AS-90 Braveheart

Notes: This is the newest self-propelled howitzer to enter British service, growing out of the GBT-155 program in early 1980s. In 1989, it began replacing all other self-propelled artillery in the British Army. Production stopped in 1995, but after a few months, was resumed. It is in a class with the M-109A6 Paladin, PZH-2000, and Slammer, using a 52-caliber gun barrel, inertial navigation system, GPS, and fire control and solution computer. (Most British Army vehicles use a 39-caliber barrel, with about 20% using a 45-caliber barrel and 10% using a 52-caliber barrel. Most Kuwaiti vehicles have a 52-caliber barrel.) The AS-90 can stop and begin a barrage within 15 seconds (3 phases) if the target's location is known. There is a driver’s hatch on the front left deck, and two hatches on the turret deck for the commander and loader. In the rear of the turret is a large door for resupply and crew entry. This vehicle is in service with the British Army, and a small amount have been sold to the Kuwaitis.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

39-Caliber

$343,379

D, A

1 ton

45 tons

5

16

Passive IR, Image Intensification

Shielded

45-Caliber

$358,538

D, A

1 ton

45.3 tons

5

16

Passive IR, Image Intensification

Shielded

52-Caliber

$376,142

D, A

1 ton

45.7 tons

5

16

Passive IR, Image Intensification

Shielded

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

39-Caliber

104/73

20/15

750

229

Trtd

T4

TF10 HS6 TR4 HF12 HS5 HR3

45-Caliber

104/72

20/15

750

229

Trtd

T4

TF10 HS6 TR4 HF12 HS5 HR3

52-Caliber

103/72

20/15

750

229

Trtd

T4

TF10 HS6 TR4 HF12 HS5 HR3

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

39-Caliber

+1

Basic

155mm L/39 Howitzer, M-2HB (C)

48x155mm, 1000x.50

45-Caliber

+1

Basic

155mm L/45 Howitzer, M-2HB (C)

48x155mm, 1000x.50

52-Caliber

+1

Basic

155mm L/52 Howitzer, M-2HB (C)

48x155mm, 1000x.50

FV-433 Abbot

Notes: This British-built SP howitzer was developed in the late 1960s, and was for a long time the standard vehicle of its type in the British Army. They were mostly phased out of British service when the AS-90 Braveheart became available, and most of the Abbots were sold off to India or several African nations, but some were kept in reserve or for training purposes. The Abbot is based on a stretched FV-432 APC chassis, topped with a large turret mounting the howitzer. It is amphibious with about 5 minutes of preparation. There is a hatch on the front left deck for the driver, and two hatches on the turret deck for the commander and crew, as well as a door in the rear of the hull for resupply and crew entry.

Twilight 2000 Notes: These vehicles were reactivated in the Twilight War. Some 20 examples were also kept in Canada by the British Army for use in training, and some of them saw service with the Canadian Army against the Russians or Quebecois.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$151,686

D, G, A

400 kg

16.56 tons

4

7

Passive IR

Shielded

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

99/69

20/25/2

386

88

Trtd

T4

TF5 TS3 TR3 HF6 HS2 HR2

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Nil

Nil

105mm L/30 Howitzer, Bren L2A4 (C)

40x105mm, 1200x7.62mm