Artillery

G6 Rhino 155 mm self-propelled howitzer

Also known as
  • G6
  • G6 Renoster
  • GV6 Renoster
  • G6 L45
  • Denel G6
  • G6-45
  • G6 M1A3
  • G6M1A3
  • G6-52
  • G6-52L

The G6 Rhino is a South African 155 mm wheeled self-propelled gun-howitzer related to the G5 artillery family. Public sources identify Denel with the turret, OMC with the hull, and Lyttelton Engineering Works/Denel lineage with the system's development and production background, while conflict-use reporting places South African pre-production G6s in Angola in 1987 and UAE G6 howitzers in Yemen in 2015. Later G6-52 work paired the G6 concept with 52-caliber ordnance, automated ammunition handling, and longer-range V-LAP ammunition.

G6 Rhino 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, 155 mm wheeled self-propelled gun-howitzer, Artillery
Image source: Wikimedia Commons G6 Howitzer2

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
South Africa
Type
155 mm wheeled self-propelled gun-howitzer
Service note
Developed from South Africa's long-range artillery modernization work and documented in late-1980s Angolan operations and 2015 UAE operations in Yemen
Designer
Lyttelton Engineering Works / Denel artillery lineage
Designed
Development work traced by DefenceWeb to Project Buzzard and Project Zenula after South Africa's 1970s artillery modernization requirements
Produced
Late 1980s onward; Forecast International listed development through serial production in its archived 2015 report
Developed from
G5 155 mm howitzer artillery family

Specifications

Caliber
155 mm
Configuration
Six-wheel self-propelled gun-howitzer with a Denel/LIW artillery system on an OMC/Alvis OMC chassis
Crew
Baseline sources list six crew; Forecast International lists five crew for G6M1A3 data
Combat weight
About 47.92 tonnes for the G6M1A3 in Forecast International data
Dimensions
Forecast International gives G6M1A3 length 10.34 m, width 3.41 m, and height 3.79 m including the roof-mounted machine gun
Main armament
Original 45-caliber 155 mm ordnance; G6-52 development integrated 52-caliber ordnance
Elevation and traverse
-5 to +75 degrees elevation and 180 degrees total traverse in Forecast International data
Ammunition carried
Forecast International lists 44 projectiles, 50 charges, 64 primers, and 64 fuzes; DefenceWeb lists 47 projectiles plus charges, primers, and fuzes
Road speed
90 km/h maximum speed in Forecast International data; Army Technology lists 85 km/h road speed for the mine-protected chassis
Range
Forecast International lists 39 km maximum ordnance range for the 45-caliber system with ERFB-BB ammunition
Fuel range
DefenceWeb lists 600 km on one refuelling; Army Technology lists 700 km road cruising range
Protection
DefenceWeb lists 7.62x51 mm AP all-round protection, frontal 14.5 mm heavy-machine-gun protection, and TM46 / 5.7 kg TNT mine protection under any wheel
Fire-control and shoot-and-scoot
DefenceWeb says onboard navigation and automatic laying let the gun come into action within a minute of stopping and move off 30 seconds after firing
G6-52 performance
Denel's 2004 presentation lists JBMOU and extended-range G6-52 options with 42 km / 50 km base-bleed ranges and 55 km / 67 km HE-VLAP ranges
G6-52 chamber options
Denel's 2004 presentation compares a 23-liter JBMOU G6-52 with a 25-liter extended-range G6-52L
2019 range demonstration
Rheinmetall says a Denel-built G6 with a 52-caliber gun reached 76 km at Alkantpan on 6 November 2019
Variants

Open sources use G6 Rhino/Renoster for the original 45-caliber wheeled self-propelled howitzer, while later G6-52 rows describe Denel's 52-caliber development path rather than separate conflict-use records.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
G6 M1A3UAE export/service variant

Army Technology identifies the United Arab Emirates export/service fleet as G6 M1A3, while Forecast International provides G6M1A3 dimensions and combat-weight data.

Sources: Army Technology G6 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer, Forecast International G6 Renoster

G6-5252-caliber development variant

Denel's 2004 artillery-system presentation describes the 23-liter JBMOU G6-52 ballistic option, and Army Technology reports G6-52 development completion in March 2003 with a 67 km V-LAP range and eight-round-per-minute rate of fire.

