Finnish Artillerymen conducted a fire mission with Tampella (Patria Vammas Systems Oy) 155 K 83 and 155 GH 52 APU howitzer during cold-weather trainings on a range. This exercise designed to allow multiple batteries to train together in order to improve internal standard operating procedures and provides the opportunity for soldiers to continue to develop their communication, tactics, and other warrior skills. After having encountered problems with firing at 35 km – 40 km, the Finnish Army concentrated its artillery gun development on the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System ( bought as Dutch surplus.
The Tampella 155 K 83 is a Finnish towed 155 mm field gun (Finnish designation; technically it is a gun-howitzer), manufactured in the 1980s by Tampella. The drawings were also used to develop the Israeli Soltam M-68, which, after improvements, became the Soltam M-71 (designated the G4 in South Africa). The gun design was further modified in the late 1990s. The gun, called 155 GH 52 APU (or 155 K 98 in Finnish Army service), was given a longer, 52 calibre barrel and an auxiliary power unit, enabling it to move by its own power. The chamber was also changed to support modern NATO-standard charge bags.
The 155 GH 52 APU (which stands for 155 mm gun-howitzer, 52 calibers, auxiliary power unit), Finnish designation 155 K 98 (155 mm kenttäkanuuna 1998 or “155 mm field gun 1998”; FDF terminology doesn’t recognise gun-howitzers), is a Finnish towed artillery piece developed in 1998. It is largely based on the 155 K 83 with some major enhancements. It can be moved on the field short distances with its own auxiliary diesel engine, which is used in all 56 units used by the Finnish defence forces, is a 78-kilowatt Deutz diesel engine.
