Special thanks to Animarnia for helping with this art, providing the base from which I touched with some edit. Thanks!
Cost: $720,000 NSD per unit. $25 Billion NSD for DPR.
Crew: 7 + 1.
Caliber: 160 mm.
Weight: 3,400 kg.
Length: Combat 10.6 m. - Travel 9.6 m.
Barrel Length: 5.02 m.
Elevation: 0° to +74.6°.
Rate of Fire: 2 - 5 rpm.
Effective Firing Range: 25 - 32 km depending on munition. 42 km using special guided munitions.
Electronics: Longbow HFCS.
The Longbow Towed Howitzer is a lightweight one-hundred and sixty millimeter towed howitzer designed by Wolf Armaments in 2004. The Longbow system was originally derived from the Longbow Field Gun System - an older field gun system designed in 1952 that featured a larger and longer two-hundred millimeter barrel; it was feared as a heavyweight long range gun artillery piece, though it was a step bellow heavier guns that were often double the scale. The primary drawbacks to the system was that it was complex to operate, heavy, and took a large crew to operate; this heavy weight and complex setup drew time during away during setting up the piece and packing up to leave. Range and traverse were also limited as the system was not a howitzer. Heavy shells and complex operating systems made the system slow to fire and reload - a large crew was also needed to operate to preferable standards. As the TECT Armed Forces began looking for a new artillery piece, they looked for a design that would replace older 105 howitzer designs and would keep the same level of firepower that the original Longbow had; the design had to pack heavy firepower, target a wide range of targets at different range scales, and had to be lightweight so that crews could be smaller and quick to deploy and pack up. Designers took inspiration from upcoming designs around the globe and would eventually choose to modernize the Longbow - not as a field gun but as a new-age howitzer.
Weighing in at three-thousand four-hundred kilograms and five meters long, the Longbow howitzer is nearly three times smaller then its previous self. This decrease in weight and size is due to the use of lightweight titanium alloy as the primary material for construction; the barrel has been reduced in length and size to perform in its new howitzer role. This new size and weight has given the Longbow improved mobility and compact storage. Additionally; the Longbow now has a minimal crew number of five compared to the previous version's nine. With a front tow hook on the barrel and latching hook spots for helicopters; the Longbow is easily transported by both ground vehicles and helicopters.
The Longbow uses a standard sighting mount near the barrel (or can be done from a separate position); this mount can be removed at will by the commander and slid back on at any time. Using the tool, a commander can accurately aim the barrel to fire onto the position he wants; aiming is then directed to the crew who use turn-wheels to move the cannon onto target. A twenty-first century innovation has given Longbow a faster operation time through the use of battlespace networking and servo motors; allowing the howitzer to automatically align to a submitted fire support request from front line troops. Longbow aiming mechanisms can be linked to state-of-the-art command control and communication systems to achieve quick response automatic operation. The Longbow's automatic system takes target acquisition data that provides range, bearing, position and other data from an observation point and transmits it directly to the commander and the artillery piece itself; once a support request is made, the gun barrel is then automatically adjusted to the exact traverse and elevation angle and is ready for firing by the crew. This complex targeting system is the Longbow Howitzer Fire Control System (HFCS), which utilizes modern technology to improve firing accuracy and operation speed. The HFCS utilizes elements of the Eisen-Schloss Combat Networking System and Frauns FCS, which could utilize a mobile interaction platform plug-in (such as laptop) for combat networking/communications etc., navigation, pointing and self-location, Indirect Fire Control Software Suite (IFCSS), and sensor modules for firing. HFCS allows the Longbow to accurately target long distance enemies with speedy precision and keep directly connected to commanders and mobile units on the modern battlefield.
The barrel, which has been shortened and modified, has seen many upgrades since its conception in the 1950's. The size has been reduced about 23% to allow for howitzer operations and a shorter height profile. The barrel's muzzle has been redesigned for better breaks to reduce stress while utilizing produced explosive force of projectiles to send artillery shells down range more efficiently. The barrel is rifled and is lined with chrome to improve longevity and endurance while also extending firing sessions. The one-hundred and sixty millimeter barrel fires a number of artillery shells which are listed bellow; the barrel has been used on other systems like the SpeerWurf self-propelled howitzer.
