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AHS Krab (Crab)

2015 MODERN SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY

History

AHS "Krab" is a self-propelled howitzer, developed for the Polish army to NATO friendly standards. The project used to be a completely homegrown initiative, relying on proven components from the PT-91 "Twardy" main battle tank (a heavily modified Soviet/Russian T-72) with a British based PT-91 "Twardy" "The powered turret of the AS-90 "Braveheart" self-propelled gun uses the barrel of the French Nexter artillery system. Design work on the vehicle began in 2000, and an extended development period was envisaged, during which at least three prototypes were eventually produced, the first of which was completed in 2008.

This work was supported by the Polish companies OBRUM (Osrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urzadzen Mechanicznych) and CPW HSW (Centrum Produkcji Wojskowej Huta Stalowa Wola).

Since then, the program has combined the South Korean K9 "Thunder" SPA with the crawler landing gear of the British AS-90 platform, supplemented by a localized fire control system. This led to the use of early production batches of Nexter Systems barrels with UPG crawler landing gear, while from 2016 these forms had K9 chassis with German Rheinmetall barrels.

As of this writing (2020), the Polish Army has received 32 Krabs and intends to procure 120 systems. Final deliveries are expected in 2024.

While guided and homing missiles have a lot of leeway on the modern battlefield, there is still a need for artillery support from afar, but all militaries in the world need it. Self-propelled artillery or self-propelled artillery systems have long occupied a place in the war. Systems such as the M109 Paladin in the United States, the AS-90 Braveheart in the United Kingdom, and the Panzerhaubitze 2000 in Germany all carry the tradition of long-range long-range.

Barrage support enters wider offensive terrain for ranged operations. When used together, self-propelled guns can fire large-caliber ammunition (HE, chemical, fragmentation, or other) at enemy positions with relative accuracy to soften resistance or eliminate enemy concentration. Essentially, self-propelled guns are nothing more than self-transported versions of field artillery systems - 155mm is the standard caliber of choice for all militaries today.

Such systemswhether tracked or wheeledrely on multiple aircrews, ammunition vehicles, and coordinated fire to demonstrate their true effectiveness (often supported by specialized command vehicles with additional communications).

The design of the AHS Krab focuses on the 155mm main gun barrel, completed by CPW HSW according to production batches. These barrels are mounted in AS-90 turrets supplied by UK-focused BAe Systems. Shooting tests took place in 2011. Initially, the Polish Army intended to build a set of 72 Krab artillery systems, divided into three squadrons of 24 men.

Development has proven to be an expensive and tedious affair.

The AHS Krab has a completely traditional design, but is just as intimidating compared to its contemporaries. The design is essentially a turret with a large caliber main gun and tracked landing gear.

There are seven wheels on the track side, with the drive sprocket at the front and the chain idler at the rear. Glacis panels are flat and sloped to the hull roofline to provide basic ballistic protection. The sides of the fuselage are vertical and the top of the fuselage is completely horizontal. The driver is located on the left front of the fuselage, the power pack is on the right, and the full 360-degree rotating turret is located aft of the top of the fuselage.

The turret has a well-sloped fairing and supports a solid mount and recoil mechanism along its front plate to manage the 155mm main barrel. The gunner and driver take their place in the turret, which has a flat roof and round access openings. Storage boxes are attached to the sides of the turret, while "engineering tools" can be attached to the top and sides of the hull. The upper part of the track is lightly protected by the tank skirt. There is a travel lock at the very forward end of the forward tilt plate to secure the main gun during the process.

The five crew members included a driver, vehicle operator, gunner and two ammunition operators. NBC protection (nuclear, biological, chemical) is standard, as is night vision equipment.

The main Krab form is powered by a single 1,000hp MTU MT881 Ka-500 8-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine (significantly different from the original 850hp S-12U diesel engine, the same as the PT 91 TwardyMBT). The engine is drawn in through the top of the fuselage and exhausted along the right side of the vehicle. Top speed is 42 mph (up from 37 mph), with an average road speed of 20 mph in ideal conditions.

The range is estimated to be about 250 to 280 miles (450 kilometers). The suspension is hydropneumatic for good off-road maneuverability. Water depth up to 1 meter.

All told, the Krab weighed 106,000 pounds (up from an early development estimate of 115,000 pounds), with a barrel over 39 feet long, 11 feet wide and 10 feet high to the top of the turret.

The Krab's primary weapon is its 155mm/52 caliber double-shielded main barrel, designed to fire all types of NATO-approved projectiles. Well-trained rifle crews can fire around 6 to 10 rounds per minute, and "smart" ammunition is being developed that will increase range, effectiveness and accuracy on the modern battlefield. The sustained rate of fire in three minutes is about 18 rounds. The 155mm main gun had a range of less than 20 miles, while the supported shells had a range of up to 25 miles, on par with contemporaries.

The 155mm ammunition in the turret and hull is said to have a storage capacity of 60 rounds. Self-defense against infantry and low-flying enemy aircraft is provided by a 12.7mm WKM-B heavy machine gun (HMG) mounted on top of the turret, which can also fire standard NATO ammunition.

The main gun mounts of the turret are flanked by two rows of four electric 81mm smoke grenade launchers.