130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46) explained

M-46 or KS-30
Origin:Soviet Union
Type:Towed field gun
Is Artillery:yes
Design Date:1946–1950
Manufacturer:MOTZ
Production Date:1951–1971
Weight:7700kg (17,000lb)
Length:11.73m (38.48feet)
Part Length:Bore: 7.15m (23.46feet) L/55
Width:2.45abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Height:2.55m (08.37feet)
Crew:8
Cartridge:130 x 845 mm R [1]
(R/184.6mm)
separate-loading charge and projectile
Caliber:130mm
Rate:6 rpm (normal)
8 rpm (burst)
5 rpm (sustained)
Velocity:930 m/s (3,051 ft/s)
Max Range:27km (17miles) (unassisted)
40km (30miles) (assisted)
Feed:manual
Breech:Horizontal sliding-wedge
Recoil:hydro-pneumatic
Carriage:Split-trail
Elevation:−2.5° to 45°
Traverse:50°

The 130 mm towed field gun M-46 (Russian: 130-мм пушка M-46) is a manually loaded, towed 130 mm artillery piece, manufactured in the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It was first observed by the West in 1954.

For many years, the M-46 was one of the longest range artillery pieces in existence, with a range of more than 27km (17miles) (unassisted) and 40km (30miles) (assisted).

Design history

The order was given in April 1946 to design a "duplex" artillery piece to replace the obsolete 122 mm gun M1931/37 (A-19), 152 mm howitzer-gun M1937 (ML-20) and other World War II era field guns, such as 122 mm Model 1931, 152 mm Model 1910/30, 152 mm Model 1935 (BR-2). The new pieces, designed by the factory No 172 (MOTZ), shared the same carriage and were given the designators M-46 (130 mm) and M-47 (152 mm). The respective GRAU designators are 52-P-482 and 52-P-547. The development phase was finished in 1950 and one year later, series production began. Many M-46s were exported.

A second "duplex" artillery system was subsequently designed by FF Petrov's design bureau at Artillery Factory No 9. This comprised a 122 mm gun and a 152 mm howitzer. The D-74 122 mm field gun was a competitor to the M-46; and while many were produced, the M-46 became the only long range gun in Soviet service until new 152 mm guns were made in the 1970s.

Description

The M-46 was developed from the M-36 130 mm naval gun used on ships and for coast defence. It is a true gun, being unable to fire much above 45° and having a long barrel and a single propelling charge. In contrast, most Western field guns of this period had a dual high and low angle fire ability, a gun-howitzer.

It has a 55 calibre barrel with a tied jaw horizontal sliding-block breech and 'pepperpot' muzzle brake. The latter is not notably efficient, but subjective reports suggest that it is quite effective in reducing muzzle flash. The hydro-pneumatic recoil system comprises a buffer below the barrel and a recuperator above the barrel. The long barrel enables a substantial propelling charge by providing more length in which to achieve 'all-burnt' and hence projectile acceleration space and thus achieve its 930 m/s muzzle velocity.

The barrel is mounted on a split-trail carriage, with deep box section trails and foam filled road wheels on the ground when firing and 50° of top traverse. The small shield protects little more than the sights, possible including from the effects of muzzle blast, and some protection from machine gun fire in anti-tank engagements. The gun has long and robust trails to provide stability when firing, a large detachable spade is fitted to the end of each when the gun is brought into action.

Non-reciprocating sights are standard Soviet pattern, designed for one-man laying. Included are a direct fire anti-tank telescope, a panoramic periscopic indirect-fire sight (a dial sight) in a reciprocating mounting, an angle of sight scale, and a range drum engraved with the range (distance) scale, coupled to a mounted elevation levelling bubble. The range drum enables the standard Soviet technique of semi-direct fire when the piece is laid visually on the target and the range set on the range drum. An APN-3 was later provided for direct fire at night in place of the day telescope.

For travel, the gun is towed via a two-wheeled limber fitted to the end of the closed trails, with the spades removed and carried on each trail. Simple jacks on the trails just behind the main wheels are used to lift and support the closed trails so that the limber can be connected. The barrel and recuperator are pulled back between the closed trails and locked in a travelling position. There is a large bicycle chain arrangement on the right trail for this, and a compressed air cylinder, charged by the gun firing, is used to bring the barrel forward when the gun is brought back into action. It takes about four minutes to bring the gun into action, the normal detachment is eight strong.

