"New Russian 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer " Topic

"For the first time since it has been unveiled during Russia's May 9 Victory Parade, the brand new 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV tracked self-propelled howitzer is introduced to the public during an exhibition. At Russian Arms Expo 2015, the 2S35 is starring along with the T-14 Armata main battle tank and the T-15 BMP infantry fighting vehicle.

The 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer was presented for the first time to the public in April 2015 during rehearsals for the Moscow Victory Day parade. Some Russian sources said that the 2S35 can fire fully autonomously without any crew in the turret. In March 2015, Russian website has announced the first delivery of first batch of 12 2S35 152mm self-propelled howitzer.

The 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV layout is very similar to the 2S19 howitzer, with the driver compartment at the front, turret in the middle of the hull and power pack at the rear. The crew consists of three soldiers, driver, commander and gunner. According our analysis of the first scale model of the 2S35, three hatches are located at the front of the chassis, then we can suppose that there is no crew in the turret…"

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Amicalement
Armand

So, given the latest offerings from Russia, e.g. this, and the Armata tank, it appears safe to say that low-profile vehicles have fallen out of favor.

Hmmm, the 2S35 has 6 road wheels, like the 2S19. The T14 Armata has 7 road wheels. I wonder why they didn't take this opportunity to consolidate all their heavy vehicles on the new chassis?

Good looking kit.

Why on earth didn't the Russians put the engine up front to give more room for the turret basket?

^Yeah, that's why I *really* don't understand them not using the Armata chassis: the engine is front-mounted in the T-15 heavy IFV (but not on the T-14 MBT). Here's an article @ Jane's with some GREAT diagrams of the new vehicles: link

Such guns are not supposed to be under enemy fire, so low profile is not that necessary. When I was in army, mothers of this gun (older 152SPG) were behind our positions, so if our max firing range was ca. 18 km, theirs was like 25. And if you're attacked from air, it doesn't matter.

Lion

I think this turret is mostly self contained/unmanned and does not need a conventional turret basket

@Kabrank: I'm thinking about using the space under a remote turret like the magazine space of a warship. You just don't have a shell hoist between the magazine and the guns.