054/A FFG Thread II

[Jura The idiot]

when checking something about the Singaporean Formidable-class, I found out FFG-569 "Yulin" had participated in "Exercise Maritime Cooperation 2015" earlier this week (you can use google to find some info; I think it's over) , and since I'm a big fan of Naval Artillery

(I believe it's her 3" H/PJ26 gun fired during that exercise)

 

[SpicySichuan]

when checking something about the Singaporean Formidable-class, I found out FFG-569 "Yulin" had participated in "Exercise Maritime Cooperation 2015" earlier this week (you can use google to find some info; I think it's over) , and since I'm a big fan of Naval Artillery

(I believe it's her 3" H/PJ26 gun fired during that exercise)

Wondering if the Chinese could upgrade the gun to the level of Oto Melera 76mm, which has a range of 30km. The PL26 only has a range of 10km. Both are 3 inch naval quick-firing guns, but the Italian one is constantly being upgraded.

 

[delft]

Wondering if the Chinese could upgrade the gun to the level of Oto Melera 76mm, which has a range of 30km. The PL26 only has a range of 10km. Both are 3 inch naval quick-firing guns, but the Italian one is constantly being upgraded.

How reliable is that 10 km? It seems good for a WWII army gun but you expect better from a naval gun.

 

[schenkus]

How reliable is that 10 km? It seems good for a WWII army gun but you expect better from a naval gun.

Looking at the numbers I see around the web, 10km seems reasonable as the "effective range" against a surface target for a 76mm, "maximum range" would be something around 15km
(I guess this means that at 10km you have a somewhat reasonable chance to hit a ship).

About the 30km range for the Oto Melara, this would assume the new (not yet deployed?) Vulcano shells which use a sabot and submunition combination to increase range.

The "unguided" version for the 76mm is supposed to reach 30km but there are also guided versions planned which are supposed to hit farther.

Oto Melara has some very creative new munitions (and upgrades to their guns) both in 76mm and 127mm.

These would make for some interesting discussions about the role of naval guns, but I guess that is OT.

 

[tphuang]

Wondering if the Chinese could upgrade the gun to the level of Oto Melera 76mm, which has a range of 30km. The PL26 only has a range of 10km. Both are 3 inch naval quick-firing guns, but the Italian one is constantly being upgraded.

why would they do that when they have PJ-26?

 

[SpicySichuan]

why would they do that when they have PJ-26?

Sorry I men upgrading the PJ26 to the same level as Oto Melera

 

[schenkus]

Sorry I men upgrading the PJ26 to the same level as Oto Melera

Considering the range, I guess the PJ26 would just need comparable munitions (though there might be something preventing it to use this kind of sabot).
But I don't know if the feeding system of the PJ26 is as flexible as the system of the Oto Melara which allows you to switch to different types of shell between each shot.

 

[Blitzo]

@josh
oto melara's new 76mm gun variants don't reach ranges of 30 or 40km by "upgrading the gun" rather it is by developing new ammunition, VULCANO in particular. And of course, it is perfectly plausible to develop new munitions an existing gun, in fact it is common practice.

The max effective range of oto melara 76mm for its new variants is still in the scope of 8-10km when using standard ammunition, with a max range of some 16km... Virtually the same as AK-176/PJ-26 when using standard ammo as well.

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[tphuang]

Sorry I men upgrading the PJ26 to the same level as Oto Melera

what makes you think PJ-26 is worse than Oto Melera? If it's only because of range of the extended range munition, that's something that can be developed. Other than that, in service with PLAN, I'm not sure if an extended range munition is really needed. They do need continue improving the munitions they have against aerial and sea target, but we don't have the data to really show PJ-26 is indeed worse than oto melera in these regards. There is no evidence that PJ-26 munitions aren't been upgraded for PLAN requirements.

 

[Pmichael]

I don't think China is planning to provide the PJ-26 with the same ammunition as the Oto Melera.

Because of the nature of such long-range ammunition it would only make sense for the naval gun support role. The PJ-38 is way better suited for that role even without using expensive ammunition.