Archer Prototype - Tested & Trialed by Norway

Suggestions Ground
1

ARCHER PROTOTYPE

TYPE: Self Propelled Artillery System/Howitzer

ARMAMENT

Spoiler
  • 1x 155mm L/52 Barrel FH77 type cannon
    Fire rate Volley: 3 rounds/20 sec
    Intensive: 21 rounds/3.5 min
    Sustained: 54 rounds/35 min
    Elevation: -1° to +70°
    Lateral direction: ±85°

TECHNICAL DATA
Crew: 4
Length: 14,100,
Width: 3,000mm
Height: 3,400mm
Top speed: 70 km/h
Engine: Diesel 252 kW 340 hp
Wheel drive: 6×6
Ground clearance: 400 mm
Weight: 30,000 kg
Maximum wading depth: 1,000 mm
Climbing slope: 30°, approx. 60%
Side slope: 28°, approx. 55%
Range: 500 km

HISTORY
The Archer self propelled artillery was a multi national project to develop a next generation artillery system for Sweden. This project was led by BAE Systems and the main component of the system is the L/52 155mm howitzer cannon, wich was mounted on a 6x6 Volvo chassis and the project started in 1995 and was based on the Fälthaubits 77. Two test systems were made and named FH 77BD & FH 77BW. In 2004 two prototypes had been made, wich had the FH 77B mounted on a Volvo A3D dumper truck.

In the beginning of the development of this vehicle, Denmark had joined and was cooperating with Sweden on this artillery system, but left at the same time Norway entered the project and started cooperating with Sweden in 2006/7. Norway and Sweden signed an co-operative agreement in 2008 for the development of this vehicle.

Norway was planning to replace the aging M109A3GNM wagons with this new artillery system around 2012. 24 vehicles for both Sweden and Norway were planned, but one vehicle was planned delivered in 2011, and the rest to be delivered in 2012-2013, however in December 2013 No vehicles had been delivered to Norway, and because of this and some other reasons such as a weak spot in the frame of the vehicle and technical issues, Norway pulled out of the contract the 6 December 2013 as it would not fit the army’s demands in the timeframe.

The vehicle was tested a couple times by the Norwegian army during the development, and the picture i have added are taken in Norway during testings and trials, and to my knowledge from one of these tests. The vehicle also underwent tests by both Norway and Sweden in Norway during the Cold response exersise in 2012.

IN GAME
This could be an interesting early variant of the archer to be added under Norway, potentially in a new Norwegian/Danish techtree, or eventual in the Swedish techtree somehow, as an event potentially.

AMMUNITION

Spoiler

BOFORS Bonus munition

Nammo 155mm grenades

SOURCES

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Det svensk-norske artillerisamarbeidet gikk skeis – nå kommer skytset i stedet til nytte på slagmarken i Ukraina | Tu.no
Archer (artillerisystem) – Wikipedia
Archer artillery system - Wikipedia
Nå er det klart: Dette blir Norges nye artilleri | Tu.no
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This post was made by
Til_Dovre_Faller

1 Like
2

any differences from the Swedish archer?

3

Its one of a couple prototypes that were made, so i guess it wouldn’t have any particular place in-game unless Norway are added kn a different tree/new tree, or perhaps some kind of agreement in the current tree. Mostly some differences in hull and design, this prototype had a weakness in the frame that should have been improved on the final verisons, and the archer Norway were originally intended to buy, has a Kongsberg remote weaponstation on the roof, the one sweden has in-use at the moment

4

Would be great to see Archer in-game. However, one issue is that to do direct fire, Archer uses the RWS and I’m not certain that Norway ever tested Archer with RWS fitted. At least one of the prototypes was fitted with RWS, but I’m not sure that one ever actually made it over to Norway. Interestingly, the Protector as fitted to the prototype featured smoke grenades which the series produced vehicles lack. Also worth noting that the two vehicles built around 2004 were indeed based on the A30D were trial vehicles, not prototypes. The two prototypes weren’t built until 2009/2010 and were based on the A30E
Prototype with RWS fitted:
image
Trial vehicle (försökspjäs):

image
image1024×888 75.3 KB

3 Likes
5

They were ordered, i don’t know if they had paid for them at the moment but i can find some information on it. To my understanding the Kongsberg Protector on the roof was some of the result of their collaborations, and it has been fitted with a couple different variants, both the RS4 and the one in the upper image you attached wich should be an Protector Crows variant. I will go trough it again in a while to see if i find more info or if anything were missed

6

RWS aren’t really a collaboration more of an off the shelf purchase.

1 Like
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Oh yeah, i forgot xd proably mounted on considering they had ordered it, and just kept on after they didn’t want them anymore, don’t fully remember at the moment haha

8

Part of the deal for Norway joining in the development of Archer was that Sweden would buy protector for a value equivalent to what Norway invested in Archer development. The original intention was to use Bofors Lemur, so the switch to Protector was due to Norway joining in but by the time Norway left, it was too late for Sweden to change. The prototype was definitely being tested with the CROWS-type Protector before Norway left the project (at least since 2011), but I’m not sure it was ever present for any testing in Norway. Since it features a different RWS with unique capabilities (smoke grenades), I think the prototype would be nice to see in the Swedish tree as well in addition to the production version