FIRTINA

FIRTINA: 155 mm 52 Calibre
FOR SELF PROPELLED HOWITZER

The lessons gathered from the 155 mm M44T and M52T howitzer modernization program, led to a new design approach when the T-155 Self-Propelled Howitzer “FIRTINA” (TUSpH STORM) program has been initiated in 1995.

Key requirements which are necessary for the future artillery were conceptually developed by Turkish Artillery. Based on the individual autonomy: FIRTINA was designed to perform the artillery needs for the future. Long firing range, on board ballistic computer, navigation system, automatic gun laying system and ammunition feeding mechanism bring T-155 SP FIRTINA into combat arena as a fully autonomous and excellent firing asset. The high degree of automation allows FIRTINA to react in a short time to execute its given mission, to fire with high rate and reduce manpower considerably.

NATO standardization requirements and Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding (JBMOU) are fully met, which provides the Interchangeability of NATO ammunition. This creates a potential procurement opportunity for NATO allies and friendly nations.

TECHNICAL CONCEPT

One Gun – One Battery: FIRTINA (TUSDH STORM) offers rapid deployment and relocation and may be separatoly managed as a gun unit it required.
Shoot and Scoot: After recelving fire command. FIRTINA is able to fire on a target within 30 seconds, to complete fire mission and relocation in 90 seconds.
Time on Target: With different elevation angles and charge zones, FIRTINA is able to hit the same target with three rounds at the same time.

Etfective Direct and General Support Range Capability

Superior Mobility and Survivability

Integration with ADOP – 2000/FSAP-2000
(FSAP/Fire Support Automation Project-2000)

FIRTINA is particularly suitable for fire support (direct and general support) missions at the brigade and batallion levels with 40 km range. The artillery is able to engage to the enemy far in the depth and to eliminate threats to triendly units much earlier.

Since each FIRTINA has a capability to perform the given mission as a battery, the battery can be used as two companies, having three howitzers for each. or can be used individually in the combat environment.

WEAPON SYSTEM

Barrel Diameter : 155 mm
Barrel Length: 52 caliber
Number of Grooving: 48
Twist Rate: 1:20
Muzzle Brake: Multiple Buffer
Breech : Sliding Breech Mechanism that can be opened upward

The barrel is of 52 caliber length, monoblock in design and has a chamber volume of 23 liters.

It is autofrettaged to Improve the fatigue lite of the tube. The rifling is of constant, 1 in 20 right hand twist.

The barrel chamber is designed to accommodate all standard NATO charges including M3 and M4 serles, as well as modular charges.

RATE OF FIRE

FIRTINA is equipped with electrically driven and electronically controlled automatic shell loading system.

The automatic shell loading system enables the following rates of fire;

3 rounds in 15 seconds for burst fire
6-7 rounds per minute for maximum fire
2 rounds per minute for continuous fire

Poyraz Ammunition Resupply Vehicle and T-155 Fırtına SPH

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Length: 12 m
Width: 3.40 m
Height: 3.43 m
Ground Clearance: 0.42 m
Combat Weight: 47.5 tons

MOBILITY

Engine Type: MTU 881
Maximum Power: 1000 hp
Power/Weight Ratio: 21 hp/ton
Transmission: Allison X1100-5 (Automatic)
Suspension: Hydro-Pneumatic
Max. Velocity: 65 km/h
Gradient: %60
Climbing: 0.75 m
Trench: 2.80 m
Fording: 1.5 m
Cruising Range: 360 km

The power – to – weight ratio is over 21 hp/ton. It gives FIRTINA high level of mobility on all kind of harsh environment. The suspension system is composed of twelve externally – mounted hydrogas suspension units and wheels further ensure that crew travel in relative comfort, even over rough ground.

AMMUNITION

All NATO Standard Types of Ammunition

M107(HE): Classical High Explosive and the Family of Smoke and Illumination (M116. M110. M485A2, etc)
M549 RAP (HE):
- Long Range (30 km)
- Rocket Assisted Projectile
ERFB/BB:
- Long Range (40+ km)
- Base-Bleed (BB) Projectile Family
Bag Charge: M3 and M4 series

Modular Charge Combustible Case, Interchangeable, Modular Structure

POSITIONING

After receiving firing command, FIRTINA (TUSpH STORM) is able to fire on target within 30 seconds, complete the fire mission (6 – 7 rounds/min) in 60 seconds and come out of action afterwards.

