Analysis of the design concept of 'Nora' family artillery weapons

Abstract

The development of the NORA family started as far as back to 1976 at the Military Technical Institute of the Yugoslav's People's Army. The programme covered development of several types of the main artillery weapon: the 152 mm NORA-A towed gun-howitzer, the 152 mm NORA-B self-propelled gun-howitzer and the 152 mm gun-howitzer with APU. Under the same programme, the conversion of the Russian 130 mm towed gun M46 into the 155 mm M46/84 gun (for export needs) and the 152 mm M46/86 gun respectively (for the needs of the YPA) was completed. Only the 152 mm M84 (NORA-A) towed howitzer was introduced in service, while the development of the NORA-B and NORA-C weapons was carried on until 1992. After it had been suspended for many years, the development of the NORAB weapon was continued in 2003, followed by serial production of the 155 mm NORA-B52 self-propelled system for the export needs.

Keywords

• artillery weapon
• gun
• howitzer
• projectile
• propellant charge
• modular charges
• igniters
• primer
• fire control systems