NationStates Jolt Archive


L27 Obelisk 155mm, 52-calibre assault howitzer

Isselmere
16-06-2005, 18:44
L27 Obelisk 155mm, 52-calibre (L52) assault howitzer

The L27 Obelisk assault howitzer is a modified and strengthened L25 turret placed on an uprated L21 hull.

The L27 will provide your armed forces with the lethal combination of heavy-hitting fire-power with incredible survivability. Like its lighter cousin, the L27's 155mm, 52-calibre gun has been chromium-plated to reduce wear on the rifling and is fitted with a forward-slotted muzzle that not only reduces the muzzle flash -- very important in avoiding counter-battery fire -- but gives the shell greater muzzle velocity by channelling the chemical energy from the modular charges behind the shell rather than simply outward. The gun is fitted with sensors within its outer cooling sleeve that monitor the barrel temperature and alert the crew to any unusual stresses suffered by the barrel. The cooling sleeve permits the L27 to maintain higher rates of fire in the sustained role. The muzzle velocity is monitored by a low-powered, low-probability of intercept (LP-LPI) radar and is automatically collected for fire-control computation.

The breech mechanism of the howitzer has been strengthened and the breech volume increased to permit the loading of up to seven modular charges by the six-zone automatic modular charge loading system. It must be stressed that such powerful loads should only be done infrequently and at low rates of fire as it seriously decreases barrel life. The breech is a semi-automatic lifting breech mechanism with improved insensitivity to involuntary ignition and heat dissipation, preventing dangerous "cook-offs". With cleaner burning charges and improved charge bags, it has been possible to introduce an effective laser priming mechanism (LPM). The power of the laser is determined automatically by the number of charges loaded as well as the insensitivity of the charges to ignition. An automatic integrated primer loading device with a thirty-six (36) primer magazine may be fitted for those nations desiring a more conventional ignition source.

Shells are loaded automatically using an ammunition management system operated by the gunner to select a variety of shells from the L27's armoured sixty-shell central magazine within the hull to a four-shell heavily armoured sub-magazine by a 64-volt loader permitting an astonishing fire rate of up to four shells down range in just over ten seconds (10.4 seconds), twelve shells in about 57 seconds (56.64 seconds), and twenty shells in about a minute, 43 seconds. The modular charges are loaded semi-automatically as well by a similar process. Combined with the turret's advanced automatic electrical operating mechanisms allowing swift traverse and elevation and improved recoil dampeners, the L27 may place those four shells on target simultaneously, giving your opposition little to no chance to respond. A semi-automatic system is provided as a back-up.

The use of modular charges (INO37) permits safer and speedier handling along with improved range whilst incurring less wear upon the barrel lining. With five modules, unassisted shells may be fired at ranges of up to 25 km are possible, with six modules, up to 32 km, and seven, up to about 37 km. Assisted base-bleed (BB) shells can be fired up to a range of about 43 km using six modules, and extended range guided munitions (ERGM) to a range of up to 80 km.

The L27 may be fully reloaded from a fast armoured artillery support vehicle (which shall appear later in this post) by the two operators in about eleven minutes.

The gun positioning and laying system automatically determines the appropriate gun direction, position, and elevation in accordance with the coordinates set by the gunner and may be set to provide simultaneous impact of four-shell barrages, range permitting. The L27 is equipped with a jam-resistant global positioning system, a platform locator/director system (for the use of battery and higher commanders), and a clever inertial navigation system to ensure that the vehicle always knows where it is and that the rounds impact on target.

The L27 may receive targetting information through the Brono tactical land forces datalink from: the battery control vehicle; the battery's drone control vehicle or directly from the drone; army air corps helicopters; and from infantry and armoured units. Its advanced gun laying system permits the gun to strike targets on the move as well as saturate a target area swiftly and effectively. The L27 radio communications systems are encrypted, and subsequent marks of the vehicle may be equipped with line-of-sight laser communications systems for quick, "quiet" communications within a battery's gun group.

