Soltam M-71
| Soltam M-71 | |
|---|---|
|
A deployed M-71 | |
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | Israel |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Soltam Systems |
| Designed | 1974 |
| Manufacturer | Soltam |
| Produced | 1975 |
| Variants | Soltam M-68 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 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.[1] 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,[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.
Operators
Current operators
Israel
Chile
Singapore: M-71S variant.
South Africa: 32 in service.[4]
Thailand
Slovenia: TN-90 variant.
Myanmar
Philippines: 14 in service.[5]
Botswana
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
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ G6 L45 self-propelled towed gun-howitzer
- ↑ Solmerin, Florante (23 June 2013). "Army eyes hi-tech mounted artillery". Manila Standard Today. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Soltam M-71 howitzers. |