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Meriam, Gerak Sendiri, 105mm Howitzer
(Cannon, Self-Propelled, 105mm Howitzer)
Hello everyone! Today I would like to suggest the Indonesian AMX Mk.61. The vehicle is a Self-propelled Artillery using the basis of the AMX-13. This suggestion was primarily made in order to complement the already suggested Indonesian Sub-tree as well as the Expanded List of Indonesian Ground Vehicles.
The AMX Mk.61 was an export variant of the French OB 105 Mle 50 AU, itself being a Self-Propelled howitzer derrived from the AMX-13 chassis. The vehicle carries a 105mm M1950 howitzer with an elongated 30-caliber barrel unlike its French counterpart. The rigid superstructure is mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The Mk.61 is unique in the sense that it uses a new distinct circular commander’s cupola, replacing the original hatch design. The Indonesian variant also obtained a roof-mounted 7.62mm M60 machine gun. Indonesia originally obtained a small number as newly built from france, and later a large number as surplus from the Dutch. In Indonesian service, the vehicle would be known as the Meriam GS 105mm Howitzer, with some vehicles still being used into the late 2010s. The vehicle would give an interesting SPG for Indonesia in the Japanese tree.
The placement of the vehicle in-game depends on whether it gets the full-loadout of HEAT instead of the basic 6x rounds, if it does get all HEAT then it could easily sit at Rank IV with a BR of ~ 6.3 - 6.7 similar to the JPz 4-5. If it can only can only carry the supposedly standard 6x rounds then it would be at a lower BR instead.
What is the name used by the Army for the vehicle?
Generally the name used for the AMX Mk61 (AMX-105) by the Army for publications and the like is the “Meriam GS 105mm” which translate to “Cannon, Self-propelled, 105mm”, with the M109 receiving the name “Meriam GS 155mm” (Cannon, Self-propelled, 155mm)
translated:
“Danpusssenarmed revealed that Pussenarmed has ordered 18 units of 155 mm GS M109A4-BE cannons which will be used by the 4th/GS Armed Battalion and the 7th/GS Armed Battalion as a replacement for the 105 mm GS Howitzer Cannon.”
https://tniad.mil.id/danpussenarmed-tinjau-uji-fungsi-meriam-155-mm-gs-m109a4/
A. Background & History
Details
The first major derivative production which uses the AMX-13 chassis was a light 105mm Self-propelled howitzer officially known as the “Obusier de 105 Mle 1950 sur affût automoteur”. Otherwise known as the “OB 105 Mle 50 AU”. The vehicle was designed to meet the requirements of the French Army in the late 40s. The vehicle itself was built in prototype form in 1948 on an early experimental AMX-13 Chassis. The gun was mounted in an armored casemate on the rear of the vehicle, and it can elevate up to ~70 degrees up ~4 degrees down. The gun is not fully-traversable, but it can rotate left and right up to 37 degrees.
First prototype of the Obusier de 105 Mle 1950 sur affût automoteur (OB 105 Mle 50 AU)
Series production of the vehicle was delayed and unit test began in the summer of 1954, with the 8e Régiment d’Artillerie. The vehicle would use the Type 2C AMX-13 chassis, with around 329 units being produced from july 1954. A turreted version of the vehicle was also developed from 1952 by the Atelier de Bourges with unrealized hopes of a French order, this version would mount a longer 30-caliber barrel (compared to the original 23-caliber) capable of firing a wider variety of 105mm rounds with a slightly longer range. Only Switzerland obtained 4 units and at least 1 prototype being tested by the French Artillery. Nevertheless, the original vehicle would serve the French Artillery service and only being replaced from 1968 onwards by the 155mm gun on the Canon 155 Automouvante F3, and eventually the Au F1. The original vehicle was also exported to Israel, Morocco & to West Germany.
French Army OB 105 Mle 50 AU in the Mailly-le-Camp training ground in 1959.
In the early 60s, both Indonesia and Netherlands purchased the OB 105 Mle 50 AU with the improved 30-caliber variant, with the two nations ordering 4 & 82 units respectively. The vehicle would receive the English designation of the “AMX-105 Mk.61”, or simply the AMX Mk.61. It’s specifications is quite similar to the original model, but with some differences. The superstructure located at the rear of the vehicle with the troops entering through the doors at the rear. The commander is situated at the right front-side of the superstructure, right beside the gun. Unlike in the original, the Dutch & Indonesian model’s commander hatch is of a single piece domed hatchwith periscopes surrounding it for observation. The Mk.61 has no amphibious capability nor NBC protection.
The main armament consists of a 105mm M1950 Howitzer with a 30-caliber barrel with a double baffle muzzle brake and no fume extractor. It can fire a 105mm High-Explosive projectile weighing 16kg, with a muzzle velocity of 670 m/s to a max range of 15km. It can also fire the 105mm HEAT projectile with a muzzle velocity of 700 m/s, capable of penetring 350mm of armor at 0 degrees or 105mm of armor at 65 degrees. Additionally it can fire other standard 105mm US howitzer rounds. It can carry a total of 56x rounds of separate-loaded ammo, 6 of which are usually reserved for the HEAT rounds. The fire-control equipment consists of an L841.7 goniometer with a magnification of 4x zoom and an L881 Telescope for Anti-tank use with a magnification of 6x zoom. The Indonesian vehicle is armed with a roof-mounted 7.62mm M60 machine gun.
Dutch (Left) & Indonesian (Right) AMX Mk.61 with the circular cupola
The Mk.61 was purchased by Indonesia as part of the arms buildup required for the Trikora Operation to annex Western Irian from the Dutch. A total of 4x OB 105 Mle 50 AU (Mk.61) was purchased alongside 57x AMX-13 Mle 51s, 22x Mle 56 VCIs, 2x Mle 55 ARV, and 4x PP F1 Bridge-layers. These vehicle would be put into service by the Artillery Battalion branch of the Army. But the conflict was eventually resolved without any large-scale fighting by the two nations.
Due to a need to increase the Artillery Battalion’s capabilities, throughout 1976-1983 second-hand dutch AMX-13 fleet was being replaced and sold as surplus to Indonesia as relations had cooled between the two nations. The program would include ~80 PRA 105mm SPGs (Dutch designation for the Mk.61), alongside other AMX-13 based vehicles, such as ~600 AMX PRI APCs (Dutch-designated VTT Mle 56s), ~130 Mle58 AMX-13 light tanks and ~30+ Mle55 ARV. All of the former Koninklijke Landmacht (Royal Dutch Army) vehicles were overhauled and repaired by RDM & Wilton Fiennoord before delivery to Indonesia. In Indonesian service, the AMX Mk.61 would receive the designation “Meriam GS 105mm Howitzer”, meaning “Cannon, Self-Propelled, 105mm Howitzer” in English.
Fleet of AMX tanks in Indonesia
Currently the vehicle is still in reserves with at least two artillery battalion, namely the 7th Medium Artillery Battalion/105GS/Biring Galih & the 4th Medium Artillery Battalion/105GS/Parahyangan with the vehicle being spotted in an exercise in the late 2010s. The role of the self-propelled howitzers had been replaced by the newer Belgian M109A4-BE (Meriam GS 155mm) & the French CAESAR.
Convoy of Meriam GS 105mm
B. Specifications
Details
General Specifications
- Crew: 5
- Length: 6.4 m
- Width: 2.65 m
- Height: 2.7 m
- Empty Weight (Combat): 13.7 t (16.5 t)
- Armor
- Hull
- Front: 15 mm @ 40°
- Side: 20 mm
- Top: 10 mm
- Rear: 15 mm
- Floor
- Front: 20 mm
- Rear: 10 mm
- Superstructure/Casemate
- Front & Side: 20 mm
- Rear: 15 mm
- Top: 10 mm
- Hull
- Transmission: Manual Transmission
Gears: 5 forwards, 1 reverse
- Engine: SOFAM 8Gxb 8-Cylinder Water-cooled petrol engine
- Horsepower: 250 hp @ 3200 rpm
- Power-to-weight Ratio: 15.15 hp/t
- Max Road Speed: 60 km/h
Armament
- 1x 105mm M1950 30-caliber Howitzer
- 50x HE rounds
- 6x HEAT rounds
- 1x 7.62mm M60 Roof-mounted Machine gun
- 2000x rounds
Systems
- Manual gun traverse
- 20° traversal limit both left & right
- -4°/+70° elevation
- 30% side slope
- Torsion bar suspension
C. More Images
Details
VIDEOS
IMAGES
Meriam GS 105mm with its 5-man crew
A line of the GS 105 during a firing exercise.
Meriam GS 105 during a recent exercise
Side profile of the vehicle
Closer look at the roof-mounted M60
D. Sources
Details
- Robinson, M. P., Lau, P., & Gibeau, G. (2017). The AMX 13 Light Tank: A Complete History. Pen & Sword Military.
- Jane’s armour and artillery 1979-80 (1st ed.). (1979). Jane’s Yearbooks
- AMX MK61 : Howitzer 105mm Self Propelled Armed TNI AD - Indomiliter - Support Our Troops
- AMX-13 105 mm Mk 61 Description Pictures picture image photo french self-propelled howitzer | Véhicules blindés artillerie armoured France | France Equipements et blindés de l'armée française
- TOADMAN'S TANK PICTURES Mk 61 105mm SP HOWITZER
- Obusier automoteur AMX Mk 61 de 105 mm — Wikipédia
Thank you for reading! Any suggestions or corrections would be highly appreciated!Additionally, you can check out more Indonesian suggestions below!