GIAT GCT (Grande Cadence de Tir)

History of GIAT GCT (Grande Cadence de Tir)

The GIAT GCT is the main self-propelled artillery platform of the modern French army. Similar in form and function to the American M109 Paladin, the British AS-90 and the Russian 2S19, the system features a high-profile hull layout with a powerful 155mm main gun and a tracked hull design. The configuration has stood the test of time and is drawn from the experience of tank warfare in WWII.

GCTs have since produced hundreds of them, becoming the long arm of the Saudi military, while dozens of prototypes were shipped to Iraq before the 2003 coalition invasion. Modernization makes this 1970s system still viable on the modern battlefield of the French Armed Forces.

In 1962, the French Army introduced the 155mm Mk F3 SPG to control its long-range prowess. The system was designed as early as 1952 and went into production ten years later, with approximately 600 units realized before production was discontinued in 1997. The 17-ton system was equipped with a 155mm main gun, powered by a SOFAM 8Gxb 8-cylinder gasoline engine, and was piloted by a crew of four (only two of them could actually be carried on the actual vehicle). Although production continued into the 1980s, the French Army was looking for a replacement and was looking for a fully functional, closed track and wheel system with a 155mm main gun in a movable turret.

Thus, the development of such a system began in 1969, when GIAT (now Nexter) approved the production of the new car.

A new car based on the existing AMX-30 main battle tank (MBT) chassis entered service with the French Army as "GCT" ("Grande Cadence de Tir"). A new box turret casing was developed to accommodate the breech of the 155mm main gun, allowing engagement from all angles.

The gun is equipped with an autoloader (although manual is still an option) that allows a rate of fire of 8 rounds per minute and a range of up to 23,500 meters, depending on the projectile used (missile support allows an engagement range of up to 28,000 ). meter). The strongest point of armor protection is 20mm thick, with defense provided by a 1 x 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun against lightly armored vehicles and low-level threats. The vehicle is driven by four people, including the driver, commander, gunner and ammunition handler. Unlike the previous Mk F3, the GCT now houses the entire vehicle occupant in a relatively safe environment, plus all occupants are protected from nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) threats.

Four smoke grenade launchers are mounted in pairs in the lowermost corners of the front of the turret.

Power for the GCT is provided by a water-cooled 12-cylinder multi-fuel Hispano-Suiza HS 110 engine mounted aft of the hull with an output of 720 hp. This allows a maximum road speed of 60 km on ideal surfaces and a range of 450 km.

The chassis is suspended on torsion bar suspension, which enables off-road touring and allows it to keep up with the rest of the French mechanized formation.

The running gear consists of five twin tire wheels on one side of the track. The chain links were wound around the wheels as usual, spanning the sides of the armored hull. The drive sprocket is at the rear of the assembly and the chain idler is at the front.

Five track return rollers are mounted on top of the track and are clearly visible due to the absence of side skirt armor implemented in the design of the GCT.

The 155mm main gun was released to fire a variety of gun options, including high-explosive (HE) weapons. In addition, the system can fire smoke, anti-tank mines and any missile-assisted projectiles if necessary. The howitzer nature of the gun means that the 155mm system throws its projectile in a trajectory specific to the target area (unlike a direct-fire field gun). The gun was mounted on the turret's sloping front plate, which had flat sides and a rear that covered part of the engine deck.

The recoil mechanism is clearly visible on the bottom of the gun as it enters the turret. The barrel is fitted with a muzzle brake with double baffles to eliminate the inherently violent output. The airborne ammunition has a total of 42 x 155 mm projectiles.

The GCT started production at the GIAT factory in Roanne in 1977 and was completed in 1995 with 400 units delivered. The original version was denoted by the designation "AUF 1", while the modernized version later appeared as "AUF 2".

In addition to being operated by the French, the GCT (model AUF 1) was sold to Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Saudi Arabia received 51 from 1978 to Iraq 85, delivered from 1983 to 1985.

The GCT maintains a combat status in the modern French armed forces. 70 units upgraded to the new AUF 2 standard (built on the AMX-30B2 MBT chassis). The standard comes with a new autoloader that increases the rate of fire to 10 projectiles. In addition, the range and accuracy of the main guns have also been slightly improved.

The GCT turret is also more modular and can be fitted to a variety of existing MBT chassis.

The GCT has gone through some battles during its long tenure. The Iraqi Army GCT was successfully used against Iranian targets during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Subsequently, the French Army GCT was deployed to support NATO forces during the campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

42 x 155mm projectile (HE, smoke, mine assignments).

2,050x7.62mm ammo.

800x12.7mm ammo.

4 x Smoke Grenade.

Changes