Propelling charges are in metal cartridge cases and loaded separately from the projectile. Projectiles originally included HE fragmentation, Armour Piercing solid shot, smoke, illuminating and chemical. HE shells weigh ~33kg (73lb). Illuminating shells have a substantially lower muzzle velocity. APHE and extended range shells were introduced later. Maximum rate of fire is probably 6-7 rounds/minute, and about 70 rounds/hour. The standard Soviet unit of fire was 80 rounds.[2] [3] [4]

Operational history

The M-46 was first seen openly at the 1954 May Day Parade in Moscow. It initially replaced the 100 mm BS-3 field and anti-tank gun. However, its long range made it well suited for counter-battery actions. There are reports of poor fragmentation. Its Soviet use with an integrated fire-control system including SNAR-2 radars has also been reported. In Soviet service, M-46 battalions were in Army and Front artillery brigades.

It is or has been in service with at least 25 countries and has been license manufactured in China as the Type 59. It was replaced in Soviet/Russian inventory by the 2A36 Giatsint-B and the self-propelled 2S5 Giatsint-S. Several companies, like Soltam and RDM Technology BV, have presented upgrade packages for the gun. These include, for instance, an upgrade to a 45 caliber 155 mm gun. Its long range made it especially useful in the Vietnam War.[5]

The M-46 saw extensive combat service with the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War.[6] From the mid to late 1970s Angolan M-46s were deployed with some success in the counter-battery role against South African artillery units, which possessed comparatively short-ranged BL 5.5-inch medium guns.[7] South Africa later acquired six M-46s from Israel for evaluation purposes; this likely influenced its development of the G5 howitzer, which was adopted to counter the range and effectiveness of the FAPLA field guns.[8] Cuba also deployed M-46 batteries of its own in support of FAPLA operations during its lengthy military intervention in Angola.[9] Cuban and FAPLA M-46s were used most notably during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, where individual guns were deployed in ones or twos rather than concentrated in single positions to reduce the threat posed by counter-battery fire from South African G5s.[10] Cuban tacticians were able to repeatedly stall a South African mechanized and armored offensive by using minefields to channel the attackers into bottlenecks where the M-46s could concentrate their fire.[10]

Tanzania People's Defence Force fielded some M-46 guns during Uganda–Tanzania War in 1978–1979.[11]

A version of this gun, possibly the Chinese-manufactured Type 59–1, is suspected to have been used by North Korea for shelling the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong in the Yellow Sea on 23 November 2010.

Russian milbloggers posted images on Twitter of Russian soldiers loading M-46 guns with ammunition that appears to have been manufactured in North Korea. Some of the shells have “for Sevastopol” written on them, referencing the various Ukrainian strikes on military targets in this Crimean city.[12] Further confirming its use in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, a video appeared on social media of a truck towing an M46 in Novocherkassk in the Rostov Oblast of Russia in July 2024, having collided with a passenger car.[13] At least one M-46 has already been destroyed in Ukraine, due to suspected Ukrainian counter-battery artillery fire.[14]

Variants

Soviet Union

China

Cuba

Egypt

India

Israel

North Korea

The US Defense Intelligence Agency has reported the existence of a number of locally designed self-propelled artillery systems, including the SPG 130 mm M1975, the SPG 130 mm M1981 and the SPG 130 mm M1991. Details are not available, but they appear to be M-46/Type 59s mounted on a tracked chassis “Tokchon”.[15]

Serbia

Netherlands

Romania

Type 59-1 was manufactured by Arsenal Resita under the designation A412 Model 1982 between 1982 and 1989. A maximum range of 33km (21miles) was reached Using NORINCO's Base Bleed ammunition. The A412 cannon can fire a 7-8 rounds per minute. The A412 was exported to four other countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cameroon, Guinea, and Nigeria.

