Artillery fire control question

[STURM]

Anyone known why hand held ballistic computers, such as the Gunzen, are used in conjunction with fire control systems for 155mm artillery? Thank you.

[gunneryg]

Originally Posted by STURM

Anyone known why hand held ballistic computers, such as the Gunzen, are used in conjunction with fire control systems for 155mm artillery? Thank you.

HI Sturm,

I'm not sure the exact rationale behind your question, a ballistic computer can be used for any weapon. I am making an assumption that you wonder why a handheld computer would be used with a large system such as 155mm artillery as opposed to a fully integrated larger system.

There are a number of possible reasons

1. Many countries use 155mm weapons but cannot afford the communications infrastructure to manage or utilise a larger system, which itself is significantly more advanced. The gunzen offers a simple and cost effective solution for any country wishing to control their artillery utilising voice procedures as it still provides them with a fast and accurate ballistic calculation device)

2. The gunzen is an easy to use computer, which may suit conscript armies which have less time to invest in training of a complex system.

3. Some countries have many guns and may equip elite front line units with integrated systems but equip reserve and line units with handhelds such as gunzen.

4. You may be aware that the gunzen manufacturer also makes a fully integrated digital fire control system called LACS - lightweight artillery computer system. They sell gunzen as a backup computer for artillery command posts, including those using LACS, which is very handy to have as a standalone to maintain immediately available fire support should main computers be damaged.

6. Smaller handheld computers may be available for each weapon to give flexibility of deployment away from the main unit.

7. Helicopter transportable weapons (105mm + weapons such as M777) may prefer a handheld for light scales deployment.

8. I hope this answers your question?

Best regards

GunneryG

[weasel1962]

In case anyone needs the official write up...
Hall & Watts Group | Gunzenâ„¢ Mk3 Artillery Ballistic Computer

[STURM]

Originally Posted by gunneryg

HI Sturm,

I'm not sure the exact rationale behind your question, a ballistic computer can be used for any weapon. I am making an assumption that you wonder why a handheld computer would be used with a large system such as 155mm artillery as opposed to a fully integrated larger system.

Hello gunneryg, thank you for your feedback, very much appreciated.
I had no idea Gunzen made the integrated LACS. Has the LACS been adopted by any army?

The reason I was asking the question is because a defence publication reported some time back that the Malaysian army has the AS2000 integrated fire control system for it's G5's but also acquired the Gunzen hand held ballistics computer. I was wondering why there would be a need for the Gunzen when the AS2000 was already bought.
A possible reason could be point number 6. which you mentioned.

[Bonza]

The Gunzen sounds like it would also make an excellent training tool, as from what I've read it can be employed on a variety of artillery pieces, which could be really handy if frontline artillery pieces with integrated fire control are in short supply or unavailable. Being able to match the computer to the cheapest or most plentiful artillery piece that's available seems like it would give a lot of practical advantages for introductory or regular training, and I imagine the experience gained from learning to operate a handheld ballistic computer would be extremely relevant if the intent is for personnel to progress on to more sophisticated fire control systems.

Is it possible the Gunzens could be used in part to provide training for those personnel destined to operate the G5/AS2000? Makes sense to me, but then I could be barking up completely the wrong tree - I know very little indeed about artillery.

[kato]

Originally Posted by Bonza

I imagine the experience gained from learning to operate a handheld ballistic computer would be extremely relevant if the intent is for personnel to progress on to more sophisticated fire control systems.

That's only really the case if the more sophisticated system uses a comparable interface - e.g. the case with the various TARANIS versions.

The Gunzen doesn't look like it provides a point-and-click GUI like AS2000 does. Neither does LACS btw. And both Gunzen and LACS (AS2000 too) are a bit limited compared to full-fledged systems of course, especially regarding theater-wide integration.

[Bonza]

Originally Posted by kato

That's only really the case if the more sophisticated system uses a comparable interface - e.g. the case with the various TARANIS versions.

The Gunzen doesn't look like it provides a point-and-click GUI like AS2000 does. Neither does LACS btw. And both Gunzen and LACS (AS2000 too) are a bit limited compared to full-fledged systems of course, especially regarding theater-wide integration.

Ah I see - I assumed there'd be enough fundamental common ground between the two that the simpler system might serve as a primer of sorts. Now that I think about the interface and data handling requirements of an highly integrated fire control system, it seems a silly assumption to make.

Thanks for the correction mate.

[STURM]

Apart from South Africa and Malaysia, who else uses the AS2000 FCS? If I'm not
mistaken AS2000 was originally South African developed but is now marketed by Thales.

[gunneryg]

Originally Posted by STURM

Hello gunneryg, thank you for your feedback, very much appreciated.
I had no idea Gunzen made the integrated LACS. Has the LACS been adopted by any army?

The reason I was asking the question is because a defence publication reported some time back that the Malaysian army has the AS2000 integrated fire control system for it's G5's but also acquired the Gunzen hand held ballistics computer. I was wondering why there would be a need for the Gunzen when the AS2000 was already bought.
A possible reason could be point number 6. which you mentioned.

Hi Sturm,

I believe LACS is in service in a number of countries in the Middle East and Asia