Concept IVB

In July 1981, a report was submitted in close collaboration with the artillery system engineering working group (ASEWG) to develop a generation of concept self-propelled howitzers with anti-armor capabilities, along with all their various support systems. The M109A2, dubbed Class I, was used as a baseline from which these various concepts were drawn up and compared to. The main commonality between all concepts was that they used 155 mm howitzers.

Class IV sought a unique way to react to the counterbattery threat. It was decided that this class of concepts should be optimized to operate at incredibly long distances, to the point where 90% of enemy artillery simply had too short of a firing range. Both concepts IVA and IVB were casemate SPHs experimenting with different types of ammunition. IVA's was rocket-boosted whereas IVB's simply used a larger cannon.

A drawing detailing the autoreloading mechanism for the Concept IVB.

As with the previously described Concept A, the Concept IVB takes advantage of the autoreloading mechanic and should get an additional shell (four instead of three), essentially turning the vehicle into a worse, non-turreted B-C 155 58. In exchange for the downsides of the mechanic and the lack of a turret, it should see a reasonable degree of accuracy and an above-average muzzle velocity and firing range, considering the long-range capabilities of the tank.



Guns: 155 mm HTB III Cannon (autoreloader)

Engines: Cummins VTA-903-T660 (660 hp)

Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): Concept IVB (32.66)

Hull Armor (mm): 32/32/32

Top Speed: 61 km/h

Crew: 3 (Driver/Loader; Gunner/Loader; Commander/Radio)



Parent: Concept A

Sources:

Harvey Garver & Harold Liberman, Special Publications ARLCD-SP-81003 (AD-A102819), 1981