AP-104 howitzer (Pacifica)

AP-104 howitzer
Type	Towed gun-howitzer
Place of origin	Pelinai
Service history
In service	2002—present
Used by	Pelinai
Production history
Manufacturer	Yarimaka Artillery Foundry
Unit cost	~$1.57 million (2018)
Produced	1999—present
No. built	~5,500+ (as of 2022)
Variants	AP-104, AP-104M, AP-104M2
Specifications
Mass	5,600 kg
Length	Combat: 12.1 m Travel: 10.7 m
Barrel length	8.2 m
Crew	8
Shell	Type A3082, Type A3182, Type A3382, Type PT2411, 2G4, 2S17, Type AN4
Caliber	155 mm
Breech	Vertical semi-automatic sliding wedge
Recoil	Hydropneumatic recoil absorber
Carriage	Split trail carriage
Elevation	-5° to +68.3°
Traverse	-25° to +25°
Rate of fire	Burst: 6-8 rounds per minute Sustained: ~330 rounds per hour
Muzzle velocity	Up to 906 m/s
Effective firing range	30.2 km (Type A3382)
Maximum firing range	~43 km (2G4)
Sights	x6 direct fire sight; digital fire control system

The AP-104 howitzer (Pelinese: АП-104) is a towed 155mm gun-howitzer manufactured by Yarimaka Artillery Foundry since 1999. It is currently the primary towed 155mm artillery piece of the Pelinese White Army, which adopted it in 2002 as a replacement for the AP-55. Two revisions (AP-104M and AP-104M2) have since been introduced to increase performance, reduce mass, and simplify construction.

The manufacturing of howitzer barrels, breech assemblies, and most carriage components for the AP-104 takes place in Yarimaka, Yukisora, along with final assembly and testing; digital components such as the fire control system are sourced from Samororiya in northern Stelossia. Spare gun barrels are sourced from the primary factory in Yarimaka as well as a smaller artillery production facility in Korolyeviya. Production of the AP-104 has expanded since 2002 and is estimated to have a maximum manufacturing capacity of

Design

The AP-104 is a towed gun-howitzer design intended primarily for usage in the indirect fire role, with a limited direct fire capability using optical sights. It uses a much higher percentage of titanium and other low-density components in its structure than the preceding AP-55 howitzer design in order to reduce mass by 25% while also increasing the size of the gun barrel.

The cannon itself has a rifled barrel of 8.2 meters in length, a semi-automatic, vertically sliding breech for loading, and a conventional hydropneumatic recoil absorption system. The heavier barrel is 1.8 meters longer than the preceding AP-55 gun-howitzer, allowing for increased range and rate of fire in the AP-104, and ends in a muzzle brake that also possesses a forged-in tow connection ring.

The AP-104 is relatively mobile, and is light enough to be air transportable: inter-theater airlift mobility is accomplished through military transport aircraft such as the KaR-11M2 Lebed, which can carry it in pairs, while battlefield air deployment is done by suspending the howitzer under a heavy lift helicopter like the Ha-5. Terrestrial movement over up to moderately difficult terrain can be provided by a standard 6x6 military truck.

Operators

Current operators

• Pelinai — circa 5,500