The Rise Of Truck Mounted Guns

Truck mounted artillery may initially seem a ‘poor man’s option’, but its simplicity, mobility and lower cost are making it an increasingly attractive option for armies.

- Stephen W. Miller

The choice between towed artillery and self-propelled artillery is important given observations made during the conflict in the Ukraine. Here the vulnerability of artillery batteries firing multiple missions from the same location was highlighted. The ability for an opponent to detect, locate, engage, and destroy or at least seriously degrade a battery’s support capability was repeatedly demonstrated.

Towed guns have the advantage of being lighter making them easier to transport especially by aircraft and sling-loaded under helicopters. They are also generally more simple to maintain. The main limitation is that they must be towed by a prime mover, typically a tactical truck, and take time to set-up for firing and to break-down to relocate.

The self-propelled gun, on the other hand, having its own automotive platform can move at will and can even receive a fire mission while moving, quickly stop, fire, then move again often in just a few minutes. These guns are also self-contained with automated controls, navigation, on-board ammunition stocks, and often automatic loading offering a high rate of fire. Self-propelled guns are generally heavier than towed guns and also tracked. Both characteristics complicate their air transportability and limit their use where bridges and roads may not be able to take their weight.