Al-Fao


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, gun firing 109-kilogram shells over a range of. The Al-Fao system was to weigh 44 tonnes, and its 550 hp engine was to give it a top speed of on roads, and 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 gun fitted with a fume extractor and a three-slotted muzzle brake, while the Al-Fao was fitted with a 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 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.
The Al-Fao and Majnoon could fire Extended range full bore and ERFB-base bleed ammunition, which were already in use in Iraq with the 155 mm GHN-45 and the G5 howitzer. The 210 mm shell design was an enlarged version with a much larger high explosive payload.

Specifications

ModelMajnoonAl-Fao
Weight
Length
Width
Max road speed
Off-road speed
Armament1× gun1× gun
Barrel length
Elevation0° to +72°0° to +55°
Traverse40° left/right40° left/right
Range
Muzzle velocity
Range
Muzzle velocity
Projectile weight
Maximum rate of fire4 rpm4 prm
Sustained rate of fire1 rpm1 rpm

History

The design of the Majnoon and Al-Fao started around 1988. That year, South Africa had tried to sell the G6 howitzer to Iraq, but the Iraqis found it too expensive, and requested that Bull design two equivalents for them. Prototypes of each model had to be ready by May 1989, in time for the Baghdad International Arms Fair. Numerous French, German and Spanish companies were contracted to manufacture parts for the guns, while the design for the chassis was bought in Czechoslovakia and modified to South African specifications. The deadline was met, and the prototypes of both Majnoon and Al-Fao were presented at the Arms Fair, although these were far from complete. However, by early 1990, the Iraqis had imported all the know-how, equipment and machinery necessary to produce them, as well as ammunition. Subsequent events prevented the realisation of the Majnoon and Al-Fao projects.