The GCT 155mm AKA Grande Cadence de Tir (high rate of fire) is a Self Propelled Gun developed by the former French state owned company Giat Industries, to meet the requirements for a 155mm SPG that offered protection and transportation of the crew during the 1960’s, which the serving 155mm Mk F3 did not have.
Development started in 1969, with ten vehicles being delivered for field testing between 1974-75. AKA the AUF1 T in France, it entered production in 1977, with the first vehicles being supplied to Saudi Arabia to meet their urgent requirements.
It entered service with the French Army in July 1979. It was decided to use the hull and chassis of the existing AMX-30 Medium Battle Tank, which was deployed with the French Army. This meant a quicker development, savings in operational and manufacturing costs as it used the same engine and suspension.
The driver sat in front in the centre of the hull and the engine at the rear. The AMX-30 turret was removed, as was the 105mm ammunition storage in the hull. This was replaced with a backup generator and a air ventilation system to the AUF1 T turret which was then inserted in to the hull.
The Commander and Gunner sit on the right with the loader on the left. The gun elevation is -4 to +66 degree’s via hydraulic controls. The turret is fully 360 degree traverse. The 155mm main gun is hooked up to an autoloader, which can load 8 rounds per minute. It is capable of firing 6 rounds in the first 45 seconds, in burst fire mode.
Non Rocket assist rounds have a 18km range and 30.5km rocket assisted.
The rear section of the turret is formed of two storage bins, each with vertical racks. 1 bin is used to store 42 rounds and the second is used to store the propellant charge’s. A further 40 propellant charge’s can be stored in an additional storage under the turret (range can be increased with the number of charges used).
The rear wall of the turret folds down in to a platform exposing the rear of the two storage bins, so that the storage racks can be refilled whilst the vehicle is firing and a full compliment takes roughly two men up to 20 minutes so that the operations with in the turret are not interrupted.
The vehicle can be brought in to action within 2 minutes and in-case of counter battery can move off within 1 minute.
The number in service with French Army is not clear, as we have been unable to find 2 sources confirming the same number. Numbers have been from a total of 241 to 190 for the French Army and 400 for the export market.
The turret has been installed on T-72’s and assessed by countries such as India and Egypt.
The vehicle is still in service with the French Army, Saudi Arabian Army and is held in reserve in Kuwait, who use the more modern Chinese PLZ45.
France has provided military equipment to in the past and this has included the GCT 155mm at some point, which were used in the 1980-88 Iran Iraq War, but they are believed to have been destroyed during the conflict. The vehicle was deployed by French Forces during the Gulf War.
French Forces were deployed as part of IFOR in the Siege of Sarajevo. The vehicle served as a counter battery against Serb artillery that attacked the city. France has also contributed to the Peace Keeping efforts in Lebanon and the vehicle has been deployed with those forces.
There has various speculation surrounding upgrades in recent years to the vehicle and again we have been unable to find 2 sources confirming the same upgrades and numbers. Speculation has also included that the vehicles main guns calibre has been increased from 39 to 52.
Nexter Systems who are successor to Giat Industries, but maintain their role in the French Arms industry and conduct the maintenance, developments and upgrade of the French Armies vehicles since 2006, state that the AUF1 TA is an upgraded version of the AUF1 T. Its development falls within the scope of the artillery upgrade programme launched by the DGA (French Defence Procurement Agency) for the French Army which focuses on mobility, onboard fire-control system, fire control and maintainability.
Chassis improvements -
The AUF1 TA turret, for the French Army, is mounted on a refurbished AMX 30 B2-type chassis fitted with a 750 hp Renault/Mack E9 engine. This engine, associated with a semiautomatic gearbox, provides the system with a power-to-weight ratio 20% higher than the original configuration. It gives the system mobility and manoeuvrability capabilities that are identical to those of the MBT’s.
Turret improvements -
Starting from the current AUF1 T basis, the upgrade package includes the integration of:
1. A ballistic computer, a piece terminal from the ATLAS fire-control system,
2. An electronic fuse programming device,
3. 2 type-PR4G frequency hopping radio sets (data and phony),a specific electric network.
4. The preoutfit to accommodate a muzzle velocity measurement radar.
Specifications of the AUF1 TA -
Combat weight
AUF1 TA turret 19 tonnes
With AMX-30 B2 chassis 46 tonnes
Firepower
Artillery 155 mm/39 cal. ordnance
Rate of fire 6 rds in 52 seconds
Range 4,5 à 30 km
Ammunition range
Any 155 mm NATO-standard ammunition and competent ammunition (BONUS)
Automatic loading of complete rounds
Automated storage and feed of shells and propellant charges (selection/loading)
Combat readiness
42 on-board complete rounds.
Replenishment (shell + charges) < 20 minutes.
Protection
12.7 mm roof-mounted machine gun
GALIX protection system (optional)
Ballistic protection against 7.62 mm projectiles and shell splinters
Add-on armour and collective NBC protection.
Gun crew effectiveness in combat
Gun crew: commander, gun-layer, radio operator/ artificer/loader and driver
Engagement duration within 2 minutes (into-action time/6-round salvo/out-of -action time).
It’s believed that 70 AUF1 TA are currently operated by the French Army, which has recently purchased the new CAESAR 155mm SPG. Its not clear if the 70 AUF1 TA’s are either upgraded existing vehicles or new build turrets mounted on AMX-30B2 MBT’s that have been made redundant with the introduction during the 1990’s of the French Leclerc Main Battle Tank.