Merkava Howitzer Sholef – Fotos & Vídeo

Galeria de fotos de um Merkava Howitzer Sholef, Two prototypes of Sholef (“Slammer”, Hebrew slang for “Gunslinger”) 155 mm self-propelled howitzer with automatic loading system were built by Soltam in 1984–1986. The 45-ton vehicle had a long 155 mm gun barrel giving a range of 45+ km. Using GPS, inertial navigation, and an internal fire control computer, it was also capable of direct fire while on the move. It never entered production. The Slammer is a heavily armored artillery gun mounted on a modified Merkava Mk 1 chassis. Many of these vehicles are Merkava Mk 1 that were retired after the Merkava Mk 2 and Merkava Mk 3 came into service. The Slammer has a long 52-caliber gun barrel that allows +10% range. Reload speed may be decreased to 1 for one minute every 10 minutes through use of an automatic loader. Ammunition racks are large. The Slammer is ready for autonomous operation (without an FDC) if the target’s location is known within 15 seconds of a halt, using GPS, inertial navigation, and an internal fire control computer. The Slammer 155 mm self-propelled howitzer is based on a modified Merkava MBT chassis fitted with a new welded steel turret, designed by Soltam Systems. Development commenced in the 1970s. The project was considered of high national priority and incorporated the newest technological developments. Instead the Israeli Defense Forces selected an upgraded version of American M109 howitzer.

Fonte: Merkava Howitzer Sholef na Wikipédia

The Merkava Howitzer Sholef is a self-propelled artillery system developed by Israel Military Industries (IMI) based on the Merkava Mark I tank chassis. The Sholef, which means “slammer” in Hebrew, was designed to provide long-range fire support for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in various combat scenarios. The Sholef features a 155 mm/L52 gun with an automatic loader, capable of firing up to 10 rounds per minute at a maximum range of 40 km. The Sholef can also fire guided munitions, such as the M982 Excalibur and the Krasnopol, for increased accuracy and lethality. The Sholef has a crew of four: commander, driver, gunner and loader.
O Sholef é protegido por um sistema de armadura modular, semelhante ao tanque Merkava, que pode resistir a golpes de armas antitanque e minas. O Sholef também tem um sofisticado sistema de controle de incêndio, um telêmetro a laser, uma visão de imagem térmica e um sistema de navegação GPS. O Sholef pode operar de forma independente ou como parte de um sistema de artilharia em rede, recebendo dados de alvos de drones, satélites ou outras fontes. O Sholef foi introduzido pela primeira vez no final da década de 1980 e tem sido usado pelas IDF em vários conflitos, como a Segunda Guerra do Líbano e a Guerra de Gaza. O Sholef é considerado um dos obuses autopropulsados mais avançados e eficazes do mundo.