Al-Fao: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Iraqi self-propelled artillery}} |
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'''Al-Fao''' is a [[self-propelled artillery]] system designed for the [[Iraqi Regular Army|Iraqi Army]] by the late [[Canada|Canadian]] weapons engineer, [[Gerald Bull]]. It is one of the world's most powerful artillery pieces, with a [[calibre]] of 210mm and a range of 56,000 metres (35 miles). [http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=736] The Al Fao, which weighs 48 tons, is claimed to be able to fire four 109 kg (240 lb) rounds a minute and to be capable of attaining a top speed of about 72 km/h (44 mph) on the road. Its projectiles could be filled with [[chemical weapons]] such as [[sarin]], [[mustard gas|mustard]] or [[phosgene]] gases as well as conventional [[high explosive]]s. |
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[[File:AL Fao 210mm SP.jpg|thumb|AL Fao 210mm SP]] |
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'''Al-Fao''' was a project for a [[self-propelled artillery]] system designed for the former [[Iraqi Army]] by the [[Canadians|Canadian]] weapons engineer [[Gerald Bull]]. It would have been one of the world's most powerful artillery pieces, with a 53-caliber, {{convert|210|mm|in|abbr=on}} gun firing 109-kilogram shells over a [[Range of a projectile|range]] of {{convert|57|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The Al-Fao system was to weigh 44 tonnes, and its 550 hp engine was to give it a top speed of {{convert|90|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} on roads, and {{convert|60-70|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} cross-country.<ref>{{harvnb|Altobchi|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2022|pages=46,II}}</ref> The Al-Fao's [[autoloader]] was to provide it with a rate of fire of four rounds a minute.<ref>{{harvnb|Altobchi|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2022|page=47}}</ref> |
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A self-propelled howitzer using the same 155 mm gun as the South African [[G6 howitzer|G6]], similar to the Al-Fao and named '''Majnoon''', was also designed by Gerald Bull on an Iraqi order.<ref>{{harvnb|Altobchi|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2022|page=46}}</ref> |
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The weapon was designed and built in [[Europe]] and was first displayed publicly in [[Baghdad]] in [[1989]]. However, it does not appear to have entered into Iraqi service and none were captured during the [[1991]] [[Gulf War]]; the programme was probably cancelled thereafter. It was similar in design to the [[South African]] [[G6 howitzer]], in which Bull was also involved as a designer, and appears to have been directly inspired by that system. The Al-Fao was one of two similar self-propelled howitzers developed by Bull for the Iraqis, the other being the [[Al-Majnoon]] 155mm howitzer. |
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The design of the Majnoon and Al-Fao started around 1988. That year, South Africa had tried to sell the [[G6 howitzer]] to Iraq, but the Iraqis found it too expensive, and requested that Bull design two equivalents for them.<ref>{{harvnb|Altobchi|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2022|page=II}}</ref> Prototypes of each model had to be ready by May 1989, in time for the Baghdad International Arms Fair. Numerous French, German and Spanish companies were contracted to manufacture parts for the guns, while the design for the chassis was bought in Czechoslovakia and modified to South African specifications. The deadline was met, and the prototypes of both Majnoon and Al-Fao were presented at the Arms Fair, although these were far from complete. However, by early 1990, the Iraqis had imported all the know-how, equipment and machinery necessary to produce them, as well as ammunition. Subsequent events prevented the realisation of the Majnoon and Al-Fao projects.<ref>{{harvnb|Altobchi|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2022|pages=46-47}}</ref> |
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The weapon is named after the [[Al-Faw peninsula]] in southern [[Iraq]], which was the scene of heavy fighting during the [[Iran-Iraq war]] in the [[1980s]]. (The difference in spelling is due to differing [[transliteration]]s of the Arabic name.) |
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==See also== |
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* [[List of artillery]] |
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[http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=736 Saddam's Supergun and Verne's Columbiad: Science Fiction in the News] |
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== References == |
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===Notes=== |
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{{reflist}} |
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===Bibliography=== |
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* {{cite book |last1=Altobchi |first1=Ali |last2=Cooper |first2=Tom |last3=Fontanellaz |first3=Adrien |title=Al-Hussein: Iraqi indigenous conventional arms projects, 1980-2003 |date=2022 |publisher=Helion & Company Publishing |location=Warwick, UK |isbn=978-1-914377-18-1}} |
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[[Category:155 mm artillery]] |
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[[Category:Wheeled self-propelled howitzers]] |
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[[Category:Six-wheeled vehicles]] |
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Latest revision as of 03:05, 28 June 2023
Al-Fao was a project for a self-propelled artillery system designed for the former Iraqi Army by the Canadian weapons engineer Gerald Bull. It would have been one of the world's most powerful artillery pieces, with a 53-caliber, 210 mm (8.3 in) gun firing 109-kilogram shells over a range of 57 km (35 mi). The Al-Fao system was to weigh 44 tonnes, and its 550 hp engine was to give it a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) on roads, and 60–70 km/h (37–43 mph) cross-country.[1] The Al-Fao's autoloader was to provide it with a rate of fire of four rounds a minute.[2]
A self-propelled howitzer using the same 155 mm gun as the South African G6, similar to the Al-Fao and named Majnoon, was also designed by Gerald Bull on an Iraqi order.[3]
The design of the Majnoon and Al-Fao started around 1988. That year, South Africa had tried to sell the G6 howitzer to Iraq, but the Iraqis found it too expensive, and requested that Bull design two equivalents for them.[4] Prototypes of each model had to be ready by May 1989, in time for the Baghdad International Arms Fair. Numerous French, German and Spanish companies were contracted to manufacture parts for the guns, while the design for the chassis was bought in Czechoslovakia and modified to South African specifications. The deadline was met, and the prototypes of both Majnoon and Al-Fao were presented at the Arms Fair, although these were far from complete. However, by early 1990, the Iraqis had imported all the know-how, equipment and machinery necessary to produce them, as well as ammunition. Subsequent events prevented the realisation of the Majnoon and Al-Fao projects.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Altobchi, Cooper & Fontanellaz 2022, pp. 46, II
- ^ Altobchi, Cooper & Fontanellaz 2022, p. 47
- ^ Altobchi, Cooper & Fontanellaz 2022, p. 46
- ^ Altobchi, Cooper & Fontanellaz 2022, p. II
- ^ Altobchi, Cooper & Fontanellaz 2022, pp. 46–47
Bibliography
[edit]- Altobchi, Ali; Cooper, Tom; Fontanellaz, Adrien (2022). Al-Hussein: Iraqi indigenous conventional arms projects, 1980-2003. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. ISBN 978-1-914377-18-1.