NORINCO SH15 self-propelled howitzers operational in Chinese army


A series of pictures published on a Chinese defense blog show SH15 self-propelled howitzers, equivalent to the French Nexter Caesar, apparently ferried by train and then deployed in Tibet, which would then indicate this SPH is now fully operational in the Chinese army.


NORINCO SH15 self propelled howitzers operational in Chinese army 1
NORINCO SH15 self-propelled howitzer displayed at Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai (Picture source: Army Recognition)


The SH15 was displayed at Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, last November. It uses a 6x6 Shaanxi truck chassis with an armored cabin at the front and a 155 mm gun-howitzer at the rear. According to NORINCO, this artillery system is based on the AH-2 155 mm/L52 howitzer, which is able to fire any standard 155 mm NATO ammunition, as well as Chinese-made ammunition developed by NORINCO.

The 155mm howitzer mounted at the rear of the SH15 uses a semi-automatic loading system. The 155 mm / 52 caliber bore is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake and, when travelling, the ordnance is held in position by a clamp located to the immediate rear of the cab, which is operated by remote control. When the SH15 is deployed in firing position, two large spades are lowered at the rear to provide a more stable firing platform.

The SH15 has a maximum firing range of 20 km with standard ammunition and 53 km with a rocket-assisted projectile. The maximum rate of fire is 4-6 rounds per minute. On each side of the truck chassis, there are storage boxes to carry ammunition. Elevation and traverse is hydraulically operated. This SPH can be operated by a crew of five. According to some military sources, it weighs a maximum of 22 tons.


NORINCO SH15 self propelled howitzers operational in Chinese army 2
SH15 self-propelled howitzers ferried by train to Tibet where they seem to have been deployed (Picture source: China Defense Blog)