The Polish self-propelled artillery installation AHS Krab of 155 mm caliber can replenish the armament of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Read in the material of TSN.ua about its main characteristics and history of creation.
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Polskie Radio reported on Twitter about the possible supply of 18 modern AHS Krab ACS. It is also noted that 100 Ukrainian servicemen have already been trained in the operation of this type of weapon.
History of AHS Krab ACS
SAU AHS Krab / Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
The first ACS was to be built on the basis of the UPG-NG chassis of the OBRUM system (this is an upgraded T-72 chassis). However, in December 2014, they chose a new chassis from the K9 Thunder ACS from Samsung Techwin) due to technical problems.
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Back in the early 1990s, the idea arose in Poland to introduce a new ACS in the Polish Army. A thorough analysis was carried out, on the basis of which it was decided to adopt a 155-mm self-propelled artillery installation. It was also decided that it would be more expedient to produce new ACS in Poland together with foreign partners. While Slovakia was considered a foreign partner, because at that time work was underway on the further development of the DANA ACS family. According to this project, it was planned to install the Slovak Zuzana towers with a 155-mm howitzer on the Polish chassis of the Kalina family.
In 1997, the first tender was held for the selection of a self-propelled artillery tower. However, later that year, its results were annulled. Three companies from Slovakia, Germany and the United Kingdom took part in the second tender. Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy also changed the future chassis to OBRUM. This is a modified chassis for the T-72 / PT-91 tank. The tender was held in 1998, as a result of which the British design was selected. On July 26, 1999, a contract for licensed production was signed. The first AHS Krab prototype was introduced on June 12, 2001.
Subsequently, the barrel had to be changed due to the cessation of production of barrels for the AS-90 ACS in the UK. The Polish Ministry of Defense carefully considered all proposals and focused on the 155 mm and 52 caliber barrels of Nexter System. The Krab ACS with a tower from Nexter Systems was presented for the first time at the 2011 Międzynarodowy Salon Przemysłu Obronnego.
Basic tactical and technical characteristics
Weight: 48 tons;
Length: 12.05 meters;
Barrel length: 52 calibers;
Width: 3.60 meters;
Height: 3 meters;
Service: 5 people;
Caliber: 155-mm rifled gun;
Rate of fire: 6 shells per minute;
Range of fire: effective – 30 km, maximum – 40 km;
Secondary armament: 1 WKM-B .50 BMG;
Engine: MT881Ka-500;
Speed: highway – 67 km / h.