Soltam M-71

The M-71 is a 155 mm 39 caliber towed howitzer manufactured by Israeli company Soltam Systems.

Soltam M-71
A deployed M-71
TypeHowitzer
Place of originIsrael
Service history
Used bySee users
WarsYom Kippur War
South African Border War
Production history
DesignerSoltam Systems
Designed1971–1974
ManufacturerSoltam
Produced1975–[1]
VariantsSoltam M-68
Specifications
Mass9,200 kg (20,300 lb)
Barrel length6.045 m (19 ft 10 in) L/39
Crew8
Caliber155 mm NATO
BreechHorizontal sliding block
CarriageSplit trail
Elevation-3° to 52°[2]
Traverse±37.5° from centerline[2]
Muzzle velocity820 m/s (2,700 ft/s)
Effective firing range21 km (13 mi) (NATO standard ammunition) [3]
23.5 km (14.6 mi) (Tampella standard ammunition)[3]
Maximum firing range28.5 km (17.7 mi)[2]

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 easy loading at all angles of elevation as well as having a rechargeable battery mounted on the right trail for auxiliary power.[4] 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).

The Soltam M-71 in travel/towing configuration

Deployment

In addition to Israel, this weapon is in service with Chile,[5] Singapore,[6] Thailand, Philippines, 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
Map of M-71 operators in blue

See also

References
  1. Kinard, Jeff. Artillery: An Illustrated History of Its Impact (2007 ed.). ABC-CLIO Publishers. pp. 301–302. ISBN 978-1-85109-561-2.
  2. "M-71" (PDF). Elbit Systems. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  3. "155mm Soltam M-71". Weaponsystems.net. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  4. "Soltam Systems 155 mm M-71 gun-howitzer (Israel)". Jane's Armour and Artillery.
  5. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/m-68.htm
  6. "Singapore artillery pieces". United States, Library Of Congress.
  7. "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  8. "Myanmar". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  9. Solmerin, Florante (23 June 2013). "Army eyes hi-tech mounted artillery". Manila Standard Today. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  10. "PHL military gets 3 brand-new 155-mm howitzers, 9 more en route". Philippine News Agency. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  11. https://www.frstrategie.org/publications/defense-et-industries/st-kinetics-ou-les-ambitions-de-singapour-dans-l-armement-7-5
  12. G6 L45 self-propelled towed gun-howitzer
  13. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29364:botswana&catid=119:african-militaries&Itemid=255


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