The Navy has opened a new frontline! At Hat Lek, Koh Kong, warships have unleashed concentrated naval gunfire from the sea, bombarding four artillery bases held by Cambodian military forces along the Koh Kong coast.
The 76/62 naval gun from OTO Melara is considered the best in the 40 to 120 mm caliber range currently available. The Royal Thai Navy employs the 76 mm Super Rapid OTO Melara naval gun on several warships, especially frigates such as HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej and new frigate classes (FFG). It provides self-defense against aerial, surface, and coastal threats, firing various ammunition types including the guided DART rounds for enhanced attack accuracy. The compact 76/62 gun can be mounted on vessels ranging from 300-ton patrol gunboats to corvettes.
The 76 mm OTO Melara boasts a high rate of fire, reaching up to 120 rounds per minute in the Super Rapid configuration. This capability enables effective close-range defense against missiles and precise strikes against coastal targets. Its barrel size allows it to engage aircraft, surface targets, and land objectives decisively. Modern turret designs reduce radar cross-section for stealth, and specialized ammunition like DART and VOLCANO rounds provide guided missile defense capabilities.
To use DART ammunition, the Super Rapid dome and radar (used exclusively with DART rounds) require modification. The latest evolution of the 76/62 gun from OTO Melara is the SOVRAPONTE mounting system, allowing installation in limited or unsuitable spaces that cannot support heavier gun mounts. This design reduces the weight of the firing system by about 30% compared to the standard 76/62 SR STRALES and eliminates the need for ammunition feed mechanisms that penetrate the ship’s bridge or deck. All 76 rounds are stored within the turret and can be loaded via a special tube, combining high performance and maneuverability for this naval gun.
In the early 1990s, the Italian Navy initiated the AAW Frigate Horizon project, aiming to enhance defense against supersonic anti-ship missiles with varying attack profiles (sea skimming and high-diving). Italy clearly sought the development of guided projectiles. OTO Melara revived an older concept in 1995, confirming through computer simulations the feasibility of advancing this technology. This led to the "Close Range Anti Missile Defense System" study called Project DAVIDE, focused on shorter-range, high-precision firing with the 76/62 Super Rapid gun. Key developments included: 1. DART (Driven Ammunition Reduce Time of flight) and 2. An illuminator radar mounted beside the barrel emitting microwave signals to guide the projectiles.
How does DART differ from CCS? Unlike CCS, which uses small rocket ignitions around the shell for course correction, DART employs fins mounted at the projectile’s nose, directing the shell via commands from an internal guidance section. A receiver at the projectile’s tail processes directional corrections using a high-speed microprocessor without requiring rocket ignition, allowing quicker course adjustments than CCS. DART is a sub-caliber projectile, smaller than 76 mm, measuring only 40 mm with an initial velocity of about 1,200 m/s, enabling it to reach 5 km within 5 seconds.
The explosive charge is located centrally within the projectile, with a new proximity fuse using Doppler microwave frequencies to improve detonation accuracy. The tail features six fin stabilizers for flight stability, along with a receiver antenna and electronic processor to receive signals from the gun-mounted illuminator. This guidance ensures the DART projectile travels precisely along the beam path. The Royal Thai Navy employs the 76/62 Super Rapid DAVIDE variant for air defense and Naval Gunfire Support (NGS), enhancing warship self-defense capabilities to be on par with leading naval forces regionally and globally.
The 76/62 OTO Melara gun is installed on warships from over 60 countries, including the United States, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India. In the Royal Thai Navy, it is deployed on vessels such as the Pattani-class, Rattanakosin-class, Ratcharit-class, Sattahip-class, Chonburi-class, Tapi-class, and Kamronsin-class ships, according to information from the Navy For Life administrator.
Note: The contract price for the Italian-made 76/62 OTO Melara naval gun can reach up to 8.2 million euros or approximately 295.16 million baht for some navies currently purchasing it.