160 mm Ammunition
In accordance with the TECT Armed Forces' 2008 "New Munitions Project", newer age ammunition has been in development and manufacturing of said approved munitions has commenced since the project was officially announced. Projects like 'Faerber' were part of this grand plan; in this case, 'Faerber' Project has replaced all small and larger arms with new age telescoped or caseless ammunition. The 'Baggage Compartment Project' was founded by one of the lead munitions developers that focused on artillery munitions. BCP, lightheartedly named, was the design idea that combined both Western and Soviet munition ideas for a new design to all artillery projectiles fired by field guns and howitzers. The revolutionary idea took the principle of adjusted propulsion fuel management that soviet artillery shells utilized with shell casings, and Western ideas on projectile construction. Soviet casing munitions (like D-30) were shipped in crates containing the projectile, a shell casing, propulsion fuel, and other basic parts to the system (such as fuze cap and basic upgrade materials) - ammunition was loaded similar, however, to Western counterparts by first loading the projectile and then the shell via a rammer. Once detonated the shell would be automatically discharged by the system. Western ideas, which Soviets also used, included a projectile and added propulsion charges that were added after the artillery projectile; these charges often look like small sacks with printed distance enhancement. BCP designers decided to bring together ideas from both Blocs into a whole new artillery projectile firing setup.
BCP soon produced several prototypes that eventually got grinded down, combined, or removed to eventually come out with the 'BCP-Series' - which has since referred to the style of artillery ammunition that is produced from this style. The projectile itself is similar to Western and Soviet projectiles in design and inspiration - it contains a larger warhead body, modifications to the construction in accordance to the projectile's intended role, and the absence of a metal casing. The change begins with the rear portion of the munition, the so-called 'baggage compartment'. Made of a moderately hard-skinned material, the 'BC' is made up of 'twist-on' compartment with a twist-on rear cap; these two pieces twist onto existing grooves located on the projectile/BC, forming an airtight seal. This material is designed to be totally combustible in the detonation of the propulsion material, literally burning away in milliseconds from the heat, blast, and expanding gas - it is made to withstand the weather and elements long enough to be used inside a cannon. Internally a secondary compartment holds the primer, a tiny compartment holding the projectile's detonation explosive (Silver azide) that sets off the propellant that launches the projectile; said primer extends through the cap and can be seen on the outside and interior of the cap, making it easier to strike, replace, and twist into place. This material is weak enough to be easily pierced by firing pins or other ignition system trying to ignite the primer - this means common artillery pieces, like D-30 or M777's for example, can fire BCP ammunition with ease.
BCP ammunition is shipped in lighter, smaller, carrying cases - or often pre-prepared in tube holders. Inside is the projectile, the two twist-on attachments, the twist-on primer cap (which twists-on into position inside the BC, similar to the other pieces), the fuze, and is often accompanied by chosen propellant; in the TECT Armed Forces, a modular (combustible) casing holds an energetic explosive labeled as 'NNN', which is named after the explosive material it consists of (Nitrocellulose, Nitroglycerin, Nitroguanidine) - each package is color-coded and labeled to show the distant enhancement. In a standard artillery unit preparing for firing missions or going into combat, the crew would begin by unboxing and combining the projectile. The BC is twisted onto the projectile in preparation to add the propellant; once ready, the propellant is added (once again, in the TECT Armed Forces, NNN is added in usually four or seven cases) and the cap locked firmly. Once the fuze is twisted on and programmed - if needed to be - the projectile is ready to fire. Next is the projectile being loaded by the team and firing - simple as that. Once done so, the projectile launches out leaving the BC to disintegrate as it combusts.
This ammunition's intended purpose is to improve artillery units through the enhancement of field operation and artillery unit management. The speed of reloading is cut due to the simplification of ammunition - it no longer takes a man to load charges into breaches or to remove casings. The simplification eliminates crew positions that were required for quick operation, eliminating up to one or two crew persons at the gun. Barrel health is increased with the manageable propellant, allowing for smaller charges or standard large charges that wear the barrel less; the ingredients used, depending on the users, can also have better affects on barrel health. Storage cases are now smaller and less lengthy, decreasing weight, which improves handling of ammunition cases and the larger storage of said ammunition.
HS-160-HE: The High Explosive is a one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, high explosive Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses an eleven kilogram IMX-101 explosive mixture and weighs a total of forty-eight kilograms. A very common and universal artillery projectile design - the 160-HE is designed to eliminate infantry, vehicles, and structures using both explosive force and shrapnel. The fuze can be custom timed to explode at set times rather then simply on impact - such settings allow projectiles to explode before landing or above targets for specific types of attacks. There is approximately eleven thousand fragments produced in the explosion and a blast radius of fifty-two meters; the kill range is estimated to be about fifty-two meters for both explosive force and fragmentation while shrapnel can travel up to one-hundred and fifty-two meters.
