I agree with you, Rob, about the muzzle brake: makes no sense whatsoever to vent vertically - besides the increased dust signature from the downward blast, the vertical blast would be like sending up a 'here I am' smoke signal, even with smokeless propellant.
The small size of the buffer and recuperator seems to indicate it is hydro-pneumatic and spring, so possibly relatively low recoil power, like a howitzer.
Cannot find anything resembling it in my references. Maybe an experimental mountain or airborne howitzer? Very interested to learn what it actually is.
Mike
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