Noricum GHN-45 155mm field gun-howitzer

The history of the 155mm GHN-45 howitzer is certainly bizarre. All started in the 70s when the Canadian engineer Gerald Bull was developing an artillery ammunition that was capable of achieving a great range at the cost of sacrificing accuracy. The desired results were not totally achieved, but instead, an ammunition called Extended Range-Full Bore (ERFB) emerged. Then, a howitzer was designed to use such ammunition, it was a 45-caliber piece known as GC-45. After a series of problems that led Bull to live in Brussels, the Austrian company Noricum obtained the rights to build the GC-45 howitzer. After making a few changes, the production of the “155mm GHN-45” howitzer began. Thailand was one of the first users and purchased 18 units for its Naval Infantry. Iraq would be the largest user, purchasing 200 howitzers directly from Noricum and another 100 built in South Africa. This operation ended in a great scandal that took several Noricum executives to court for violating the arms embargo decreed against Iraq and Iran during their war years. China, Israel and Singapore have developed their own versions from the GC-45 howitzer that have led to the PLL01/WA021, Soltam 845P and ODE FH-88 models respectively.

GHN-45 155mm gallery and more info