Syria M-46 130mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer Syrian military forces 11807173

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Military Defense Industry Technology - 130mm M-46 wheeled howitzer
 
Syrian military forces produced locally 130mm M-46 8x8 self-propelled howitzer.
The Syrian military forces against Daesh uses their own technology to manufacture wheeled self propelled howitzer using the Soviet-made 130mm towed field gun M-46 as main armament mounted at the rear of 8x8 civilian truck chassis.
     
The Syrian military forces against Daesh uses their own technology to manufacture wheeled self propelled howitzer using the Soviet-made 130mm towed field gun M-46 as main armament mounted at the rear of 8x8 civilian truck chassis.
A Syrian military forces M-46 130mm 8x8 self-propelled howiter (Picture source Twitter july 2017)
     
According to a picture released on twitter, July 2017, the Syrian military forces have build an 8x8 self-propelled howitzer to offer more mobility to artillery units. This type of artillery system can be quickly produced locally using towed gun in service with the Syrian armed forces, mounted on a civilian truck chassis. it offer also high level of cross-country mobility compared to a towed gun.

The Syrian-made 130mm M-46 self-propelled howitzer is based on an 8x8 IVECO truck chassis with a crew cabin which was armoured to offer protection against firing of small arms. The truck keeps the original windscreen but the front of the crew cabin is fitted with armour plates. There is also two doors on each side but without any windows.

A Soviet-made M-46 130mm towed gun is mounted at the rear of the truck chassis. The M-46 is a manually loaded, towed 130 mm artillery gun, manufactured by the Soviet Union in the 1950s. The first prototypes of the 130 mm M-46 was completed in mid-1948. It has seen combat in Asia and the Middle East and has also been built in China as the Type 59-1 and in Egypt.

Ammunition originally used by the M-46 included HE fragmentation, Armour Piercing solid shot, smoke, illuminating and chemical. HE shells weigh some 33 kg. Maximum rate of fire is 5 -6 rounds/minute, and about 70 rounds/hour. It can fire at a maximum range of 27 km.

In road position the gun is held in position by a clamp, located to the immediate rear of the crew cab. When the system is deployed in the firing position a large spade is hydraulically lowered at the rear to provide a more stable firing platform.
     
Syrian military forces produced locally 130mm M 46 8x8 self propelled howitzer 640 003