Singha wrote:http://www.flickr.com/photos/47686239@N ... otostream/
what do people think of this OFB 105mm gun turret on BMP2 chassis as a means of cheap support to infantry divs and mountain formations.
any 155mm SP gun will be big and expensive. there is a niche for 105mm guns, and its new gen shells are claimed to have 25km range and pack a good bite.
So, its back again in discussion...
- To begin with, IA does not want 105 mm caliber. And that process will not start with en mass induction of 155/52 Cal guns but was begun in early to mid-90s when IA bought 130 mm guns at dirt cheap prices in their high hundreds. As far as I have been able to fathom, Medium to Field Regiment ratio is 1:1.5 - a big change from 1:3 in 80s and earlier when each Division Arty Bde had 3 x Field Regiments and 1 x Medium Regiment.
- Infantry Divisions don't need tracked SP Arty - they will do fine with towed and tracked ones, if SPH is required.
- There is no need to add to potpourri of calibers and guns types to the existing brew.
- SPH-Tracked are required for mechanized columns...when the army could manage, it equipped its armored divisions (and (I) armored bdes) with Medium Regiment.
- As for mountain formations, well, they need something of the type of M777 or even an advanced 105mm mountain gun - something which can be stripped if required and with high angle of fire. This gun will be limited to road heads and positions just off them.
- As I explained in my blog, IA is looking to deploy artillery for "maneuver by fire" role...that is, the fire assault delivered itself achieves superiority (by DESTROYING objectives) for self w/o troops coming into contact...this calls for guns which can hit farthest and with heaviest shell.
- This gun will be an anomaly in the current and planned set-up.