Palmaria (artillery)
Encyclopedia
The Palmaria is an Italian
self-propelled
155 mm howitzer
.
for the export market, the development of the Palmaria began in 1977, with the first prototype appearing in 1981.
main battle tank.
The primary armament is a 155 mm howitzer, with a 7.62mm machine gun. One variant replaces the machine gun with twin 25mm guns for anti-aircraft use. The howitzer has an automatic loading system, providing a rate of fire of one round every 15 seconds or a burst-fire rate of three rounds every 25 seconds. The loader has 23 ready rounds, with seven more rounds stored in the hull. Including manual reloading of the charge, the overall firing rate is normally is one round per minute for one hour. Intense firing is four rounds in one minute. Sustained fire is one round every three minutes for an indefinite period. A wide variety of munitions includes specially developed Simmel
ammunition with a range of 24.7 km and rocket-assisted projectiles with a range of 30 km.
The turret is hydraulic with manual backup, and has 360 degree rotation with elevation limits of -4 to +70 degrees. It has its own auxiliary power supply which conserves fuel for the main engine.
Libya
was the first country outside Italy to adopt the Palmaria, initially ordering 210 in 1982. Their army's artillery strength in 2004 included 160 Palmaria. Several were destroyed during the 2011 Libyan uprising as a result of multinational military intervention
.
Other users include Nigeria
, which took 25 Palmaria in 1982, and Argentina
, taking the last 25 vehicles in 1986. Argentina mounted the Palmaria turrets onto TAM
chassis as one possible replacement for their AMX-13
Mk. F-3 self-propelled guns. This vehicle became the TAM VCA Palmaria.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
self-propelled
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...
155 mm howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
.
History
Developed by OTO MelaraOto Melara
Oto Melara is an Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. It was founded in 1905 as a joint venture of Vickers and Terni. During World War I, Vickers Terni produced many weapons with calibre 40 mm and upwards. In 1929 the company was renamed Odero Terni Orlando with the...
for the export market, the development of the Palmaria began in 1977, with the first prototype appearing in 1981.
Design
The Palmaria's chassis is based on the OF-40OF-40
The OF-40 tank is a main battle tank developed as a joint venture between OTO Melara and FIAT, and intended primarily for export sales. OTO Melara would develop and produce the hulls, and automotive components would be provided by FIAT...
main battle tank.
The primary armament is a 155 mm howitzer, with a 7.62mm machine gun. One variant replaces the machine gun with twin 25mm guns for anti-aircraft use. The howitzer has an automatic loading system, providing a rate of fire of one round every 15 seconds or a burst-fire rate of three rounds every 25 seconds. The loader has 23 ready rounds, with seven more rounds stored in the hull. Including manual reloading of the charge, the overall firing rate is normally is one round per minute for one hour. Intense firing is four rounds in one minute. Sustained fire is one round every three minutes for an indefinite period. A wide variety of munitions includes specially developed Simmel
Simmel
Simmel can refer to:* Erich Simmel , German jurist and politician * Ernst Simmel , German physician and psychoanalyst * Georg Simmel , German sociologist...
ammunition with a range of 24.7 km and rocket-assisted projectiles with a range of 30 km.
The turret is hydraulic with manual backup, and has 360 degree rotation with elevation limits of -4 to +70 degrees. It has its own auxiliary power supply which conserves fuel for the main engine.
Users
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
was the first country outside Italy to adopt the Palmaria, initially ordering 210 in 1982. Their army's artillery strength in 2004 included 160 Palmaria. Several were destroyed during the 2011 Libyan uprising as a result of multinational military intervention
2011 military intervention in Libya
On 19 March 2011, a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which was taken in response to events during the 2011 Libyan civil war...
.
Other users include Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, which took 25 Palmaria in 1982, and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, taking the last 25 vehicles in 1986. Argentina mounted the Palmaria turrets onto TAM
TAM (tank)
The Tanque Argentino Mediano , or TAM, is the main battle tank in service with the Argentine Army. Lacking the experience and resources to design a tank, the Argentine Ministry of Defense contracted German company Thyssen-Henschel...
chassis as one possible replacement for their AMX-13
AMX-13
The AMX-13 is a French light tank produced from 1953 to 1985. It served with the French Army and was exported to over twenty-five other nations...
Mk. F-3 self-propelled guns. This vehicle became the TAM VCA Palmaria.