The FH-88 or Field Howitzer 88[1] was the first locally designed howitzer developed for the Singapore Army. It is a 155 mm/39-calibre towed howitzer gun.
| FH-88 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | Singapore |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1988 - present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | ST Kinetics |
| Designed | 1983 |
| Manufacturer | ST Kinetics |
| Developed into | FH-2000 |
| Produced | 1987 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12,800kg (12.59 tons) |
| Barrel length | 6.10m (20ft) |
| Crew | 8 |
| Shell | 155 mm NATO |
| Caliber | 155 mm 39 calibre |
| Breech | Semi-automatic Interrupted screw with electronic rammer |
| Carriage | 6 wheeled split trail |
| Elevation | -3°/+70° |
| Traverse | ±20° from centerline |
| Muzzle velocity | 765m/sec (2510ft/sec) |
| Maximum firing range | 19,000m (20,780yds) |
Development
editOrdnance Development and Engineering of Singapore (ODE, now Singapore Technologies Kinetics) began development of the FH-88 in 1983 with five prototypes being produced over a period of four years.[2] These were followed by a preproduction batch of six 155 mm FH-88 gun-howitzers that incorporated a number of improvements as a result of trials with the prototype weapons.
First production FH-88s were completed in 1987, with the weapon becoming operational with the Singapore Army the following year, replacing the Soltam M-71.[2] The howitzer was publicly presented in 1988.[3]
Operators
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Army Unveils Locally Designed and Built Light Weight Howitzer". Defense aerospace.
- ^ a b c d "Singapore Technologies Kinetics 155 mm FH-88 gun-howitzer (Singapore) - Jane's Armour and Artillery". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ http://bellschool.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/publications/attachments/2016-03/070_Singapore%E2%80%99s_defence_industries_%28Canberra_papers_on_strategy_and_defence%29_Bilveer_Singh_78p_073151131X.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/27014/WP59.pdf [bare URL PDF]
Bibliography
edit- Hogg, Ian. Twentieth-Century Artillery. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2000. ISBN 0-7607-1994-2 Pg.70
External links
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