1961.
After the nuclear threat had subsided, the next concern of the US Army was
to get as much as possible air-portable, and from ponderous turreted
bulldogs, they changed overnight to stripped down whippets. Replacements
for the 155mm gun and 8-inch howitzer were call for, but instead of the
155mm gun a new caliber was to be adopted, 175mm, since it promised
greater range and also a nuclear projectile. The carriage was simply a
hull with space for the engine and driver, five road wheels each side, and
the gun mounting, together with hydraulic shell-handling machinery. There
was the usual hydraulically operated recoil spade at the rear.
(Extracted from : The GreenHill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book) |
Length
gun forwards : 11.256m (spade up)
Length hull : 5.72m (without gun or spade)
Width : 3.149m
Ground clearance : 0.46m
Ground pressure : 0.81 kg/cm²
Range : 725 km
Fuel capacity : 1,137 lit.
Fording : 1.066m
Vertical Obstacle : 1.066m
Trench : 2.362m
Weight,
combat : 28,168 kg
Weight, unloaded : 25,915 kg
Power to weight ratio : 14.37hp/tonne
Maximum road speed : 56 km/hr
Gradient : 60%
Side slope : 30%
Armor : Classified
Armor type : Steel
NBC system : No
Night Vision equipment : Yes (Driver only, passive) |