Sources: Denel Leap Ahead 52 cal Artillery System, Army Technology G6 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer

G6-52L25-liter extended-range ballistic option

Denel's 2004 presentation compares the 23-liter G6-52 with a 25-liter extended-range G6-52L option using improved ERFB M9 projectiles.

Sources: Denel Leap Ahead 52 cal Artillery System

Artillery Family

The G6 record is tied to the earlier South African G5 artillery line through its gun and development lineage.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
G5 155 mm howitzer, 155 mm towed gun-howitzer, ArtilleryG5 155 mm howitzer155 mm towed gun-howitzer family

DefenceWeb and Army Technology identify the G6's main armament and development context as the self-propelled branch of the G5 155 mm gun-howitzer family.

Sources: DefenceWeb G6 L45 fact file, Army Technology G6 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer

Ammunition Fired
AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
155 mm NATO ammunition, 155 mm NATO-standard artillery ammunition family for 39-, 45-, and 52-caliber howitzers, Munitions155 mm NATO ammunition155 mm ammunition family

Army Technology describes the G6 gun as compatible with NATO 155 mm ammunition, including extended-range full-bore projectile families and base-bleed units.

Sources: Army Technology G6 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer

M2005 V-LAP 155 mm shell, 155 mm rocket-assisted base-bleed shell, MunitionsM2005 V-LAP 155 mm shell155 mm rocket-assisted base-bleed shell

Rheinmetall reported that a Denel Land Systems G6 with a 52-caliber gun achieved a 76 km range during South African test firing, with Assegai V-LAP shown as the extended-range shell family behind the demonstration.

Sources: Rheinmetall indirect-fire distance records

Timeline

G6 Rhino 155 mm self-propelled howitzer Key Events

  1. Lyttelton Engineering Works begins G6 development

    Forecast International's timetable and program review trace G6 development to Lyttelton Engineering Works under ARMSCOR in 1979.

    Sources: Forecast International G6 Renoster

  2. First G6 Renoster prototype rolls out

    Forecast International says the first G6 Renoster prototype vehicle rolled out in October 1981.

    Sources: Forecast International G6 Renoster

  3. Pre-production G6s see action in Angola

    DefenceWeb says three pre-production G6 models saw action as Juliet Troop during Operation Modular in November 1987.

    Sources: DefenceWeb G6 L45 fact file

  4. Project Losvoor range challenge starts

    A Denel Land Systems presentation says ARMSCOR challenged industry in October 1989 to demonstrate 60 km 155 mm artillery technology, funding work designated Project Losvoor.

    Sources: Denel Leap Ahead 52 cal Artillery System

  5. Losvoor demonstrator fires beyond 60 km

    The Denel presentation says the first Losvoor demonstrator fired 64 km with a base-bleed projectile in March 1991.

    Sources: Denel Leap Ahead 52 cal Artillery System

  6. G6-52 system development begins

    Denel's presentation says system development began in 1992 after a requirement focused on both range and rate of fire.

    Sources: Denel Leap Ahead 52 cal Artillery System

  7. Two G6-52 ballistic options selected

    Denel's presentation says the program settled on two G6-52 ballistic options in 1995: a 23-liter JBMOU chamber and a 25-liter extended-range chamber.

    Sources: Denel Leap Ahead 52 cal Artillery System

  8. G6-52 development completed

    Army Technology reports Denel completed development of the G6-52 artillery system in March 2003.

    Sources: Army Technology G6 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer

  9. South African Army inventory context

    DefenceWeb reported IISS Military Balance data listing two G6 L45 systems in service and up to 41 in storage with South African artillery.

    Sources: DefenceWeb G6 L45 fact file

  10. UAE G6 howitzers support Aden-area operations

    The Washington Institute reported UAE Denel G6 155 mm self-propelled howitzers in the Aden buildup and identified G6 howitzer support for the al-Anad recapture.

    Sources: Washington Institute Operation Golden Arrow in Aden

  11. Archived production-status reference

    Forecast International's 2015 archived report described the G6 Renoster as a wheeled 155 mm self-propelled artillery system in development through serial production.

