as a set. The Crusader RSV (ReSupply Vehicle) was designed to carry ammunition and fuel for the Crusader SPH and resupply the howitzer in action. It does this through a docking port that hooks onto the Crusader SPH in the rear of the turret. The ammunition is conveyed automatically to the Crusader SPHs magazines, and fuel is transferred to the Crusader's fuel tanks. Ammunition is conveyed at the rate of one round per two phases. Fuel is transferred at the rate of 5 liters per phase. The Crusader RSV has a remote cupola with an M-2HB; as with the SPH, the refueling and rearming process is completely automated and the crew sits in the front of the vehicle under the glacis plate. The Crusader has become a political football in the budgetary process; the last I heard, it has been cancelled, but this has gone back and forth several times.

Twilight 2000 Notes: This vehicle does not exist, except for four evaluation vehicles that were used against the Mexicans in Texas.

Merc 2000 Notes: The Crusader made it through the budgetary process, but the first vehicles were not delivered to operational units until 2008.