Title: Long-range 105mm howitzer
Description: Denel LEO
Description: Denel LEO
tirad - April 19, 2006 03:56 AM (GMT)
Denel LEO 105mm 52/57cal* howitzer.
105 with the reach of a 155.
24km range with standard rounds, 30km rocket-assisted. A firebase with long-range 105s can provide fire support within a significantly larger area compared to other light howitzers with only half the LEO's range. Fewer firebases would thus also need to be set up to provide coverage to an area of operation.
The 155's greater blast area is good for bombarding static camps but it can be a double-edged sword where friendlies and opposing forces are going at it at short engagement ranges.
Typical 105 rounds weigh 1/3 that of 155s (33 lbs vs 97 lbs) and pose less of a supply burden. 105s are quicker to reload, or have a higher rate of fire. New 105 howitzer rounds also continue to be developed. Also, Denel's LEO presently weighs 3.8 tons but the South African defense firm is supposedly working on using lighter materials to bring weight down to 2.5 tons (link), around that of the old M101s and not much more than <2 tons of the 12km-range USAr/UK 105 light gun.
(*The USAr/UK M119A1/light gun is 37cal, with a 4m-long barrel; the LEO has a 6m bbl).
-Denel brochure (PDF)> http://www.denel.co.za/...LS_ArtillerySysTowedGun.pdf
-Denel presentation (PDF)>http://www.dtic.mil/.../04_Vickory_105mm_Indirect_Fire.pdf
-US Army tests of Stryker-mounted version> 2004, 2005
-old Jane's article on launch: http://www.janes.com/...jdw000831_1_n.shtml
It's been undergoing testing with other armies for a few years now, and could be in production by the time the PA and PMC can get around to acquiring new artillery pieces. The Denel LEO (aka G7) would be perfect where 105 firepower is deemed sufficient but the ability to reach out like the 155 is desired.
105 with the reach of a 155.
24km range with standard rounds, 30km rocket-assisted. A firebase with long-range 105s can provide fire support within a significantly larger area compared to other light howitzers with only half the LEO's range. Fewer firebases would thus also need to be set up to provide coverage to an area of operation.
The 155's greater blast area is good for bombarding static camps but it can be a double-edged sword where friendlies and opposing forces are going at it at short engagement ranges.
Typical 105 rounds weigh 1/3 that of 155s (33 lbs vs 97 lbs) and pose less of a supply burden. 105s are quicker to reload, or have a higher rate of fire. New 105 howitzer rounds also continue to be developed. Also, Denel's LEO presently weighs 3.8 tons but the South African defense firm is supposedly working on using lighter materials to bring weight down to 2.5 tons (link), around that of the old M101s and not much more than <2 tons of the 12km-range USAr/UK 105 light gun.
(*The USAr/UK M119A1/light gun is 37cal, with a 4m-long barrel; the LEO has a 6m bbl).
-Denel brochure (PDF)> http://www.denel.co.za/...LS_ArtillerySysTowedGun.pdf
-Denel presentation (PDF)>http://www.dtic.mil/.../04_Vickory_105mm_Indirect_Fire.pdf
-US Army tests of Stryker-mounted version> 2004, 2005
-old Jane's article on launch: http://www.janes.com/...jdw000831_1_n.shtml
It's been undergoing testing with other armies for a few years now, and could be in production by the time the PA and PMC can get around to acquiring new artillery pieces. The Denel LEO (aka G7) would be perfect where 105 firepower is deemed sufficient but the ability to reach out like the 155 is desired.