Al-Fao: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Iraqi self propelled artillery}} |
{{Short description|Iraqi self propelled artillery}} |
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{{refimprove|date=October 2011}} [[File:AL Fao 210mm SP.jpg|thumb|AL Fao 210mm SP]] |
{{refimprove|date=October 2011}} [[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}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Altobchi|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2022|pages=46,II}}</ref> |
'''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.<ref>{{harvnb|Altobchi|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2022|pages=46,II}}</ref> Its gun is claimed to be able to fire four {{convert|109|kg|lb|abbr=on}} rounds a minute.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hughes |first=Stephen E. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48892500 |title=The Iraqi Threat and Saddam Hussein's Weapons of Mass Destruction |date=2002 |publisher=Trafford |isbn=1-55369-163-6 |location=Victoria, B.C. |oclc=48892500 |page=371}}</ref> The [[projectile]]s could be filled with [[chemical weapon]]s such as [[sarin]], [[Sulfur mustard|mustard gas]] or [[phosgene]], or with conventional [[Explosive material#High explosives|high explosives]].{{cn|date=December 2022}} |
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The Al-Fao system weighs 48 tons and can drive on roads with a top speed of about {{convert|72|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Its gun is claimed to be able to fire four {{convert|109|kg|lb|abbr=on}} rounds a minute.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hughes |first=Stephen E. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48892500 |title=The Iraqi Threat and Saddam Hussein's Weapons of Mass Destruction |date=2002 |publisher=Trafford |isbn=1-55369-163-6 |location=Victoria, B.C. |oclc=48892500 |page=371}}</ref> The [[projectile]]s could be filled with [[chemical weapon]]s such as [[sarin]], [[Sulfur mustard|mustard gas]] or [[phosgene]], or with conventional [[Explosive material#High explosives|high explosives]].{{cn|date=December 2022}} |
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The weapon is named after the [[Al-Faw peninsula]] in [[Geography of Iraq#Desert|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.) |
The weapon is named after the [[Al-Faw peninsula]] in [[Geography of Iraq#Desert|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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Revision as of 11:45, 18 May 2023
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2011) |
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.[1] Its gun is claimed to be able to fire four 109 kg (240 lb) rounds a minute.[2] The projectiles could be filled with chemical weapons such as sarin, mustard gas or phosgene, or with conventional high explosives.[citation needed]
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 transliterations of the Arabic name.)
The Al-Fao was designed and built in Europe. It was similar in design to the South African G6 howitzer, with which Bull was also involved as a designer, and appears to have been directly inspired by that system.[citation needed] Only one Al-Fao was built, and the original manuscripts of the shooting data disappeared after the first Persian Gulf War, so as the Al-Fao itself.
See also
References
Notes
- ^ Altobchi, Cooper & Fontanellaz 2022, pp. 46, II
- ^ Hughes, Stephen E. (2002). The Iraqi Threat and Saddam Hussein's Weapons of Mass Destruction. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford. p. 371. ISBN 1-55369-163-6. OCLC 48892500.
Bibliography
- 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.