130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)

Infobox Weapon
name=M-46


caption=The M-46 in Finnish Army service as the 130 K 54
origin=Soviet Union
type=Field gun
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=7.7 t (16,975 lbs)
length=11.73 m (38.48 ft)
part_length=
width=2.45 m (8 ft)
height=
crew=8
cartridge=
caliber=130 mm (5.11 in)
action=manual
rate=6 (normal)
8 (burst)
5 (sustained)
velocity=930 m/s (3,051 ft/s)
range=
max_range=27.5 km (17 mi) (unassisted)
38 km (23.61 mi) (assisted)
feed=
sights=
breech=Horizontal sliding wedge
recoil=
carriage=M-46
elevation=-2.5° to 45°
traverse=50°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
vehicle_range=
speed=

The 130 mm towed field gun M1954, also known as the 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 and was known as the M1954. There is also a Chinese copy, called Type 59-1.

The caliber length of the gun is 52, which enables the gun to fire long-range projectiles. The gun fires case-type, variable-charge, separate-loading ammunition and it is equipped with night sights for direct fire. When in travel position, the gun is mounted on a two-wheeled split trail carriage.

The M-46 is in operation in at least 25 countries and has been license manufactured in China as the Type 59-1. It has been replaced in Soviet/Russian inventory by the 2A36 Giatsint-B and the self-propelled 2S5 Giatsint-S. The Soviet Union sold 550 guns to India, which India tried to replace with Bofors FH-77B howitzers. This resulted in the Bofors scandal. Several companies, like Soltam and RDM Technology BV have presented upgrade packages for the gun. These include for instance a barrel upgrade to 155 mm with a length caliber of 45.

Ammunition

*Frag-HE, OF-43 - range 27,500 meters
*Frag-HE, OF-44 - range 22,500 meters
*Frag-HE, ERFB-BB - Extended Range Full Bore - Base Bleed, range 38,000 meters
*APC-T - range 1,140 meters
*Smoke
*Chemical
*Illumination

Wars

*2003 invasion of Iraq
*Yugoslav wars
*Iran–Iraq War
*Gulf War
*Soviet war in Afghanistan
*Sino-Vietnamese War
*Yom Kippur War
*Vietnam War
*Cambodian Civil War
*Sino-Soviet border conflict
*Six-Day War
*South African Border War
*Angolan Civil War
*Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
*Sino-Indian War
*Sri Lankan civil war

Operators

Unless stated figures are sourced from Jane's Armour and Artillery [Jane's Armour and Artillery 1997-98 ISBN 0 7106 1542 6]
*ALB - 100 Type 59-1
*ALG - 10
*ANG
*LBN - 25
*BAN - 40 Type 59-1
*BIH
*BUL - 72
*CAM - Type 59-1
*CMR - 12 Type 59-1
*CIV
*CRO
*CUB
*COD - 8 Type 59-1
*EGY - 420 locally produced
*GUY - 6
*IND - 550 units Some are Catapult self propelled guns
*IRN - 1,100 units M-46 and Type 59-1
*LBY - 330
*LAO - 10
*MNE
*MNG - Type 59-1
*MAR - 18
*MOZ - 20
*NGR - 7
*OMA - 12 M-46 and 12 Type 59-1
*PRK - some are M-1975 self propelled guns
*PAK - 200 Type 59-1
*PRC - Type 59-1
*PER - 30
*CGO - 5
*SRB - 180
*SRI - 12 Type 59-1
*SUD
*SYR - 800 M-46 and Type 59-1
*TAN - 30
*THA - 15 Type 59-1
*VIE
*YEM - 70
*ZAM - 30

Former Operators

*AFG - Status unknown
*CZS - Phased out in early 90s
*ETH - Status unknown
*FIN - Army: 72 units, Navy: 72 units, known as 130 K 54. Now being phased out of service. The gun was used for coastal defence
*IRQ - Status unknown of its M-46 and Type 59-1
*ISR - 100 war spoils
*RUS - reserve
*SOM - Status unknown
*UAE - Reserve
*USSR - Passed on to successor states
*YUG - passed on to successor states

References

External links

* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/m-46.htm M-46]
* [http://www.sinodefence.com/army/artillery/type59towed_130mm.asp TYPE 59 130MM TOWED GUN]