Countermeasures have not been forgotten on the L27. It has been equipped with a land-based identification friend or foe (IFF) system, with laser homing and warning and radar warning systems (LHWR and RWR), with 70mm grenade launchers to fire anti-personnel or wide-spectrum defeating grenade countermeasures, with a turret-mounted active, automatic rotating four-cell anti-projectile grenade launching system, and an electro-static discharge system (ESDS) that can pre-detonate munitions prior to impacting upon or over the vehicle.*

The ESDS operates on air pressure differentials, similar to the Doppler effect, although subsequent versions may also operate in conjunction with a low-power, low probability of intercept millimetric radar.

The Stoat threat management system allows the vehicle to automatically react to threats by launching countermeasures and provides the vehicle crew with constant updates on LCD displays.

Like the L21 series and the L25, the L27 commander and driver is provided with panoramic day/night vision through a series of vision blocks. The commander (through the overhead weapon system's sights as well as periscope blocks), the gunner (by a laser range-finder for line-of-sight firing as well as imaging infra-red and low-light level closed circuit displays (CCD), and the driver through his or her periscope blocks, are granted full day/night capability.

The armour of the L27 is equivalent to that of the L21 main battle tank. The hull bottom has been strengthened against mines and improvised explosive devices with titanium-vanadium-aluminium (TVA) alloy plating, which protects the ammunition, charges, and crew stations.

Hazardous environments have not been forgotten, either. The L27, like its lighter counterpart, possesses an over-pressure air conditioning system to cope with nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) environments as well as connections for breathing apparata and adjustable seating to accommodate those in NBC suits. A lining of boronated polycarbons further protects the crew from high radiation levels. The L27's electronics have been hardened against EMP pulses, as well.

Characteristics
Crew: 5 (commander, driver, gunner, 2 loaders)
Dimensions: Length: 8.48m (hull only), 12.04m (gun forward); Width: 3.76m; Height: 3.16m; Ground clearance: 0.50m
Ground pressure: 0.92 kg/cm^2
Power-to-weight ratio: 16.45 kW/t (22.79 hp/t)
Mass: 76,000 kg (combat loading)
Propulsion: 1250kW (1,705 shp) IMW LMM-52T multi-fuel-electric (MFE) four-stroke 12-cylinder 90-degree inline-V (i.e. liquid cooled)
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 1 reverse.
Reservoirs: Fuel: 2,048 litres; Oil: 172 litres; Coolant: 208 litres.
Speed: Land: burst: 65 km/h (road); standard maximum: 60 km/h; cruise: 45 km/h; cross-country (maximum): 52 km/h; reverse: 20 km/h.
Range (at cruise speed): 525 km.
Protection (values in RHA vs KE/CE):
Ratings do not include use of either appliqué armour, ERA, or other additional armour.
Composite armour: outer skin of doped ballistic polymer over laser-welded austenitic steel armour, honeycomb layers of ballistic polymers over ballistic ceramics, followed by further honeycomb layers of ballistic polymers over ballistic plastics covering a titanium-vanadium-aluminium alloy shell (key points, such as turret, crew, engine, and ammunition compartments as well as the underside), further honeycomb of ballistic polymer materials over ballistic fabric with inner galvanised rubber lining as anti-spall layer.
Turret: 1180-1240 (KE)/2300-2600 (CE)
Turret top: 840 (KE)/1220 (CE)
Glacis: 840 (KE)/1220 (CE)
Lower front hull: 840 (KE)/1220 (CE)
Sides (w/o skirts, applique armour, etc.): 580 (KE)/720 (CE)
Rear: 580 (KE)/830 (CE)*
Bottom: 440-580 (KE)/570-725 (CE)
Restrictions:
Obstacles: Trenches: 3m wide; Walls: 1m
Grades (combat equipped): Forward: 65%; Side Slope: 38%
Weapons:
Howitzer: 155mm, 52-calibre howitzer; 60 shells in central magazine, 4 shells in ready-to-fire magazine; 36 primers in the breech's integrated automatic primer magazine; modular charges: 320)
Hull: 7.62mm heavy-barrel machine gun (1,500 rounds ready, 3,000 stowed); driver or loader operated
Turret: 12.7mm heavy-barrel heavy machine gun (remote; 500 rounds ready, 1,500 stowed)
Howitzer barrel life (estimated): 7 modular charges: 1,100 firings; 6 modular charges: 2,650; 5 modular charges: 5,500
Howitzer range (unassisted shells): 5 modular charges: 25.2 km; 6 modular charges: 32.1 km; 7 modular charges: 37.3 km
Electronics:
tbd
Countermeasures:
4 x 4 (turret) and 2 x 8 (hull) GLE.141 70mm grenade dispensers (smoke, fragmentation, other), rotating 4-cell GLE.200 70mm anti-missile grenade dispenser (on turret), GLQ.291 electro-static discharge system (turret)
Cost (Vehicle only): $10.4 million
Domestic Production Rights: $12,000 million

