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Isuzu Elf NPS 250 (Cannon, 23mm Giant Bow)
Note: I am not suggesting the Giant Bow ADS, I am only suggesting the AA gun truck
Hello everyone! Today I would like to suggest an Isuzu truck mounted with the Type 85 Giant Bow 23mm AA gun. This vehicle is primarily made to complement both the Indonesian Ground Forces Sub-tree Suggestion and the Expanded Indonesian Ground Vehicle List.
This vehicle is a Japanese Isuzu Elf NPS 250 4x4 truck chassis mounted with the Chinese Type 85 23mm Giant bow twin AA gun (A Chinese reverse-engineered copy of the ZU-23-2). For all intents and purposes the Type 85 is almost identical to the original Soviet AA gun, but with some added changes like the inclusion of electronics. While the “Giant Bow” is an Air Defence System with Command vehicle & radars, this suggestion is purely about the “AA Technical” version, which could function independently without the supporting vehicle.
In-game this vehicle would perform similarly to the Bosvark & BTR-ZD, with its twin 23mm AA gun (virtually identical in performance to the ZU-23-2) capable of providing a good AA coverage, albeit with a limited volume of fire due to the ammo box housing a bit less ammo than other SPAAs. For placement this vehicle could be a rank IV with a BR of ~5.3-6.3.
Why Giant Bow is used here when its the name of the ADS system
Giant Bow is the name of the ADS system which the Type 85 is a part of. The use of the “Giant Bow” name is also used to simply describe the 23mm AA gun itself. It is also used to help differentiate it to the Polish ZU-23-2KG, which Indonesia also operates.
How to differentiate between the 5th gen (the vehicle used for this technical) compared to the 6th gen
Old (Left) vs New (Right)
- The older model’s side window has a significant ‘step’ to it, whereas the newer model is a lot smoother
- The older model has a horizontal indentation right above the side spotlight, notably lacking on newer models
- Older model (pre/post facelift) uses a horizontal headlight configuration, whereas the new one uses a vertical headlight instead
A. Background
Details
The truck used for this technical is the 5th-Generation Isuzu Elf, commonly known as the NPS (or N-series) truck in Indonesia. It is unclear when they were purchased by the Indonesian Army, but from ~2006 these trucks were used by many different branches of the Army, including the Infantry, Artillery, and Air Defence.
Older-model Isuzu Elf NPS 250. This version can be seen from the “step” seen near the side windows as well as a gap on the door panel near the bottom
Now these older generation model has tons of minor difference in specifications with one another (including things like engines & visual elements like the cab) as well as having extremely limited references for them in Indonesian use, as such we can only give a brief generalization on what it could’ve had. Looking at it visually, the vehicle should be based on the older pre-facelift series of Elf 250. It should have either 4JB1 or the 4JG2 engine (110-115 PS or 125-135 PS respectively).
in 2010-14 during MEF (Minimum Essential Force), Indonesia obtained +600 of newer 6th-Generation Isuzu NPS trucks. This newer model is a strict military version which included a reworked body panel & headlight housing, new engines and internal hardware, addition of a winch and towing hook as well as rifle housing and radios.
Even with the new trucks brought in, these older 250 5th-Generation still makes an appearance with the Army, albeit a lot less frequently compared to the 6th-Gens
Front look at the NPS (Giant Bow), considering its headlights and front cab assembly, it seems to be the 5th-Generation Elf 250 series
While the Chassis is based on a Japanese vehicle, the armament is actually a Chinese AA gun. The 23mm Type 85 (YW 306) Twin-barreled AA gun is a Chinese reverse-engineered copy of the Soviet ZU-23-2. The gun was produced by China North Industries Corporation (Better known as NORINCO). It passed factory appraisal and was finalized in 1985 & 1986 respectively. The gun was primarily intended for export-use and was named the G-AA-01.
As an AA gun the Type 85 can be described as almost identical to the ZU-23-2, barring a couple of modifications and adjustment for domestic manufacturing methods & materials. The main gun assembly consists of two 23mm autocannons with a gun carriage. The Gun is belt-fed with each ammo box containing 50 rounds, these boxes would elevate & depress alongside the main weapon assembly. Due to the high firerate of the weapon, the procedure goes that every 200 rounds the barrel must be replaced, as such they were inherently designed with quick-change barrel in mind.
23mm Type 85 Giant Bow
The Gun itself is a part of an Air Defence System called the Shengong (SG ADS), also known as the Giant Bow. The System was first purchased in a deal worth $35 million in 2008, with final deliveries in 2013, these are to be known as the TD-2000B. The batteries included the Type 85 AA gun, as well as other equipments like a search radar, missile launcher truck platform, as well as a command vehicle and modernized 57mm AZP S-60 AA gun.
The Air Defence System is used by Kostrad’s 1st Air Defence Battalion based in the Serpong area of Tangerang, Banten. They are the primary Air Defence Unit of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as well as the Center for Science and Technology Research, which is a part of the government’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
It’s worth noting that while the AA gun is meant to go along with the aforementioned Air Defence System, it can still function independently without having to rely on the control vehicle.
