TAMSE VCA-155
Notes: Also
known simply as the VCA, this self-propelled artillery vehicle is used only by
Argentina. It marries the TAP
chassis (an abandoned heavy tank version of the TAM light tank) with the turret
from the Italian Palmaria self-propelled artillery vehicle.
The VCA-155 was designed to replace the elderly AMX Mk F3 that the
Argentines were using (and still use, until all of them have been replaced). The
VCA-155 first entered service in 1997, but production rates have been slow and
only 19 were in service by 1999.
Since Palmaria turret is no longer being produced, it is unlikely that there
will be any more procurement of these turrets; however, Argentina purchased a
total of 20 of these turrets, so it is possible that there may be one more
VCA-155 in the Argentine Army’s future.
The TAP chassis
is basically a lengthened version of the TAM with seven roadwheels on each side.
The VCA-155 is surprisingly modern, with equipment normally found in many
1st World SP howitzers.
This is not only due to forward-thinking engineers and designers, but also due
to the Palmaria turret and its equipment.
This combat equipment includes fire control and mission plotting
computers, inertial navigation, two long-range secure radios (one of which is
slaved to the fire control equipment) as well as secure short and medium-range
radios for general communications, and a digital link to the VCCDT FDC vehicle.
A system called TRUENO also allows the VCA-155 to operate in automatic
mode, taking directions from the FDC, inputting them directly to the fire
control computer, and requiring only that the howitzer charges be loaded
manually. Without the FDC, the gun
has a basic, if uncomplicated, fire control system, capable of direct fire and
requiring normal fire solution calculations for proper targeting (though this
process is speeded up by the VCA-155’s computer). Like most modern vehicles,
turret rotation is hydraulic with manual backup. The gun has a semiautomatic
loader; it loads the rounds into the gun from a magazine consisting of half its
onboard ammunition, and requiring that the charges for the projectile be loaded
manually. This greatly reduces crew
fatigue.
Though the
turret is the Palmaria’s turret, it uses an L/41 gun, rather than the Palmaria’s
L/39 gun. This gives it a slight
edge in range while keeping costs down somewhat. (Italy developed the L/41
version of its L/39 gun specifically for the export market.)
The gun is capable of firing all but the most modern of 155mm rounds. The
turret also has a coaxial machinegun.
The turret is slightly to the rear of center of the vehicle. The driver
is on the front left, with the powerpack on his right; the front vision block
can be switched between day and night channels.
The commander is in the turret on the right, with vision blocks
surrounding his hatch and a pintle-mounted weapon; to his right in the turret is
a loader’s hatch which is a simple hatch with no vision blocks and no weapon
mount. The gunner has night vision
gear for the gun and general use, as well as a fire control equipment for direct
fire if necessary. Two loaders complete the crew. On each side of the turret is
a bank of four smoke grenade launchers.
Vehicular ammunition supply is on the short side; the VCA-155 normally
travels with several ammunition supply vehicles (normally high-capacity trucks).
The VCA-155 has a rear door for the loading of projectiles and charges
from an exterior ammunition source.
Power is
provided by an MTU MB-833 Ka500 diesel engine, developing 720 horsepower, with
an automatic transmission and torsion bar suspension
In addition, the VCA-155 has a 5kW APU that allows the VCA-155 to operate
longer without the engine on. Armor
is welded aluminum, and is pretty decent compared to other SP howitzer vehicles.
The VCA-155 normally carries two drum-type long-range fuel tanks at the
rear; unlike comparable Russian designs, these drums have fuel pumps which allow
them to sit level with the rear of the vehicle, stopping fuel from pouring into
the vehicle if they are hit. Armor
is of aluminum alloy; since it has a light tank chassis, hull armor, especially
the glacis, is substantial, and the turret was armored to match the hull.
There are large turret bustle racks for crew equipment on the rear of the
turret. There are “windows” on the
rear sides of the turret; these can be opened for observation, ventilation, or
to supervise external ammunition source loading.
They have armored covers, and the covers swing down for opening.
There are also large doors on the sides of the turret; these do not have
vision blocks in them and are merely doors.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$884,890 |
D, A |
500 kg |
40 tons |
5 |
21 |
Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensification (G) |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
143/100 |
40/28 |
873+400 |
266 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF21 TS8
TR8 HF32
HS6 HR6 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+2 |
Basic |
155mm L/41 Howitzer, MAG, MAG or M-2HB (C) |
47x155mm, 1700x7.62mm or 1000x .50 |