Soltam M-71 | |
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A deployed M-71 |
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Type | Howitzer |
Place of origin | Israel |
Service history | |
Used by | See users |
Production history | |
Designer | Soltam |
Designed | 1974 |
Manufacturer | Soltam |
Produced | 1975 |
Variants | Soltam M-68 |
Specifications | |
Weight | 9,200 kg (20,000 lb) |
Barrel length | 6.045 m (19 ft 10 in) L/39 |
Crew | 8 |
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Caliber | 155 mm NATO |
Breech | horizontal block |
Carriage | split trail |
Elevation | -5°/75° |
Traverse | 20° left or right from centerline |
Muzzle velocity | 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s) |
Maximum range | 23.5 km (14.6 mi) |
The M-71 is a 155 mm 39 calibre towed howitzer manufactured by Soltam, Israel.
Contents |
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).
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.