Soltam M-71
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The M-71 is a 155 mm 39 caliber towed howitzer manufactured by Israeli company 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 easy loading at all angles of elevation as well as having a rechargeable battery mounted on the right trail for auxiliary power. 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, Singapore, 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
- Botswana
- Cameroon: 18
- Chile: 60 howitzers used by the Chilean Army, 36 Soltam M-68s acquired in the 1970s later upgraded to Soltam M-71 standard and 24 Soltam M-71 howitzers acquired in the 1980s. 24 designated G-4 howitzers acquired by the Chilean Marine Corps in South Africa in 1992.
- Israel
- Myanmar: 72
- Philippines: Philippine Army: 20 Philippine Marine Corps: 6
- Singapore: 13 or 38 - modified to the M-71S standard using less crew + addition of APU.
- Slovenia: 18; M839 variant.
- South Africa: 32; designated G-4.
- Thailand: 32
See also
- 155 K 83 – (Finland)
- FH-88 – (Singapore)
- Soltam M-68 – (Israel)
- ATMOS 2000 – (Israel)
- M777 howitzer – (United Kingdom)