FH-88

The FH-88 or Field Howitzer 88[1] was the first locally designed howitzer developed for the Singapore Army. It is a 155 mm/39-calibre towed howitzer gun.

FH-88
TypeHowitzer
Place of originSingapore
Service history
In service1988 - present
Used bySee Users
Production history
DesignerST Kinetics
Designed1983
ManufacturerST Kinetics
Produced1987
VariantsFH-2000
Specifications
Mass12,800kg (12.59 tons)
Barrel length6.10m (20ft)
Crew8

Shell155 mm NATO
Caliber155 mm 39 calibre
BreechSemi-automatic Interrupted screw with electronic rammer
Carriage6 wheeled split trail
Elevation-3°/+70°
Traverse±20° from centerline
Muzzle velocity765m/sec (2510ft/sec)
Maximum firing range19,000m (20,780yds)

Development

Ordnance Development and Engineering of Singapore (ODE, now Singapore Technologies Kinetics) began development of the FH-88 in 1983 with five prototypes being produced over a period of four years.[2] These were followed by a preproduction batch of six 155 mm FH-88 gun-howitzers that incorporated a number of improvements as a result of trials with the prototype weapons.

First production FH-88s were completed in 1987, with the weapon becoming operational with the Singapore Army the following year, replacing the Soltam M-71.[2] The howitzer was publicly presented in 1988.[3]

Operators

Map with FH-88 operators in blue

See also

References

Bibliography

  • Hogg, Ian. Twentieth-Century Artillery. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2000. ISBN 0-7607-1994-2 Pg.70


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