| title (web) | field_t_title_web | |
|---|---|---|
| https://tank-afv.com/modern/Iraq/al-fao.png | ||
| https://tank-afv.com/modern/Iraq/Al-Fao.php |
In 1988, South Africa attempted to sell the G-6 to Iraq. Hussein Kamil liked the design but found it too expensive and requested that Bull design two equivalents for Iraq. Named al-Faw (shown here), and al-Majnoon, these were to carry 210mm and 155mm guns, respectively. The prototype al-Faw was constructed around three 11-metre-long (53 calibres) 210mm guns made by Creusot-Loire of France, and mounted on a custom-made vehicle manufactured by the Spanish company Trabelan (earning it the nickname the ‘Spanish Project’ amongst the Iraqis involved), powered by a 550hp Mercedes-Benz engine. The complete vehicle was to weigh about 44,000kg but still be able to reach top road speeds of 90km/h. It was to be capable of firing 109.4kg shells over a maximum range of 57km – thus outranging all contemporary US- and Soviet-made artillery. Production was to be carried out by the factories of the Taji complex, but never materialised. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)