Self-propelled gun

A gun mounted on a vehicle so that it can move in rough terrain. In the past, guns were moved by human or horse power, but now they are towed by automobiles. In contrast, a gun combined with a vehicle is called a self-propelled gun. Self-propelled guns appeared in World War II in two types: anti-tank gun-mounted and field gun-mounted, but after the war, field gun-mounted types were mainly called self-propelled guns, and armored vehicles became mainstream to protect soldiers, resulting in a style that can be mistaken for a tank at first glance. However, while tanks aim for direct targeting (firing at a target that can be seen directly), self-propelled guns are mainly for indirect targeting (firing using map coordinates). Recently, there has been a trend for self-propelled guns, which are highly mobile, to become the mainstream of artillery units. This is because, with the development of information devices, if a gun remains in one place, it becomes a target and is easily attacked. On the other hand, lightweight towed guns that can be transported by helicopter are also important, and guns suitable for all kinds of complex battle scenes have appeared. Although it is still a cannon, its former image as being sluggish is fading.

[Shudo Inoguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

荒れ地でも移動できるように車両に装備された火砲。かつて大砲は移動に際し、人力や馬力に頼ったが、現在は自動車で牽引(けんいん)する。これに対し、砲と自動車を合体させたものを自走砲とよぶ。第二次世界大戦に出現した自走砲には対戦車砲搭載型と野砲搭載型があったが、戦後はおもに野砲搭載型を自走砲とよび、兵員保護のため装甲化された車体が主流になり、一見、戦車と見誤るスタイルになった。しかし、戦車は直接照準射撃（直接見える目標に対する射撃）を旨とするが、自走砲は間接照準射撃（地図の座標を利用する射撃）が主になる。最近は機動性に富む自走砲が砲兵隊の主流になる傾向がみられる。それは、情報機器の発達により、砲が1か所にとどまると目標となって容易に攻撃されるからである。一方、ヘリコプターで運搬できる軽量の牽引式砲も重視されており、複雑な様相をもつあらゆる戦闘場面に適した大砲が登場している。同じ大砲といっても、かつての鈍重なイメージは薄れつつある。

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