Iraq’s relationship with Gerald Bull’s gun designs began in the early 1980s, when the MIC placed an order for 300 GHN-45 howitzers from Austria and 41,000 155mm shells from Belgium. Deliveries began in 1984 and ran through to 1985, when cancelled by the MIC. Iraq then placed an order for 250 very similar, but motorised G-5 guns in South Africa under Project Sheri instead. By this time, at least 110 GHN- 45s were in Iraq and they saw intensive service during the war with Iran. By August 1990, a similar number of G-5s, which fired the same ammunition, had been imported. Both types of guns saw action during the war of 1991, when they proved less effective than anticipated – primarily because US and Coalition air strikes completely disrupted the Iraqi command and control capabilities, and many were knocked out by fire from M270 MLRS of the US Army. A single GHN-45 weighed about 9,000kg and was about 9.5m long when prepared for transport, as shown here. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)