Type-59 Basilísque SPG
| Type-59 Basilísque Self-Propelled Gun | |
|---|---|
 Right: UBC-8-M2008 Chassis, Center: Test firing the 204mm in nothern Topoguya, Left 204mm hypervelocity projectile | |
| Type | 210mm Heavy Artillery |
| Place of origin |  Inyursta |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2009 - present |
| Used by | Inyursta |
| Production history | |
| Designer | PAVCO Arms |
| Designed | 1991-2000 |
| Produced | 2003 - present |
| Specifications | |
| Crew | 6 (Commander, driver, load crew (x3), comms) |
| Caliber | 210mm |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Maximum firing range | 65km (standard) 95km (rocket-assisted) |
| Armor | Up to 7.62mm |
Operational range | 400 km on internal fuel and energy reserves |
| Speed | Up to 34mph (69km/h) on road, 20mph (32km/h) off-road |
The Type-59 Basilísque is a self-propelled artillery gun in use with the Inyurstan Army. It is both currently and historically the largest caliber gun in use with any branch of the Inyurstan Armed Forces. After a troubled design history, the Type-59 entered service in 2009, but it has yet to be fired in combat.
Development History
In 1991, PAVCO Arms began development of a heavier self-propelled system that utilized the Mericki 11 Nautical Frag (204mm) gun, alongside the 155mm Type-44 Calango. While the latter was adopted into service, the Inyurstan Army withheld ordering them due to lack of a foreseeable need, while the Inyurstan Marines outright neglected to consider the Type-59 due to its heavier size, slower speed and complicated logistics.
Military planners expected that future opponents would employ a complex strategy of shoot-and-scoot combined with decoys and other pre-emptive counter-measures, in which case flexible and intelligent missile systems were favored. Corporate leaders at PAVCO Arms, their rivals at Entengo Arms with their own 208mm Type-47 Mayuba Grande prototype, and a number of outspoken Army commanders began referring to this cabal of high-ranking officers and military analysts the "Rocket Mafia".
During the Lolloh-Ruol Wars, Lollohian units (including SAMs and artillery) generally opted instead to remain stationary and invest in systems to shoot down the incoming Inyurstan PGMs. While their strategy was ineffective and considered a poor move by military analysts from a large number of nations, save for Firmador and their own, their efforts did manage to force the Inyurstans to use 2-4x the number of PGMs per engagement (depending on a number of factors). This directly impacted the cost of the war effort, increasing the money spent on new missiles by an equal amount. In spite of this, the so-called "Rocket Mafia" continued to deny the utility of a larger-caliber artillery piece, believing that traditional guns were becoming obsolete and even guided artillery would soon be replaced by missiles, rocket artillery and kamikaze drones.
In 2007, the Chaves-Enquillo Scandal broke, wherein a number of officers and procurement officials in the so-called "Rocket Mafia" had significant stock holdings in Navayelle Systems - a major Inyurstan missile producer - as well as certain foreign companies such as Raytheon. In the wake of such scandal the Inyurstan Legislative Assembly forced the army into seeking cheaper options, such as traditional artillery.
The Type-59 was finally adopted in 2009; though it would not be deployed in-theater until 2012. Ironically, as combat shifted further and further north, the Basilísque gun would never fire a shot in combat during this war.
Cannon
The Type-59 uses an L/70 length barrel to fire its projectiles. While a longer length is possible, the L/70 was chosen for its more sturdy physics when being transported without requiring the use of stabilizers. Muzzle velocity is approximately 910m/s.
Ammunition
Primary ammunition is a standard, 11NF (204mm) HE-Frag base-bleed shell with an approximate range of >60km. Despite the increase of cost, base-bleed ammunition is used given the fact that any situation which necessitates the use of the Type-59 over the Type-44 or Type-39 is already requiring longer-ranging projectiles (such as counter-battery or striking of targets such as runways & ammunition depots), and such a cost increase is still fractions compared to missiles and most rockets.
The N80F3 SERRAP (Smart Extended-Range Rocket Assisted Projectile) is a long-range option which uses a rocket booster and GPS guidance to strike targets in excess of 90km away.
For anti-structural options, the N82PC1 MCB (Munition Contre-Batimes) utilizes a time-delayed fuse to "bury" itself beneath the foundation of structural targets before exploding. Can also be used as a form of "mini-bunker buster" against certain hardened targets.
Another option is the N90TE SIPÉ (Subordínançe d'Intelligente de Penétrateura Éxplosíva), a form of guided smart shell that disperses 3 intelligent submunitions which each attempt to seek out a target and destroy it with an anti-tank EFP from above. These small bomblets are extremely capable against modern MBTs, save for certain hardkill APS, but they are also designed and utilized to be able to engage enemy artillery - especially mobile units also employing scoot-and-shoot.
The Inyurstan Army is currently testing the N100 Projectile de Hypère-Velocítéa, a next-generation high-speed munition for the Type-59.