Model 1954 (M-46)

History

The M-46 (officially "130mm Towed Field Gun M1954") was a Soviet Cold War battlefield machine designed to fulfill various roles in support of infantry and armored operations. The system was first introduced to Western observers in 1954 (hence the name M1954), and was subsequently deployed by several countries associated with the Soviet Union, including many militaries in the Middle East, Africa, and South America, as well as allies in Eastern Europe.

Despite its early Cold War roots, the M-46 still occupies a prominent place in battlefield inventories today, with modernization programs designed to increase the lifespan and tactical utility of such systems.

The extensive use of this weapon system by its operators and the countless wars in which it has been involved attests to its success. Their notable operators include Afghanistan, Czechoslovakia, China, Croatia, Cuba, Finland (like "130 K54"), India, Iraq, Israel, Laos, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia (Soviet Union), Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand , Vietnam, Yemen and Yugoslavia.

Czechoslovakia, Finland and Serbia have all phased out their M-46 systems. Israel only received M-46s as trophies from its many conflicts in the Middle East, with about 100 captured.

The Chinese-licensed production copy of the Soviet M-46 was designated Type 59-1 and manufactured under the NORINCO banner.

Their actions resulted in the M-46's participation in the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009), the Sino-Indian War (1962), the Indo-Pakistani War (1965) and the Angola Civil War (1975-2002)), the South African Border War (1966 1989), Six Day War (1967), Sino-Soviet border conflict (1969), Cambodian Civil War (19671975), Vietnam War (19591975), Yom Kippur War (1973), Sino-Vietnamese War (1979), Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979-1989), Gulf War (1990-1991), Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), Yugoslav War (1991-2001) and Invasion of Iraq (2003).

The design of the M-46 is typical of this type of weapon. Her long, slender barrel sits above her base and carriage and supports two large wheels for transportation (sometimes a pair of extra wheels are added). The weapon system is supported by legs that extend back, semi-sunk to the ground to absorb violent recoil. A square shield was placed on either side of the barrel base for limited protection of the operator from small arms fire.

Her muzzle brake is vented and the barrel end is noticeably large. Compared to her larger cousins, her size allows her to maneuver with relative ease and can be placed almost anywhere her size allows.

Operation of the M-46 field gun revolves around a crew of eight. The weapon system is towed by any means necessary to its designated target area and ready to fire. It weighs approximately 16,975 pounds and has a 130mm barrel.

The breech has a horizontal sliding wedge design, and the projectile is manually loaded by the operator. Barrels can be increased from -2. 5 degrees to 45 degrees, 50 degrees horizontally.

Under normal conditions, a well-trained crew can fire at a rate of six rounds per minute, five of which are used for continuous fire. Eight rounds per minute can be achieved in the burst reel. The muzzle velocity is 3,051 feet per second. The maximum range is up to 17 miles, although this can be extended to over 23.5 miles by refilling with special ammo.

The M-46 is equipped with direct-fire night vision goggles.

Since most artillery pieces make their mark on the battlefield due to their adaptability and firepower, the M-46 proved no different in the type of projectiles it was designed to fire. These include the Frag-HE (fragmentation, high explosive), OF-43 and Frag-HE, OF-44 cartridges with ranges of 27,500 meters and 22,500 meters, respectively.

Frag-HE, ERFB-BB (Extended Range Full Bore - Base Bleed) bullets provide a range of up to 38,000 meters. The APCBC-HE-T, BR-482 (along with its cousin the BR-482B) has a range of only 1,140 meters, but is still effective for a given role.

Other projectile types cover all basic uses, including flares, smoke bombs, and chemical bombs. Projectiles have variable charges.

Since then, the M-46 in the Russian fleet has been replaced by the 2A36 Giatsint-B. The self-propelled 2S5 Giatsint-S also supports this weapon system.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

Depends on the ammunition carrier.

Changes