[*Please note this system would be overwhelmed by an artillery barrage or strikes from several vectors at once]
Jimnam
16-06-2005, 21:05
It looks very impressive. Weight is rather a lot but understandable with the amount of armour protection. I might actually purchase some of these!
Skinny87
16-06-2005, 21:20
Republican Department of Defense

The Republican Army needs a new line of New-Generation Artillery, and your new Artillery-Platform seems to be the ideal type to replace our ageing stock of Howitzers. Thus the Republican DoD wishes to purchase the Production Rights for this 'Obelisk' Design for $12,000 million USD. The funds have been wired to your account.

- Major-General Warner
Isselmere
16-06-2005, 21:31
It looks very impressive. Weight is rather a lot but understandable with the amount of armour protection. I might actually purchase some of these!
Thanks! The weight of my main battle tank is about 70 tonnes with the old armour scheme, and will be about 71-72 tonnes with the new scheme, but it certainly is a very heavy beast!
Isselmere
16-06-2005, 21:37
Republican Department of Defense

The Republican Army needs a new line of New-Generation Artillery, and your new Artillery-Platform seems to be the ideal type to replace our ageing stock of Howitzers. Thus the Republican DoD wishes to purchase the Production Rights for this 'Obelisk' Design for $12,000 million USD. The funds have been wired to your account.

- Major-General Warner
To: Major-General Warner, Republican Department of Defense, Skinny87
From: Walter Cadogan, Director, Products Management Division, IMW - LDS, UKIN
Subject: DPR for L27 Obelisk system

Dear Major-General Warner,

I am most honoured to provide your glorious nation with the domestic production rights to the L27 assault howitzer. These rights allow your nation to manufacture however many of this system your military may require, but does not permit the manufacture for export or resale of these vehicles to a foreign power.

We at the Isselmere Motor Works Land Defence Systems Division hope that your Artillery Corps finds great success with this system and hope that you will revisit our storefront sometime soon.

May the Republic of Skinny87 prosper.

Sincerely,

Walter Cadogan
Director
Products Management Division
IMW - LDS
Thistlemoor, Isselmere, UKIN

[OOC: do you still want the DPR to the Sparrow HA.1? $14 billion :)]
Skinny87
16-06-2005, 21:47
OOC: Thanks for the DPR's, and yes I'd love the DPR's for the Sparrow please. Do you need an IC post, or just assume I've sent the money?
Isselmere
16-06-2005, 21:50
OOC: Thanks for the DPR's, and yes I'd love the DPR's for the Sparrow please. Do you need an IC post, or just assume I've sent the money?
The assumption is perfectly fine - save us both the bother of finding the thread! :)
Kazaki
16-06-2005, 21:52
After much prodding from my war department Kazaki will buy the Domestic Production rights to the L27 Obelisk

Money to be wired upon confirmation
Isselmere
16-06-2005, 21:56
To: War Department, Kazaki
From: Walter Cadogan, Products Management Division, IMW - LDS, UKIN
Subject: L27 DPR

Your Excellency,

I shall be honoured to provide your nation with the domestic production rights licence to the L27. Please recall that these rights entitle your nation to manufacture the system for your armed forces, but neither may said vehicles be produced for export nor may any such vehicles be resold to a third party.