HS-160-RAHE: The Rocket Assisted High Explosive is a one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, rocket boosted high explosive Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses an eleven kilogram IMX-101 explosive mixture and weighs a total of forty-eight kilograms; it uses three kilograms of threaded synthetic fuel for its booster. A very common and universal artillery projectile design - the 160-RAHE is designed to eliminate infantry, vehicles, and structures using both explosive force and shrapnel at extended ranges. It achieves these ranges by the use of an attached rocket cap that burns once ignited (moments after leaving barrel the fuze portion of the fuel is ignited starting the chain), spinning the projectile while also boosting speed; the result is increased spin accuracy and extended ranges. The fuze can be custom timed to explode at set times rather then simply on impact - such settings allow projectiles to explode before landing or above targets for specific types of attacks. There is approximately eleven thousand fragments produced in the explosion and a blast radius of fifty-two meters; the kill range is estimated to be about fifty-two meters for both explosive force and fragmentation while shrapnel can travel up to one-hundred and fifty-two meters. The extended range capability allows RAHE projectiles to travel up to thirty-two kilometers.
HS-160-SP: The Shrapnel Projectile one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, high explosive/shrapnel Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses an eleven kilogram IMX-101 explosive mixture and weighs a total of fifty-two kilograms. Designed simply for the mass dispersion of fragmenting shrapnel - 160-SP projectiles are lined with additional sheets of steel and contain a large lining of steel balls which maximize fragmentation and projectiles. The minimal increase in weight is due to this increase in steel. The timed fuze is often set to go off high above enemy infantry where the maximum amount of fragmentation spread is possible as it rains down like meteors onto infantry units and lite vehicles; though the warhead can be set to blast upon impact where damage is more lethal. Instead of a highly flashy explosive blast like conventional high explosive rounds - a concentrated high explosive blast is used, which is very brief in a quick but intense flash with very little smoke. There is approximately twenty-two thousand fragments produced and eleven thousand steel balls that are spread out in the explosion - a blast radius of over fifty meters and a fragmentation/shrapnel range of one-hundred and fifty meters.
HS-160-WP: The White Phosphorous one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, incendiary Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses an eleven kilogram IMX-101 explosive mixture and weighs a total of fifty-two kilograms; white phosphorus makes up the remaining mixture/weight (seven kilograms). Designed for incendiary purposes - 160-WP projectiles are intended to kill or maim infantry as well as to burn though many metals, which would destroy structures, equipment, and vehicles. The timed fuze is often set to go off high above enemy infantry where the maximum amount of WP dispersal is possible, or, on impact where it can destroy enemy positions and equipment; instead of a highly explosive blast, a concentrated high explosive blast is very brief but leaves an intense flash. The blast and kill radius is around fifty meters.
HS-160-SM: The Sub-Munitions one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, sub-munition dispensing Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses a IMX-101 explosive mixture for its bomblet fillers. Designed with the intention of spreading an even amount of munitions randomly - 160-SM projectiles carry sixty sub-munitions that are dual-purpose anti-tank/anti-personnel weapons. The sub-munition in question is a high explosive weapon capable of armor penetration and fragmentation damage to infantry units. To counter the issue of duds, 160-SM's are designed to detonate fifteen seconds after hitting the ground - usually the munitions explode upon impact if the trigger is not set differently. In case the munition duds anyways, the electric trigger dies after thirty seconds on the ground, making the bomb inert. The sub-munitions deploy in a one-hundred and sixty meter area, exploding into one-thousand five-hundred fragments in a kill radius of eleven meters and effective range of twenty-five meters. Additionally. Mine munitions can be used with this projectile, deploying bombs which can detonate upon their sensing movement nearby.
HS-160-AT: The Anti-Tank one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, anti-tank Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses a IMX-101 explosive mixture for its sub-munition filler. Designed to find and destroy armored vehicles and tanks - 160-AT projectiles deploys one or three large single sub-munition units that use a EEP warhead. These sub-munitions use infrared and millimeter-radar to spot their intended target - an armored vehicle or main battle tank - as it corkscrews down to the ground. The bomb ignites a separation explosion high above an intended target area, it will then float down looking for its target; once the target is spotted, the munition floats until it is close enough above the vehicle and detonates - launching its made warhead onto the target's rooftop. This top-down attack targets top armor of vehicles, which is weaker, and finds its target individually rather then with manned assistance.
HS-160-IL: The Illumination one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, illumination Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses a pyrotechnic mixture to illuminate the ground bellow it. Designed to lite up the night sky - 160-IL projectiles are deployed at about six hundred meters where the projectile ignites its mixture, separating from the main portion of the projectile and leaving only the warhead area left. Once ignited, a flame-proof parachute deploys and the projectile slowly falls to the ground. The ground is highly illuminated for about two minutes and twenty seconds underneath the illuminating shell.
