Nora B-52 (Type 52K1)

History of the Nora B-52 (Type 52K1)

Modern militaries have been returning to their low-cost, less complex manufacturing roots, using wheeled solutions to meet battlefield demands. Several armies have begun adopting the new wheeled self-propelled howitzer (SPH) instead of the more expensive tracked howitzer, including Serbia. With decades of useful combat experience, Serbian engineers have designed and developed state-of-the-art SPH solutions in the 8x8 "Nora" B-52.

Design work is carried out by the Military Technical Institute (Belgrade), while manufacturing continues through the complex combat systems factory in Velika Plana. At least ten prototypes were completed to justify the design, and frontline units over 2014 received the systems.

The heart of the vehicle is a (short) 37 ton arrangement on an 8x8 four-axle drive split into two pairs of front and two rear axles. The wheels are large and explosion-proof, providing the necessary clearance for off-road driving while maintaining strong on-road capability (the Serbian landscape requires this tactical flexibility).

The truck component of the vehicle - the FAP series mover - contains the cab and front engine, air intake through a slotted grille assembly. The headlights are well protected by nesting in the forward-facing corner panels and further protect them from the horizontal slats that run across them. The cabin windows are bulletproof against pistols and shrapnel and feature heavy duty seals. Three windshields span the front of the cabin, with smaller panels visible on the sides.

Access to the cabin is via an automotive-style hinged door system. The gun unit is located in the rear of the truck and can perform its own power traverse and lift. Before firing, the vehicle has four large support legs that reduce recoil.

An optional trainable 12.7mm heavy machine gun is located on the right side of the operator's cab for local air defense and is remotely controlled via a Remote Weapons Station (RWS) - a common trend in today's combat vehicles. This weapon can be exchanged for a 7.62mm infantry machine gun if desired.

The artillery unit itself is a 155mm/52 caliber weapon system housed in the rear fighting compartment. Newer versions of the vehicle feature a fully enclosed turret cab with full nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection, as well as separate access from the front truck bed. The weapon has its own recoil mechanism and is equipped with a double-buffered muzzle brake on the "business end".

The autoloader increases the rate of fire and reduces the readiness of the crew. Mounting hardware allows 60 degrees of traverse from centerline with elevation angles ranging from -3 to +65 degrees. The system can withstand up to 12 projectiles per minute and has a range of 19.25 miles.

The Nora's propulsion system is powered by a supercharged 410 hp diesel engine. All eight wheels feature suspension to provide the necessary off-road capabilities. At a road speed of 56 mph, the range is up to 620 miles.

Of course, with such a large wheeled system, off-road performance is severely compromised. These speeds reach around 10 to 15 miles per hour, depending on the terrain to be traversed.

The B-52 originally appeared in the original "K0" form, with a manual power drive, open-roof turret, and line-of-sight engagement. The "K1" brand introduced a partially covered turret design with integrated navigation system, digital fire control system (FCS) and improved automation. "M03" was followed by the K0 and K1 characters, and it was this final form that was adopted by the Serbian army (the export variant later became the "KE" character).

The "K-I" brings a fully enclosed turret with full NBC crew protection, improved armor protection, an upgraded FCS and an upgraded communications suite. "K2" is Nora's latest development of the brand to improve ammunition support, weapon accuracy, rate of fire, FCS and overall automation of earlier designs.

In addition to Serbia, the B-52 is currently in service with the armed forces of Algeria, Bangladesh, Kenya and Myanmar.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Not available.

Changes