The Type 99 155 mm SPH (99式自走155mmりゅう弾砲) is currently one of the 155 mm howitzers in JGSDF service as the direct replacement of the obsolete, shorter-barreled Type 75 155 mm SPH. The JGSDF had already planned for a replacement of the Type 75 SPH as early as 1985; development began in 1987, with MHI responsible for the extended hull based on the chassis of what would become the Type 89 IFV, while JSW developed the weapon systems with a domestic 155 mm L/52 howitzer. The new SPH was ready for trials in 1996, and tests were conducted in 1998, with the first four SPH units delivered to the training corps. However, due to the high unit price, the complete replacement of all Type 75 SPHs will be fulfilled by the Type 99 SPH alongside a new, wheeled Type 19 155 mm SPH.
Introduced in Update "Air Superiority" as the second SPH of JGSDF, the Type 99 is equipped with a Japanese NATO standard 155 mm howitzer and shares similar shells, but due to the increased length, it offers a whopping 940 m/s shell velocity. The new gun system retains the relatively fast gun traverse speed and new autoloader for faster reload; meanwhile, tank crews have to beware of the rather underpowered engine and huge size; enemy commanders can easily spot this long-nosed "lying Pinocchio" from afar.
Ammunition | Type | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
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10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
HE | 61 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 61 | |
Smoke | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
HE-VT | 61 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 61 | |
HE | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 |
Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
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10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
API-T/I/AP/API-T | 31 | 29 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 6 |
Mobility | |
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Protection |
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Firepower | |
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