G6 howitzer

The G6, sometimes denoted as the G6 Rhino,[6] is a South African mine-protected self-

propelled howitzer.[7] It was developed as a turreted, self-propelled variant of the G5 howitzer
series, mating the gun to a six-wheeled armoured chassis.[8] Design work on the G6 began in
the late 1970s to replace the obsolescent Sexton being retired from service with the artillery
regiments of the South African Army.[9] Serial production commenced between 1988 and 1999.[4]
At the time of its introduction, the G6 was considered one of the most mobile self-propelled
howitzers in service.[10] Its chassis was engineered to be mine-resistant and blastproof, allowing
it to survive multiple TM-46 detonations during trials.[11] The G6 was conceived as a wheeled
rather than a tracked vehicle for this purpose, as well as to allow it to deploy long distances by
road without consuming excessive quantities of fuel or requiring a tank transporter.[11]
G6s entered service during the last two years of the South African Border War, frequently
shelling positions held by the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA)
during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale.[12] Their ability to bombard a target and change positions
rapidly in less than two minutes, with minimal preparation, greatly reduced the threat posed by
retaliatory Angolan air raids and counter-battery fire.[13] A number of G6s were subsequently
manufactured for export and purchased by Abu Dhabi and Oman.[14] Export models included a
specialist anti-aircraft variant with a GEC-Marconi Marksman turret and twin-barrelled 35mm
autocannon.[15]
Chile briefly produced the G6 under licence as the CC-SP-45, although this arrangement was
later terminated after the system was not adopted by that country's armed forces.[4] Iraq also
manufactured its own domestic variant of the G6[16] as the Al Majnoon with technical assistance
from Canadian artillery engineer Gerald Bull, which later evolved into the much larger and more
sophisticated Al Fao.[17]

Type Self-propelled artillery

Place of origin South Africa

Service history

Used by See Operators

Wars South African Border War

Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)

Production history

Designer Lyttelton Engineering Works[1]

Designed 1981[2]
Manufacturer Denel Land Systems (turret)

Land Systems OMC (chassis)[3]

Unit cost USD $3,272,000 (new)[4]

Produced 1988–1999[4]

No. built 154[4]

Variants See Variants

Specifications

Mass 46 tonnes (51 short tons; 45 long tons)[5]

Length 9.20 m (30 ft 2 in) (hull)[5]

Width 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in)[5]

Height 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)[5]

Crew 6[3]

Main 155mm G5 howitzer (47 rounds)[5]

armament

Secondary 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun (900 rounds)[5]

armament

Engine Magirus Deutz Model FL 413 F/FR air-cooled

diesel[4]

525 hp (391 kW)[5]

Power/weight 11.17hp /tonne (8.7 kW/tonne)[3]

Suspension Torsion bar with hydraulic shock dampers[4]

Ground clearance 0.45 m (1 ft 6 in)[3]

Fuel capacity 700 litres[5]

Operational 700 km[3]
range

Maximum speed 90 km/h (55 mph)[5]