The Nora B-52 is a 155 mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzer weapon system developed by VojnotehniÄki Institut (Military Technical Institute Belgrade, Serbia, then Yugoimport) for export and domestic use. The NORA-B52 155 mm self-propelled gun-howitzer is designed to provide fire support to own units. Fire support is achieved by powerful, sudden and rapid fire against tactically, operatively and strategically significant targets at greater distances. The first self-propelled Nora B (developed on the basis of Nora C) was designed by MTI in 1984 (at that time no other country except Yugoslavia had that kind of weapon today known with acronym TMG – Truck Mounted Gun) with a modified 152 mm towed gun-howitzer NORA M84[2] mounted on an FAP 8×8 truck bed and was a third generation of artillery weapons.
Later 2000 MTI developed new versions of 4th generation artillery systems with 52 caliber 155 mm gun for fitting on a new system of NORA family with B-52 designation.
Serbia has exported the Nora B-52 artillery battlefield systems (B-52 selected versions of self-propelled howitzer K1,KE,KI), reconnaissance BOV M11, command(BOV M10) and battery fire control and meteorological vehicles, ammunition loading trucks, artillery battlefield software for platoon, battery and division level) to the armed forces of Myanmar, Kenya and Bangladesh. One fully equipped battery usually consist of 6-12 self-propelled howitzer, reconnaissance 1-2 BOV M11, three command BOV M10(1 for each platoon and 1 for battery command), 3-6 munition trucks, communication and workshop vehicle, 2-3 general supply vehicles (fuel, food, water etc.) and 1-2 fire direction and gunfire locator vehicle with radar and sound ranging.
The NORA-B52 155 mm self-propelled gun-howitzer set includes:
• armament subsystems,
• modified off-road vehicle subsystem,
• hydraulic subsystem with belonging back-up subsystems,
• breechblock pneumatic installation subsystem,
• electrical power subsystem,
• weapon fire control system (FCS),
• fire protection subsystem,
• ventilation, air-conditioning and heating subsystem,
• subsystem of communication between crew members,
• stand-by power unit (motor and pump).
The design solution of the NORA-B52 155 mm self-propelled gun-howitzer (mounting of the gun on the off-road 8×8 vehicle chassis) and the overall dimensions of the weapon provide:
• good cross-country mobility,
• transport of weapon crew,
• transport of a 0.5 combat set of ammunition for the primary armament (12 projectiles and 12 propellant charges in the automatic loader and 24 projectiles and 24 propellant charges in the ammunition containers on the weapon). The remaining 0.5 combat set of ammunition is transported by vehicles for transport and reloading of ammunition (logistic vehicles). Three (3) logistic vehicles, on the battery level, transport 72 projectiles each and 72 propellant charges each (0.5 combat set for the battery). One combat set of ammunition for the secondary armament is also transported on each weapon,
• safe work of the crew when serving the weapon on a fire position,
• ballistic protection of the crew, the armament assembly and vehicle parts (driver’s cabin, auxiliary cabin, squad commander and gunner cabin, ammunition container and a part of the turret housing the automatic loader cassettes) against 7.62 x 39 mm FMJ bullets and 155 mm artillery shell fragments,
• safe exit from the battlefield in case of a failure of the basic hydro-electric system, with the help of the stand-by subsystems installed in the vehicle,
• three (3) operation modes (automatic, semi-automatic and manual).
