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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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
History
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.
Ammunition
Variants
Operators
Current operators
- Pelinai — circa 5,500