TD-2000B Air Defence System in which the 23mm AA gun is a part of
Nowadays the weapon system is rarely shown to be in-use. This is primarily because during a dress rehearsal for the 2017 Rapid Reactionary Strike Force (PPRC TNI) training in the Natuna regency, the weapon system was a part of a fatal accident. At approximately 11:21 am a shooting incident occured at the Type 85 Giant Bow station of Kostrad’s 1st Air Defence Battalion. While the AA guns were being linked using the ADS system and as a drone was being targeted by the systems, they fired upon the drone, but Giant Bow unit 8 malfunctioned and had a loss of lock control, the gun then uncontrollably depress & aimed towards to the other Giant Bow unit of 7 & 6, firing onto the crews of the aforementioned AA guns. This incident resulted in 12 casualties, with 4 fatalities & 8 (6 major & 2 minor) injuries.
It is unclear whether the gun is still in-service, but considering there hasn’t been any recent exercises using the weapon, as well as the Polish ZU-23-2KG also doesnt appear as much nowadays, it seems that it has been put into storage for now, with its future remains uncertain.
At least 9 of the Giant Bow units were to participate during the exercise, but after the incident all units have been recalled back to base
B. Specifications
Details
General Specifications
-
Crew: 6 (1 Driver, 1 Gunner, 1 Commander, 3 Loader/Barrel Changer)
-
Transmission: Isuzu’s 5-speed transmission
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Engine: 4JB1 Inline 4-cylinder OHV direct injection diesel engine or 4JG2 In-line 4-cylinder OHV swirl chamber diesel engine
- Max Power (in hp): 110-115 PS (108-113 hp) or 125-135 PS (123-133 hp)
- Max Speed: ~100 km/h
Vehicle Image(s)
Dimensions
- Overall Length (OAL): 6,035 mm
- Overall Width (OW): 2,100 mm
- Overall Height (OH): 2,465 mm
- Wheelbase (WB): 3,395 mm
- Front Overhang (FOH): 1,090 mm
- Rear Overhang (ROH): 1,550 mm
- Minimum Clearance (HH): 210 mm
- Front Thread (AW): 1,675 mm
- Rear Thread (CW): 1,650 mm
Vehicle Specs
Armament
- Original name:23mm Type 85 (YW 306) Twin-barreled anti-aircraft gun
- Indonesian name: Cannon, 23mm Giant Bow
- (has similar performance to the ZU-23-2 ingame)
- Gun Sight: WPO-12 aiming sight
- WPO44P HEI-T
- WB148P API-T
- Gun Sight: WPO-12 aiming sight
- Muzzle Velocity: 970 m/s
- Effective Range: 2,500 m
- Effective Altitude: 2,000 m
- Max RoF/1x Cannon (Sustained): 1000 rounds/m (200 rounds/m)
- Gun Weight: 950 kg
- 360° horizontal traverse
- -10°/+90° vertical depression/elevation
- Manual or Electric drive (capable of switching)
- Fire Control Computer
- Image Intensifier (NVD)
- optronic rangefinder
C. More Images
Details
VIDEO(S)
Video of the vehicle firing
Firing on the move
IMAGE(S)
Row of Giant bow AA gun on the Isuzu Chassis before firing
Alternative view of the image above
Newer-Generation Isuzu Elf NPS 4x4, can be identified by the winch and vertical front headlights
Giant Bow on a towed position
Giant Bow firing
D. Sources
Details
General Source:
- https://www.indomiliter.com/isuzu-elf-nps-4x4-giant-bow-23mm-jadi-truk-tni-berdaya-gempur-tinggi/
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) arms transfer database.
- Tembakan Salah Sasaran 4 Anggota TNI Meninggal di Natuna
- Seluruh Giant Bow Ditarik Mundur - Kebumen Ekspres | Paling Tahu Kebumen
- Jokowi Tinjau Latihan Perang TNI di Natuna | kumparan.com
- DEFENSE STUDIES: Sistem Pertahanan Udara Komposit TD-2000B Jalani Uji Coba
Chassis Source:
- Isuzu Elf - Wikipedia
- いすゞ・エルフ - Wikipedia
- いすゞ・J系エンジン - Wikipedia
- https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60debe5ee0fe74c62dd2a66f/623aca19e5d105e678cb0715_2021%20ISUZU%20ELF%20NPS81.pdf
- Isuzu NPS 75 4×4 , Truk Taktis Terbaru Andalan TNI | AWANSAN
- http://www.indomiliter.com/isuzu-nps-75-4x4-truk-sipil-offroad-untuk-peran-taktis/
Gun Source:
- Type 85 Twin-23mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - SinoDefence.com
- Chinese Autocannons
- 85式23毫米双管高射炮 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书
- Type 85 anti-aircraft artillery - Wikipedia
- 85式23mm連装機関砲 - 日本周辺国の軍事兵器
- https://www.indomiliter.com/type-80-giant-bow-23mm-kanon-perisai-bandara-soekarno-hatta/
- TNI’s Air Defence Artillery (Arhanud) — 8:28 - 10:02 | Lycma Mil-Tech
Thank you for reading! Any suggestions or corrections would be highly appreciated!Additionally, you can check out more Indonesian suggestions below!