Vietnam

Projectiles

Operators

Former operators

See also

Bibliography

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. ordnanceandmilitaria.com/110-to-149mm-ammo
  2. Red God of War – Soviet Artillery and Rocket Forces, Chris Bellamy, Brasseys, 1986.
  3. Artillery of the World, ed. Shelford Bidwell, Brasseys, 1977.
  4. The Encyclopedia of World Military Weapons 1988.
  5. Web site: M-46 130 mm Field Gun . 2021-03-20 . Military-Today.com.
  6. Book: Vanneman, Peter. Soviet Strategy in Southern Africa: Gorbachev's Pragmatic Approach. registration. 1990. 41–51. Hoover Institution Press. Stanford. 978-0-8179-8902-6.
  7. Book: Harmse. Kyle. Dunstan. Simon. South African Armour of the Border War 1975–89. 23 February 2017. 31–38. Osprey Publishing. Oxford. 978-1-4728-1743-3.
  8. Web site: G6 L45 self-propelled towed gun-howitzer. Leon Engelbrecht. 10 February 2011 . 13 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140109033607/http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13537:fact-file-g6-l45-self-propelled-towed-gun-howitzer-&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159. 9 January 2014. live.
  9. Book: George, Edward. The Cuban intervention in Angola . limited . New York. Frank Cass Publishers. 2005. 978-0-415-64710-6. 226.
  10. Book: Bridgland, Fred . The War for Africa: Twelve months that transformed a continent . 1990 . Ashanti Publishing . Gibraltar . 300–327 . 978-1-874800-12-5.
  11. Tom. Cooper. Adrien. Fontanellaz . La guerre du Kagera. Batailles et Blindés. fr. October 2016. Caraktère. 1765-0828. 75. 72–81.
  12. News: 30 June 2024 . North Korean Ammo Keeps 70-Year-Old Russian Guns Firing . 1 July 2024 . The Kyiv Post . en.
  13. Web site: Brahy . Jérôme . Russian Forces reintroduce 1940s M-46 130mm towed guns in Ukraine with help from North Korea and Iran . 2024-07-24 . armyrecognition.com . en-gb.
  14. Web site: Perpetua . Andrew . 2024-07-23 . Russian and Ukrainian equipment losses 23-07-2024 .
  15. Janes Armour and Artillery 2003–2004
  16. Janes Armour and Artillery 1993–1994
  17. Web site: Egypt :: Abou Zaabal Co. For Engineering Industries .::. ابو زعبل للصناعات الهندسية :: تفاصيل المنتجات الحربيه . 22 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120425055427/http://fact100.momp.gov.eg/Ar/MilProductDetials.aspx?pro=XjiF9LBV19a3++CNT0INaidlrOH9Qhh1Fwf%2FthUi7WA%3D . 25 April 2012 . dead.
  18. Web site: Defence Ministry signs Rs 200 crore contract to upgun 130 mm howitzers. India Today. 18 October 2018.
  19. Web site: Ordnance Factory Board. 13 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141119094945/http://ofbindia.nic.in/products/data/weapons/wlc/4.htm. 19 November 2014. dead.
  20. Web site: Sharang 155mm 45 calibre gun . 2024-07-25 . www.globalsecurity.org.
  21. Web site: India's OFB wins tender to upgrade 300 M-46 field guns . subscription . 3 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181103210704/https://www.janes.com/article/84153/india-s-ofb-wins-tender-to-upgrade-300-m-46-field-guns . 3 November 2018 . live.
  22. Web site: Sharang 155mm 45 calibre gun . 2024-07-24 . www.globalsecurity.org.
  23. Web site: Upgunned Sharang - AVNL . 2024-07-24 . avnl.co.in.
  24. Stroea, Adrian; Băjenaru, Gheorghe (2010) – Artileria română în date și imagini – Editura Centrului Tehnic-Editorial al Armatei -
  25. Web site: QPVN. Học viện Kỹ thuật Quân sự - Thời cơ và khát vọng. 2021-10-27. www.qpvn.vn. vi-VN.
  26. News: fr. Syrie: rudes combats à Abou Dali entre les djihadistes d'Hayat Tahrir al-Cham et le régime de Damas. 19 October 2017. France Soir. 28 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180629022041/http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/syrie-rudes-combats-abou-dali-entre-les-djihadistes-hayat-tahrir-al-cham-contre-regime-syrien-damas-bachar-al-assad-organisation-etat-islamique-guerre-civile-province-idlid-stephane-mantoux. 29 June 2018. live.
  27. Web site: Arms transfer database . Stockholm International Peace Research Institute . 28 April 2024.
  28. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . Vehicles And Equipment Captured By The Islamic State Inside Syria Until November 2014 . Oryx . 28 April 2024 . 10 November 2014.
  29. News: Etat islamique et chars d'assaut: comment les djihadistes emploient leurs blindés en Irak et en Syrie. fr. France Soir. 2 February 2017. 27 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203081337/http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/etat-islamique-et-chars-d-assaut-analyse-emploi-blindes-par-les-djihadistes-conflit-syrie-irak-terrorisme-combats-mossoul-daech-guerre-ei-tactique-strat%C3%A9gie-inedit-exclu. 3 February 2017. live.
  30. Book: Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis July 2006 – May 2009 . Ministry Of Defence Democratic Socialist Republic Of Sri Lanka . 9 September 2021.
  31. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . The Tigray Defence Forces - Documenting Its Heavy Weaponry . Oryx . 28 April 2024 . 1 September 2021.
  32. News: Misikir . Maya . Tigray Forces Start Handing Over Heavy Weapons as Part of Peace Deal . 11 January 2024 . Voice of America . 11 January 2023 . en.

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