Soltam M-68

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Soltam M-68
Type	howitzer
Place of origin	Israel
Service history
Used by	See users
Production history
Designer	Soltam
Designed	1968
Manufacturer	Soltam
Produced	1970
Specifications
Weight	9,500 kgs
Barrel length	5115mm (33 calibre)
Crew	8

Shell	155 mm NATO
Caliber	155 mm 33 calibre
Breech	horizontal block
Carriage	split trail
Elevation	-5°/75°
Traverse	90°
Maximum range	21,000 meters

The M-68 is a 155 mm 33 calibre towed howitzer manufactured by Soltam, Israel. The gun barrel of the M-68 is 5.18 m long and comes with a simple muzzle brake at the mouth of the barrel, the recoil mechanism of the two pneumatic cylinder jacks is positioned on the back-end of the gun barrel.

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

[edit] Design

Based on the French designed Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50 howitzer, it was first developed in the mid 1960s with no order forthcoming from the Israeli Defense Force. The first prototype was completed in 1968 for trials and evaluations by the IDF, who were satisfied with the performance of the howitzer. Subsequently, an order was placed with Soltam and a production line was initiated in 1970. The gun entered IDF service in time to serve IDF artillery corps during the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

The gun mount chassis, cylinder head and recoil system was to see further use in the next development of this gun - the Soltam M-71, which has a slightly longer barrel (39 calibre) and a compressed air-driven rammer to ease loading.

[edit] Deployment

In addition to Israel, this weapon is also in service with Chile^[1], Philippines, Singapore^[2], South Africa (where it is known as the G-4 howitzer locally) and Thailand.

[edit] Users

[edit] See also

Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50
Soltam M-71
L-33 / Ro'em - A M4 Sherman chassis based self-propelled artillery piece mounting the Soltam M-68 155 mm L/33 howitzer in large enclosed superstructure.