Soltam M-71
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| Soltam M-71 | |
|---|---|
 A deployed M-71 | |
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | Israel |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See users |
| Wars | Yom Kippur War South African Border War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Soltam Systems |
| Designed | 1974 |
| Manufacturer | Soltam |
| Produced | 1975[1] |
| Variants | Soltam M-68 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9,200 kg (20,300 lb) |
| Barrel length | 6.045 m (19 ft 10 in) L/39 |
| Crew | 8 |
| Caliber | 155 mm NATO |
| Breech | horizontal block |
| Carriage | split trail |
| Elevation | -5°/75° |
| Traverse | ±20° from centerline |
| Muzzle velocity | 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 23.5 km (14.6 mi) |
The M-71 is a 155 mm 39 caliber towed howitzer manufactured by Soltam Systems.
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.[2] It can fire a 43.7 kilograms (96 lb) high-explosive shell up to a maximum range of 23.5 kilometers (14.6 mi) at a muzzle velocity of 820 meters per second (2,700 ft/s).
Deployment
In addition to Israel, this weapon is in service with Chile,[3] Singapore,[4] 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.
Operators
Burma: 16[5]
Chile: 36[5]
Israel[1]
Philippines: 14[6]
Singapore: 13[5]
South Africa: 32; designated G-4.[7]
Thailand: 32[5]
Slovenia: 18; M839 variant.[5]
See also
- 155 K 83
- FH-88
- Soltam M-68
- L-39 - An 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.
- ATMOS 2000
References
- ^ a b Kinard, Jeff. Artillery: An Illustrated History of Its Impact (2007 ed.). ABC-CLIO Publishers. pp. 301–302. ISBN 978-1-85109-561-2.
- ^ "Soltam Systems 155 mm M-71 gun-howitzer (Israel)". Jane's Armour and Artillery.
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/m-68.htm
- ^ "Singapore artillery pieces". United States, Library Of Congress.
- ^ a b c d e "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
- ^ Solmerin, Florante (23 June 2013). "Army eyes hi-tech mounted artillery". Manila Standard Today. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ G6 L45 self-propelled towed gun-howitzer
External links
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