FIRTINA comes into action from the movement in 30 seconds and typical 6-7 rounds fire mision is completed within one minute, wilh the first 3-rounds fired at the burst rate within 15 seconds. It comes out of action in 30 seconds. All those features are possible witn navigation, on-board ballistic computer and gun laying systems. This ability discards the conventional positioning devices such as aiming circle, Indirect panoramic telescope etc., even though the batterles have those equipment as well.

COMMAND CONTROL

Communication with All Units of ADOP-2000 (Fire Support Automation Project 2000/ FSAP-2000).
Wired and Wireless Communication 5+50 Watt VHF 9600 series (ASELSAN) Radio Configuration for Frequency hooping Voice and Data Transfer

FIRTINA is digitally integrated to Turkish Fire Support Automation Program (ADOP-2000) and, If it is needed, ready for any other Fire Direction Systems (FDC). It carries 5W and 50W VHF 9600 frequency hooping radio system (CNR), first one is tor volce, the second one is for data transfer.

FIRTINA is capable of receiving and transtering the mission data by means of its own fire control system or by Battery Fire Direction Center.

It can communicate with Forward Observers (FO), Battery FDC or Battallion FDC directly. This gives a large flexibility to it in order to complete the given mission.

FIRE CONTROL

Modern Fire Control System which uses NABK (NATO Artillery Ballistic Kernel) Software.
Computer Controlled Gun Equillibrating System.
Computer Controlled Gun Laying System

FIPTINA Fire Control System is composed of three main components:

Navigation
Ballistic computer
Gun laying system

The Hybrid Navigation System determines the FIRTINA’s position in UTM coordinates and the barrel’s position in automatic Javing mode. Geographical north, the howitzer’s real position and altitude above the sea level are determined with a great accuracy and fed to onboard ballistic computer to calculate the trajectories necessary to hit the target.

It contains embedded GPS receiver to enhance the accuracy. The Onboard Ballistic Computer ensures fully autonomous artillery technical fire control. It was linked to other on-board equipment and external fire control command posts. The software was developed by using NATO Artillery Ballistic Kernel (NABK) with a Graphical User Intertace (GUI) to a user friendly gunner display unit.

The gun laying system receives the firing quadrant elevation (QE) and azimuth (AZ) values from Ballistic Computer to engage the barrel to the target automatically in automatic mode. It also has semi-automatic backup mode and manuel laying with hydraulic hand controller.

FIRING RANGE

M107 (HE): 18 km
M549A1 (RAP/HE): 30 km
ERFB/BB: >=40 km

FIRTINA’s 52 caliber ordnance is capable to use all NATO standard ammunition up to 30 km, but it also fires up to 40 km with assisted projectiles (e.g; Base Bleed).

FIRING CAPABILITY

Traverse: 360 degrees
Max. Elevation: 1244 mils (70 degrees)
Min. Elevation: -44 mils (-2,5 degrees)

FIRTINA has a high versatility to fire in all directions by turning the turret without moving to another position. Gun control ranges are -44 mils (-2,5 degrees) to 1244 mils (70 degrees) mils in elevation and 360 degrees in azimuth.

SURVIVABILITY

Error Detection System (Data-Bus)
Night and Day Visioning System
NBC Protection System
Ballistic Protection Against;
- 14,5 mm Machine Gun Bullets
- Anti-Personel Mines and Fragmentation

In NRC battlefield, a combined NBC and ventilation system allow the crew member for breathing fresh air. Egch member of the crew has one NBC mask which is integrated to NBC filtering unit individually.

The basic ballistic protection consists of armour steel (RHA) which resists against 14,5 mm AP projectiles and 155 mm shell fragmentation.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

General

Combat Weight : 47.5 tons
Length : 12 m
Width: 3.4 m
Height : 3.43 m
Crew: 5
Fire Control: Automatic
Ammunition Loading: Automatic
Night Vision: Yes
NBC Protection Yes

Ordnance

Caliber/Barrel Length: 155 mm, 52 caliber
Rate of Fire
- Burst: 3 rounds in 15 seconds
- Maximum: 6-7 rounds/min
- Sustain: 2 rounds/min
Arc of Fire
- Elevation: -2.5/70 degrees
- Traverse : 360 degrees
Range
- M107 (HE): 18 km
- M549A1/RAP (HE): 30 km
- ERFB/BB (HE): 40 km+