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XT-69 155mm 45-caliber towed gun

The XT-69 155mm 45-caliber prototype gun made in 1979 by the Lianqin Factory 202 imitating the South African G-5. In the late 1970s, South Africa’s Denel LIW developed a new type of G-5 155 45mm howitzer, which was the world’s largest 155mm artillery at the time (the latest NATO FH-70 155mm howitzer had a 39-caliber barrel at the time), using extended range The maximum range of the cannonball is nearly 40km, and it has an auxiliary power system. It has a high degree of automation. The placement and retraction of the gun mounts are all carried out by the hydraulic system (only 3 minutes each). There was no need to rely on manpower to dig and shovel pits, and no vehicle towing is required. It can change positions by itself, and the overall design was very advanced.

At that time, the Republic of China, which still had diplomatic relations with South Africa, was quite enthusiastic about the G-5. However, because the price was too expensive to buy directly, the idea of imitation was raised. On March 27, 1979, the National Army sent a group of experts from the Joint Logistics Factory 202 to South Africa. On the surface, they were investigating and deciding whether to purchase G-5. In fact, they were trying to understand the various designs of G-5 without the original technology transfer and provide design drawings, just imitate.

The most important person in the inspection team was undoubtedly Colonel Chen Hu from Factory 202. Among all the personnel involved in the inspection, only he believed that Lianli had the ability to imitate the G-5, and everyone else thought there was no way. Previously, Colonel Chen Hu led the joint logistics 202 factory to develop three prototype guns, including Type 63, T-65, and M-68, and accumulated some engineering experience. In addition, the 202 factory planned to establish a production line to manufacture artillery, including 105mm, 155mm and even 240mm and other calibers, so many machines and instruments were purchased, and the production energy was not in short supply, so Colonel Chen Hu boldly agreed to take over the job.

When the joint logistics experts went to South Africa for inspection, the South African factory also took strict confidentiality measures. When the visiting group arrived, the factory stopped working to greet them, and they were not allowed to take pictures. The answers to various data were also quite vague and reserved. Of course, for the joint logistics team who is good at reverse engineering, South Africa's move has long been expected, and they came prepared. Chen Hu himself took some small props to measure secretly. This is a difficult way, so that the approximate external parameters of G-5 will be brought back to Taiwan.

Due to the limited steel manufacturing technology in Taiwan at that time, it was impossible to directly manufacture the 7m long 155mm 45-diameter gun body, so designers changed to use two T-65 gun barrels to be combined into a long gun barrel by hot sleeve jointing. The G-5's breech block was further improved, and the barrel smoke evacuator was added, which was not available in the G-5. Since the G-5's muzzle brake cannot be directly imitated, the 202 factory directly used the M109 on hand. The brakes of the guns were replaced.

Using this method of overcoming difficulties, the first imitation new gun took only five months and was completed on September 17, 1979 (Republic of China 68). The model of XT-69 was given according to the year. The second prototype gun was completed on March 27 in 1981 (the 70th year of the Republic of China). After that, the 202 factory produced four more prototype guns. In addition to the use of hot-sleeve joining technology to complete the 45-diameter barrel, since the previous 202 factory purchased a batch of 155mm 45-diameter barrels (integrated) from Germany through Singapore, a total of 40 pieces were also used on the XT-69 test.

The G-5's bearing system design has the problem of being prone to overheating, and the actual towing speed must be limited to 40km/hr or less; therefore, the design of XT-69 is changed from G-5 with two axles and four wheels to single axle and two wheels ( The auxiliary power system is still maintained), and the towing rate is increased to 90km/hr; in addition, the XT-69 also modified the hydraulic drive of the gun mount and housed it in a large frame to prevent collision damage.

However, the results of the XT-69's test firing were not satisfactory. The maximum range of the first test firing was only 25 kilometers, which was different from the original target of 30 kilometers. This was because the joint logistics related technology of extended range ammunition was not perfect. Full-caliber extended-range projectiles are quite different from standard projectiles. Not only does the projectile itself have a more streamlined and slender appearance, but the projectile body must be equipped with stabilizer wings and sealing rubber rings, and the three-base propellant required for extended-range munitions was not available in standard ammunition.

After the success of the prototype of the XT-69 gun, Colonel Chen Hu began to optimize the operation. First of all, the design of the load-carrying system of G-5 has the problem of easy overheating, and the actual traction speed must be limited to below 40km/hr; therefore, the design of XT-69 is changed from G-5's two-axle and four-wheel to one-axle and two-wheel ( The auxiliary power system is still maintained), and the traction speed is increased to 90km/hr; in addition, the XT-69 also modified the hydraulic drive device of the gun mount and accommodated it in the large frame to prevent collision damage.

When joint logistics experts went to South Africa for inspection, Colonel Tan Ting'e, the director of the shell room, not only secretly measured the size and configuration of the extended-range shells, but also secretly picked up many shell fragments and brought them back to Taiwan. In the end, he insisted on reverse engineering to develop the extended-range ammunition; however, Sanji propellants did not The method is to imitate based on the appearance alone. Originally, Lianli planned to send another delegation to Canada to inspect the extended-range bomb, but it was canceled for some reason.

In the end, it could only rely on Lianli 203 factory to explore and develop it by itself. Therefore, the performance of the extended-range bombs and propellants developed by Lianqin 203 Factory not only failed to meet the requirements, but also caused instability problems in the early stage of testing, and the hydraulic pipeline of the artillery itself was also prone to bursting when fired. The gun body of XT-69 is 7m long. There are 48 right-handed rifling lines in the barrel. The maximum bore pressure is 50000psi. The muzzle velocity of the caliber extended-range ammunition is 895m/s, and the maximum range can reach 29km. This is the extreme performance of the XT-69, which cannot achieve the original goal.

Subsequently, Lianqin joint logistics factory 202 installed the XT-69 body on the tracked chassis of the existing M108 self-propelled gun (using an open turret, and the body is directly fixed on the chassis), and it was exhibited at the National Day parade in 1981. At that time, the South African personnel attending the National Day were surprised when they saw the G-5-like artillery, and they immediately protested; however, because the design of XT-69 has been modified according to Taiwan’s national conditions and technological level, South Africa was unable to find direct evidence of counterfeiting G-5.

Afterwards, Chen Hu was in charge of interviewing five people, including the director of the relevant arsenal factory in South Africa, and explained the difference between XT-69 and G-5, and then the matter was left alone. Mounting the XT-69 barrel on the M-108 chassis was unsuccessful, with poor firing stability, and the development was subsequently unsuccessful.

Later, around 1990, Lianqin Factory 202 once again moved out the XT-69 as a "new domestic artillery"; at the same time, Lianqin also developed another XT-86 155mm howitzer. The barrel was produced in Taiwan, but only 39 times the caliber. The XT-86's artillery also developed poorly, failed in performance and quality, and never entered the service stage. In 1994 (Republic of China 1983), Joint Logistics moved the XT-69 out to participate in the Hanguang 11 exercise and made its debut under the name of "new self-made artillery."