HS-160-SMK-Mk. 1 & 2: The Smoke one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, smoke dispensing Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses a white phosphorus mixture for smoke creation. Mk.1 and Mk. 2 projectiles are intended to produce large sums of smoke at varied rates; Mk. 1 rounds are hot burning gray smoke rounds that produce a smokescreen that blinds enemies while Mk. 2's are slow cold burning signal smokes used for many purposes and they can come in a variety of colors. A Mk. 1 can cover a sixty meter area in smoke (with no wind conditions) and a Mk. 2 can continue to burn for twenty-four minutes.
HS-160-GMU: The Guided Munition Unit is a one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, GPS guided Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. Essentially - 160-GMU projectiles are upgraded high-explosive one-hundred and sixty millimeter projectiles that utilize GPS guidance and extended range technology to accurately engage targets within close ranges of friendly troops (150–75 meters). In addition to a CCF package, the 160-GMU has a miniature GPS guidance computer that utilizes two sets of fins to make course corrections (in addition to assistance provided by CCF); this accuracy has increased the CEP to five meters and doubled the range to sixty kilometers.
HS-160-LGP: The Laser Guided Projectile is a one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, laser guided Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses a IMX-101 twenty kilogram explosive mixture for its filler with a shaped charge warhead. The 160-LGP, essentially, is a laser guided howitzer launched anti-tank weapon designed for high-angled top-down attacks. Once launched, the guidance system on-board detects the laser and uses its deployed two-set fins to guide the munition onto a lit-up target. The shaped charge is designed to destroy most armored vehicles and modern main battle tanks by landing on the weakest portions of the vehicle - its turret roof or the top of its engine compartment (which is also sometimes near ammunition storage). The 160-LGP is capable of gliding or using a ballistic trajectory in order to increase range of operation and avoid cloud levels that would block its laser detection. Weight and length of the overall projectile is increased due to the added equipment and warhead.
HS-160-CHM: The Chemical Munition is a one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, chemical Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses various amounts of possible chemical fillers for its twenty kilogram warhead space; such example include lethal mixtures like mustard gas and non-lethal tear gas. 160-CHM is essentially a chemical weapon artillery projectile intended to deliver a mix of chemicals for their intended purposes - killing infantry or controlling areas with tear gas, for example. Rounds can cover a sixty meter area in the chemical agent at minimum (with no wind conditions) in a hot-burning process.
HS-160-Spatz: The Spatz variant of a previous submunition dispenser is a special carrying bus for Sptaz submunitions. Stacked together in a special bus system, six Spatz submunitions are fired and deploy at optimal altitude high above intended targets where they independently engage enemy targets.
HS-160-PTD: The Practice Training Dummy is a simple one-hundred and sixty millimeter artillery projectile that is custom fuzed, spin-stabilized, practice Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) artillery projectile; the CCF is a two-directional course adjusting GPS-based fuze that adjusts trajectory during flight, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of existing cannon artillery ammunition - it provides near-precision accuracy that is critical in combat environments. It uses a smaller warhead and plastic shell construction to miniaturize the detonation and produce zero fragmentation - thereby being less lethal than traditional high explosives. 160-PTD are used in training for crews learning to use the system, and during practice to keep accustomed to howitzer gun operations while lessening the financial costs. The projectile will launch and operate like normal high-explosive projectiles and will even work with fuzes (for airburst detonation, for example).
Variants
155 mm: As the case may be, not many nations incorporate one-hundred and sixty millimeter cannons or ammunition; as far as Wolf Armaments is concerned, it reinvented the caliber by introducing it to howitzers (previous designed were gunpowder fort defenses and some modern heavy mortars. In order to acquire the business of NATO aligned nations who use one-hundred and fifty-five caliber guns, Wolf Armaments produces a one-five-five caliber barrel replacement for Longbow howitzers; existing howitzers can be converted with ease or said howitzer can be produced with this new barrel. This variant is designed to fire one-five-five projectiles that are common among Western aligned countries. In addition. Wolf Armaments produces one-five-five versions of listed ammunition above for these systems and other guns of the caliber.
Export
The Longbow Howitzer can be purchased from the Wolf Armaments main storefront page for $720,000 NSD per unit and $25 Billion NSD for DPR rights to Longbow and its one-sixty ammunition. Ammunition prices are listed as the following:
HS-160-HE: $550 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-RAHE: $800 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-SP: $600 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-WP: $1,200 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-SM: $2,500 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-AT: $3,000 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-IL: $450 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-SMK-Mk. 1 & 2: $600 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-GMU: $33,000 NSD per upgrade unit (single round case).
HS-160-LGP: $20,000 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-CHM: $600 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-Spatz: $2,600 NSD per case (single round case).
HS-160-PTD: $400 NSD per case (single round case).
DPR for all shells: $1.5 Billion NSD.