Soltam M-71

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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
Specifications
Weight	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	90°
Muzzle velocity	820 meters per second
Maximum range	23,500 meters

Another view of the same M-71.

The M-71 is a 155 mm 39 calibre towed howitzer manufactured by Soltam, Israel.

1 Design
2 Deployment
3 Users
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] 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.

[edit] Deployment

In addition to Israel, this weapon is in service with Chile^[2], Singapore^[3], Thailand, South Africa, and two other undisclosed countries. A version of this weapon was developed to mount on a modified Centurion chassis (M-72), but this vehicle never reached production.

Iran came into possession of this artillery piece after it was reported that the design plans of Soltam M-65 and Soltam M-71 was stolen by Iranian spies.

[edit] 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
: South African Army
: Royal Thai Army
: Slovenian Army

[edit] 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.