    Sources: Forecast International G6 Renoster

  12. 52-caliber G6 reaches 76 km at Alkantpan

    Rheinmetall says a Denel-built G6 with a 52-caliber gun reached 76 km with a conventional 155 mm artillery round during a 6 November 2019 firing event at Alkantpan.

    Sources: Rheinmetall indirect-fire distance records

Design And Range Evolution

The G6 line evolved from South Africa's 45-caliber Renoster into a 52-caliber development path focused on longer range, higher rate of fire, and reduced crew workload.

StageTechnical focusSource-backed detail
G6/G6M1A345-caliber service gunForecast International lists G6M1A3 data for the original 45-caliber barrel, including 39 km maximum range with ERFB-BB ammunition, 90 km/h maximum speed, and 700 km vehicle range.
Project LosvoorLong-range technology baseDenel's 2004 presentation says ARMSCOR funded a 60 km 155 mm artillery challenge in October 1989 and that the first Losvoor demonstrator reached 64 km with a base-bleed projectile in March 1991.
G6-5252-caliber upgradeDenel described a 23-liter JBMOU G6-52 option, while Army Technology reports automated ammunition handling, up to eight rounds per minute, and up to six-round simultaneous-impact fires.
G6-52LExtended-range optionDenel's presentation compares the 23-liter G6-52 with a 25-liter extended-range G6-52L option using improved ERFB M9 projectiles and 55 km HE-VLAP range in the comparison table.
2019 testRange demonstrationRheinmetall says a 52-caliber G6 reached 76 km at Alkantpan with a conventional 155 mm artillery round during the 6 November 2019 firing event.
Media

G6 Rhino 155 mm self-propelled howitzer Videos

Related Weapon Systems
Sakr-6 multiple rocket launcher, Light 122 mm multiple rocket launcher, ArtilleryArtillerySakr-6 multiple rocket launcherLight 122 mm multiple rocket launcherThe Sakr-6 is a light six-tube 122 mm multiple rocket launcher associated with Egypt's Sakr/Grad-compatible rocket-artillery family. Oryx lists the type in both pre-war Yemeni Army inventories and later Houthi-held Yemen Civil War equipment, while technical sources support only family-level details for compatible Sakr and Russian-pattern Grad rockets rather than a complete Sakr-6 datasheet or a verified Sakr-6 firing incident.

Sources

DefenceWeb G6 L45 fact filePublisher: DefenceWeb | Note: Supports G6 development background, Denel turret and OMC hull attribution, basic specifications, South African inventory/export context, and direct 1966 South African Border War use by South African forces during Operation Modular. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Forecast International G6 RenosterPublisher: Forecast International | Note: Supports G6 Renoster description, G6M1A3 dimensions, crew and performance data, 155 mm / 45-caliber ordnance, speed, range, ammunition compatibility, modernization notes, variants, and development timetable. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Army Technology G6 155mm Self-Propelled HowitzerPublisher: Army Technology | Note: Supports G6 design, LIW/Denel and Alvis OMC lineage, South Africa/UAE/Oman service context, G6 M1A3 export identity, NATO 155 mm ammunition compatibility, G6-52 development, range, rate-of-fire, and MRSI context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Denel Leap Ahead 52 cal Artillery SystemPublisher: Denel Land Systems / National Defense Industrial Association | Note: Supports G6-52 development history, JBMOU and extended-range ballistic options, 23-liter and 25-liter chamber paths, and base-bleed / HE-VLAP range figures. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Washington Institute Operation Golden Arrow in AdenPublisher: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy | Note: 2014 Yemen Civil War direct-use source: UAE forces landed Denel G6 155 mm self-propelled howitzers at Aden, and UAE tanks and G6 howitzers supported the UAE-trained Yemeni force that recaptured al-Anad. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Rheinmetall indirect-fire distance recordsPublisher: Rheinmetall | Note: Supports the 6 November 2019 Alkantpan firing event, the Denel-built 52-caliber G6 test configuration, the 76 km conventional 155 mm artillery-round range demonstration, and the relationship to Assegai V-LAP ammunition. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons G6 Howitzer2Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the rights-clear G6 howitzer image used for this record. | Accessed: 2026-07-13