We at Isselmere Motor Works thank you for your interest in our products and hope that you will revisit our storefront sometime soon.

Sincerely,

Walter Cadogan
Director
Products Management Division
IMW - LDS
Thistlemoor, Isselmere, UKIN
Omz222
16-06-2005, 23:55
As the Omzian Republic and its Army is most impressed at the brilliant work by our talented counterparts at Isselmere Motor Works, we also feel that mere words simply cannot express our joy and enthusiasm about this product, as a heavily-armoured short-range artillery platform that will certainly make a majestic entrance into the Omzian Army. Thus, the Omzian Army most enthusiastically inquires if it is entirely possible to procure the production licenses of the L25 and L27 series, in addition to the L26 and L28 series when they becomes available. In exchange, we will be more than willing, as an ally, offer a domestic production license for the OMASC B-108 Thunderhawk bomber, if desired.

Regards,
Omzian Ministry of National Defence
Isselmere
17-06-2005, 00:29
To: Omzian Ministry of National Defence, Omzian Democratic Republic
From: Sir Horace Creighley, Minister of State, Defence Procurement Agency, MoD, UKIN
Subject: DPR for L25, L27, and B-108

Your Excellencies,

On behalf of His Majesty's Government and Isselmere Motor Works, let me say I gratefully and unreservedly offer the domestic production rights for the L25 and L27 series -- as well as the L26 and L28 series once they become available -- and humbly accept Your Excellencies' graciously offer of domestic production rights to the B-108 bomber. His Majesty's Government shall forward the difference in cost to Your Excellencies' government as well as the funds for the systems to IMW.

Once more, let me thank the Omzian Democratic Republic for their kindness, and we within His Majesty's Government hope you will revisit our nation's storefronts sometime soon.

Long may the glorious Omzian Democratic Republic flourish and its people prosper!

Sincerely,

Sir Horace Creighly, KL, MP
Minister of State
Defence Procurement Agency
Ministry of Defence
UKIN
Jimnam
17-06-2005, 00:29
To: Walter Cadogan, Products Management Division, IMW - LDS, UKIN
From: William Nelson, Field-Marshall, Jimnam Army
Subject: Production Rights.

Sir

The Jimnam Army would like to purchase production rights for your L27 Obelisk assault Howitzer. I forward the sum of $12 billion and offer the IMW an additional research grant of $50 billion for future products.

On behalf of the Jimnam Army and Jimnam, we thank you.

William Nelson
Field-Marshall
Isselmere
17-06-2005, 00:39
(OOC: Considering how much money you've given the RSIN over the years, I'll throw in the L25 licence for free, and, if you so desire, the DPR for the Sparrow as well! :) )

To: William Nelson, Field-Marshall, Jimnam Army
From: Walter Cadogan, Products Management Division, IMW - LDS, UKIN
Subject: Production Rights.

Dear Field Marshall Nelson,

Honoured sir, it is my great privilege to accept your kind request for the domestic production rights to the L27 series, and let me personally thank you for your most gracious and generous investment of $50 billion into our research programmes. We at IMW shall ensure that the funds are well spent in crafting superb vehicles.

We in the UKIN are eternally grateful to the illustrious and unconquerable nation of Jimnam for their support of Isselmere-Nielander industries over the years and of the strong ties between our two lands. Long may the bonds of friendship remain firm between our peoples, and long may the glorious nation of Jimnam prosper!

Long live Grand Admiral Jim!

Sincerely yours,

Walter Cadogan
Director
Products Management Division
IMW - LDS
Thistlemoor, Isselmere, UKIN
Jimnam
17-06-2005, 00:45
OOC: Well if your offering the Sparrow, I might as well take it!

IC:

To: Walter Cadogan, Products Management Division, IMW - LDS, UKIN
From: William Nelson, Field-Marshall, Jimnam Army
Subject: Thank you

Sir

The Jimnam Army is most honoured with your kindness. We look forward to future dealings with the IMW and other corporations within the UKIN.

Long live our allies in Isselmere, Long live the King!

William Nelson
Field-Marshall