A Modern Day StuG!

[thatguy96]

Marcello said:
What's the planned use for it?
I mean, I like it but if it has only M113 style armor there will be only a narrow range of missions for it.
The high elevation gun for example would be perfect in urban engagements, but if it is not at least basic RPG-7 proof it is not worth it.

There could still be a use, albeit a narrow one. The hull seems to be lower profile than the standard M113, and as a tank destroyer or tracked assault gun it really seems no worse perhaps than the ASU-57, ASU-85, M56 Scorpion or M50 Ontos. Its also got four firing ports, and one suspects it was probably planned to be air-droppable.

As a self-propelled artillery vehicle it also seems like it would've been a cheap alternative to more advanced SP 155mm guns.

But yeah, definitely not a wide range of applications.

[Marcello]

"As a self-propelled artillery vehicle it also seems like it would've been a cheap alternative to more advanced SP 155mm guns."

If you want a cheap SPA I suppose that those truck mounted artillery pieces they make nowadays would be a much better option.

"he hull seems to be lower profile than the standard M113, and as a tank destroyer or tracked assault gun it really seems no worse perhaps than the ASU-57, ASU-85, M56 Scorpion or M50 Ontos."

Those vehicles (and I would include the Jagdpanzer Kanone in the list, which seems the closest thing to it for me) are obsolete for the most part so being no worse does not cut it. I suppose that if you were desperately short on tanks such vehicle would be able to provide some cheap and armored firepower support to infantry units, as it still beats throwing men against machine gun nests. Since MBTs are plentiful today there is no reason to build something like that. Airborne forces are better off with some Sprut lookalike.
I think that there may be a niche for assault guns in urban combat, but that requires a different sort of vehicle.

[thatguy96]

Very true, but we don't know when this unit was designed. Still, I'm sure you're right. Like I said, any usefulness it had was probably quite narrow. It wasn't produced hehe, which says something as well.

[PatG]

Looks a bit like the old Canadian Goliath(?) project with a 120mm instead of a 90mm on the West German Jagpanzer chassis.

[Punjistick]

Maybe its for police (SWAT) and or security units against terrorist inside buildings....i think for military isnt it usefull with that pitty armor...but against terroist with small arms it should work....in an urban enviroment with a 105mm howitzer...hoorah

[Marek_Tucan]

I'd have my doubts about any police in the West wanting a 105mm FH For military, I'd say for MOUT something with turretted FH would be better and then why go for 105mm FH when you can have 120mm NEMO gun-mortar. as for chassis, why not? Throw in some add on armor that will give you say 23mm AP and RPG resistance and you have a handy close support IFV with a big bang.