Al-Fao
Iraqi self propelled artillery
Al-Fao was a project for a self-propelled artillery system designed for the former Iraqi Army by the Canadian weapons engineer Gerald Bull. It would have been one of the world's most powerful artillery pieces, with a 53-caliber, 210 mm (8.3 in) gun firing 109-kilogram shells over a range of 57 km (35 mi). The Al-Fao system was to weigh 44 tonnes, and its 550 hp engine was to give it a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) on roads, and 60–70 km/h (37–43 mph) cross-country. The Al-Fao's autoloader was to provide it with a rate of fire of four rounds a minute.
A self-propelled howitzer using the same 155 mm gun as the South African G6, similar to the Al-Fao and named Majnoon, was also designed by Gerald Bull on an Iraqi order.
Design
Both the Al-Fao and Majnoon prototypes used a 6×6 chassis with a turret mounted atop the rear with a large rear door to replenish the vehicle ammunition supply, two doors on both sides for the crew, and two hydraulic rams to damp the recoil forces on the chassis. The Majnoon had a 155 mm (6.1 in) gun fitted with a fume extractor and a three-slotted muzzle brake, while the Al-Fao was fitted with a 210 mm (8.3 in) gun also fitted with a fume extractor but with a double baffle muzzle brake. A direct fire sight was fitted on the left side of the ordnance.
The lower part of the hull had small hatches for the crew on either side, while the cab had a single hatch for the driver, who sat in front of the powerpack. Both designs had no shutters on the windshield, used a Mercedes-Benz diesel engine developing 540 hp (400 kW) coupled with a manual transmission, and a central tire pressure regulation system; Christopher F Foss noted that the prototypes lacked spades, which would provide a more stable firing platform if fitted.
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