Shoot-and-Scoot

The write-up

Serbia's wheeled 155 mm howitzer, the NORA B-52. A truck-mounted gun built to fire and move quickly.

1. Exhibit A

   The gun

   The NORA-B52 fires 155 mm ammunition from a 52-caliber barrel. The manufacturer gives ranges of 32.5 km with ERFB rounds, 41.5 km with base-bleed rounds and up to 52 km with V-LAP rounds, and says it can fire all types of 155 mm ammunition.

2. Exhibit B

   Several versions

   Earlier versions were mounted on KAMAZ 8x8 trucks. The M21 is on a MAN chassis, with 12 rounds in its autoloader plus 24 stowed, and a five-person crew.

3. Exhibit C

   The NG 'Perun'

   Unveiled at the Partner 2023 exhibition, the NG is controlled from the cab like a remote weapon station. It has a fully automatic loader with 30 rounds, 6 more stowed on the vehicle, a four-person crew and readiness to fire in 60 seconds.

4. Exhibit D

   Shoot-and-scoot

   Truck-mounted guns like this are designed to emplace quickly, fire and leave before counter-battery fire arrives. The manufacturer quotes a maximum rate of fire of 4 rounds per minute and the ability to land 3 rounds at once on a target 30 km away (MRSI).

5. Exhibit E

   Compared with Archer

   Sweden's Archer applies a similar concept, a fast-emplacing automated 155 mm gun on wheels. Its original version is mounted on a 6x6 Volvo articulated hauler.