First seen in the year 2018
The gun was first seen at the 10th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) held in Karachi in December 2018. At that time only one photograph of it was seen. It had become clear that Pakistan wanted to keep this entire project a secret. But it was understood that Pakistan has started importing the system. Earlier this system was also displayed in the Zhuhai Airshow held in China in the same month. The 72 Corps of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is using this cannon in the Eastern Theater Command. Pakistan had quietly tested this system close to Karachi. A leaked photograph of the tests was published in Chinese magazines. Pakistan is believed to have ordered at least 52 SH-15s, enough for three artillery regiments.
how does it work
The SH-15 system uses a 6×6 wheeled Shaanxi truck to carry the 155 mm howitzer mounted on the rear of the truck. The truck has two hooks attached to the howitzer at the rear to stabilize the system. A five-member crew is required to operate this system. It can lift a load of about 22.5 tonnes. There is an armored cabin at the front that can withstand attacks from small arms and is also fully protected from shell splinters. Its windows are completely bulletproof and. 155 mm/52 caliber long-barreled howitzer with double-baffle brake. It can fire 60 rounds of ammunition at a time.
Cannon was bought in the year 2019
The SH-15 can be used to perform the direct firing role, which the Pakistani military is very fond of. According to defense experts, Pakistan wants to increase the firepower against India with the help of this cannon. Pakistan’s army is currently using the M109A5 which has been developed by the US. In 2019, when tensions with India were at its peak, the Pakistan Army signed a contract with China’s Northern Industries Corporation (NORINCO) to buy SH-15 howitzer artillery guns. Pakistan then announced that it wanted to buy 236 of these guns with a transfer-of-technology clause and deploy them along the LoC.
