Soltam M-71
| Soltam M-71 | |
|---|---|
 Soltam M-71 in Beyt ha-Totchan Museum, Zikhron Ya'aqov. | |
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | Israel |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Soltam |
| Designed | 1974 |
| Manufacturer | Soltam |
| Produced | 1975 |
| Variants | Soltam M-68 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9,200 kgs |
| Barrel length | 6045mm (39 calibre) |
| Crew | 8 |
| Shell | 155 mm NATO |
| Caliber | 155 mm 39 calibre |
| Breech | horizontal block |
| Carriage | split trail |
| Elevation | -5°/75° |
| Traverse | 20° left or right from centerline |
| Muzzle velocity | 820 meters per second |
| Maximum firing range | 23,500 meters |
The M-71 is a 155 mm 39 calibre towed howitzer manufactured by Soltam, Israel.
Design
The weapon was based on the earlier Soltam M-68 and uses the same recoil system, breech and carriage but had a longer gun barrel (39 calibre versus 33 calibre of M-68). It is fitted with a compressed air-driven rammer to permit rapid and ease of loading at all angles of elevation as well as having a rechargeable battery mounted on the right trail for auxiliary power.[1] It can fire a 43.7 kg high-explosive shell up to a maximum range of 23,500 meters at a muzzle velocity of 820 meters-per-second.
Deployment
In addition to Israel, this weapon is in service with Chile[2], Singapore[3], Thailand, South Africa, Slovenia and Myanmar. A version of this weapon was developed to mount on a modified Centurion chassis (M-72), but this vehicle never reached production.
Users
: Israel Defense Forces
: Islamic Republic of Iran Army (the design plans of Soltam M-65 and Soltam M-71 was allegedly stolen by Iranian spies and brought back to Iran),
: Chilean Navy
: Singapore Army operated the locally upgraded M-71S version (in reserves storage)
: South African Army
: Royal Thai Army
: Slovenian Army Local designation TN-90
: Myanmar Army
See also
- Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50
- Soltam M-68
- L-39 - A M4 Sherman chassis based self-propelled artillery piece mounting the Soltam M-71 155 mm L/39 howitzer in large enclosed superstructure, design of vehicle did not progress beyond the drawing board.
References
- ^ "Soltam Systems 155 mm M-71 gun-howitzer (Israel)". Jane's Armour and Artillery.
- ^ "Chilean Army Profile". www.mundoandino.com/Chile.
- ^ "Singapore artillery pieces". United States, Library Of Congress.
External links
- Israeli-weapons.com
- IDF experimental Self-propelled gun
- Soltam Systems 155 mm M-71 gun-howitzer (Israel)
- Chilean Army Profile
- Singapore Artillery Pieces
- Weapons of the Arab-Israeli Wars
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