JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU (Larry W. Jewell) (02/14/91)
From: "Larry W. Jewell" <JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
The "Frontline" special on Gerald V. Bull should raise some questions
about the G6 155mm SP, so here's what I found.
Specifications:
Crew: - - - - - - - - 5/6
Combat weight: - - - 47000kg (103,263 lbs)
Powerplant: - - - - - air cooled diesel delivering 525 hp (392 kW)
Dimensions:
Length
(gun forward) - - - 10,4m (34.12 ft)
Width - - - - - - - 3.3m (10.8 ft.)
Height
(to turret top) - - 3.2m (10.5 ft.)
Performance:
Max. road speed- - 85 km/h
Max. road range- - 600 km (373 mi.)
Fording depth - - 0.8m (2.62 ft.) <probably deep enough for Saudi :-)>
Vertical Obstacle 0.45m (1.48 ft)
Trench - - - - - - 1m (3.28 ft.)
Gradient - - - - - 50 %
Armscor, the South African state armaments company developed the G5 and
G6 from a design by SRC of Canada (that's Bull's outfit).
Armscor produced their first prototype of the G6 Renoster (Rhino), in
1981. It is a large six-wheeler, travelling on massive tyres (sic) coupled
to a central tyre pressure system which gives the G6 remarkable cross-
country ability. Production models may be offered with 6x4 or even 6x2
options. The driver sits forward in his own compartment separated from the
rest of the crew by the engine. The turret is mounted directly onto the
hull (there is no basket). It houses the remaining four crew members, who
are the commander and layer, or gunner to the left of the breech, and the
loader and ammunition handler on the right side. The racks on the rear
wall of the fighting compartment hold 47 projectiles, 52 propellant
charges, and also primers and fuzes. The commander has access to a 12.7 mm
roof mounted MG through a roof hatch. Unusually, the turret is fitted with
three weapon ports, as used in the Ratel MICV, for close defence.
The main armament is a version of the 155-mm (6.1-in.) 45 calibre
howitzer used in the G5. It fires the same standard ammunition to the
exceptional unassisted range of 30,000m (32,800 yds.) and with a special
base bleed shell can hit targets at least 40,000m (43,750 yds.) in the thin
atmosphere of the African Plateau.
The first production models of the G6 appeared in 1987. They are more
heavily armoured than the prototypes, the steel being designed to provide
protection from 23-mm cannon fire. Despite the fact that it is one of the
heaviest wheeled combat vehicles ever to enter service, the excellent
cross-country ability and superb ordinance of the G6 make it an extremely
potent weapon.
From: The Encyclopedia of World Military Weapons, Cresent Books, 1988.
"I hear Rand-MacNally has changed the name on their maps to "Iwreck" :-)"
Larry W. Jewell JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU