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TL;DR: A 122mm howitzer on a high-mobility truck.
History:
Getting towed howitzers from point A to point B in a timely manner has always been an issue when it comes to large militaries. One of the most well known ways of transporting these weapons was through their mounting on various self-propelled chassis, turning them into self-propelled howitzers, or SPHs. The most well known form of SPH are tracked SPHs. This type of SPH provides a robust and fairly mobile platform to transport their weapons. Modern tracked SPHs usually incorporate a 360 degree rotating turret, direct fire capabilities, and decently reliable protection for their crews. As a result, however, they are usually quite expensive to build or purchase, making them unattractive for both less-funded militaries and well-funded militaries looking to motorize large quantities of howitzers. One of the solutions to this issue was simply mounting howitzers on cheaper to produce chassis. These chassis were usually wheeled and incredibly lightly armored but also more mobile on solid ground than tracked chassis. The late 1990s to early 2000s saw a global shift in the motorization of howitzers, with more and more militaries increasing funding on wheeled SPHs that were cheaper and easier to produce in larger numbers. China, noticing the shift, also began work on their own wheeled SPHs, with NORINCO producing vehicles like the SH1 and SH2 for the growing market. The SH1 was a more conventional design that required the deployment of stabilizers to fire. The SH2, on the other hand, was seemingly more intended for use closer to the frontline. The vehicle was based on the XLW-TB 6x6 light truck and mounted a 122mm PL-96 howitzer directly on the bed, not needing any form of deployment other than the lowering of the stabilizers, the process of which could be omitted if the situation called for it. The bed mounting also meant that the gun crew could operate the gun almost entirely on the vehicle, allowing for a quick getaway. The vehicle was also direct-fire capable if needed, however, as the vehicle was an SPG first and foremost, the cannon could not depress past 0 degrees or horizontally traverse more than 30 degrees to the left or right. 24 rounds of ammunition could be carried on the vehicle, allowing it to operate independent of an ammunition carrier. Lebanon would obtain at least one SH2 for trials, modifying it to mount the American 105mm M101 howitzer. It is unknown if Lebanon has decided to proceed with servicing the vehicle. In 2020, Nigeria would receive a number of SH2s that they had ordered an unknown number of years prior.
Place In War Thunder:
Gun trucks in War Thunder are largely considered meme vehicles with little real tactical value. This is largely due to their unarmored nature, terrible top speeds, and horrendous performance on soft terrain. The SH2, while still comparatively unarmored, moves significantly faster, fast enough to justify its lack of armor. It also has more modern systems to better deal with soft terrain. Its minimum reload of 7.5 seconds paired with a strong 122mm cannon and shells would make the SH2 very deadly. Playstyle would be fairly self-explanatory. You’d want to avoid direct confrontation and artillery strikes. Your mobility would allow you to appear in very strong early game positions, however, you will have to play with an incredible handicap. You have zero degrees of gun depression, a hefty trade-off for your incredible mobility. You also have a horizontal traverse of only 30 degrees to the left and right. Of course, with your mobility being so good, it would be possible to employ a sort of shotgun tactic in which you rush in and pop targets at point-blank range. While the SH2 was intended exclusively for export, it provides an incredibly unique playstyle that should not be locked behind a paywall. It would be a perfect vehicle to fit the terrible 6.0 - 8.0 gap in China’s tank destroyer line or could supplement an entirely new wheeled line.
Specifications:
Armament: 122mm PL-96 howitzer
Dimensions: 8.50m, 2.50m, 2.95m (L,W,H)
Weight: 11500kg
Armor: Proof against small arms fire and artillery splinters
Crew: 5
Ammunition: HEATFS, HE-I, FRAG-HE, Smoke, Illumination, AP Flechete (Capable of using both Chinese and Russian ammunition.)
Speed: 90kph
Horsepower: 215hp
Pictures:
Side View:Front View:Rear View:Firing:Lebanese SH2 With M101 Howitzer:Nigerian SH2:
Sources:
http://www.military-today.com/artillery/sh2.htm
SMES 2011 (2): XL-TB – Military In the Middle East
Chinese self-propelled artillery installation on the basis of an SUV