Towed Artillery

Towed Artillery

***The Following is an Excerpt from "Iranian Military Capability 2011"***

M-101

(Jamejam News)

The smallest of Iran's towed guns, the 105 mm howitzer is supported on a single-axle, split-trail carriage. On top of this is a 105 mm M2A2 cannon with a hydro-pneumatic shock absorber which can fire semi-fixed rounds of HE, illumination, or smoke shells out to 11.5 km.

Most estimates put around 200 out of the original 250 M-101's left in service. Shells can accept the M203-A proximity fuse.

Specifications: M-101A1
Caliber: 105 mm
Barrel length: 2.31 m
Weight: 2.26 tonnes
Length: 5.94 m
Width: 2.21 m
Height: 1.73 m
Max Range: 11.27 km
Traverse: 46
Elevation: -5-66
Ammunition: HE, Illumination, smoke, chemical

D-74 / Type 60
The D-74, as well its Chinese copy, the Type 60, serve within IRGC artillery battalions.

(Mehr News)

The gun shares the same type of single-axle, split-trail carriage as the D-20. This supports a 122 mm cannon with a long 6.4 m barrel with a double-baffle muzzle brake.

Exact ammunition is unknown, though it is likely the same as the others, semi-fixed HE, smoke and illumination shells.

100 were originally delivered during the Iran-Iraq war with an unknown amount remaining, likely fairly close to the original number. They remain in service, at the least, with IRGC artillery battalions within armored units.

Specifications: D-74 / Type 60
Caliber: 122 mm
Barrel Length: 6.45 m
Weight: 5.62 tonnes
Length: 9.87 m
Width: 2.35 m
Max Range: 24 km
ROF: 8-10 rd/min
Traverse: 45
Elevation: -5-45
Ammunition: HE, smoke, illumination, chemical
Crew: 7-9

HM-40 / D-30

(IRNA)

The D-30 is a primary medium-weight gun within artillery battalions. It is an effective design intended to be mobile but still pack the punch of a larger gun against relatively un-entrenched units. Iran domestically manufactures the D-30 under the name HM-40.

It features a distinctive tripod design which allows it a full 360 degree traverse range. However this the gun from fully elevating when located directly in line with each leg. It's extremely low depression allows it to be used in the direct fire role.

The 122 mm 2A18 cannon is the same used on the 2S1 self-propelled howitzer. The gun has a very distinctive box-shaped cover on the recoil mechanism, making it easy to identify. It also features either a double-baffle or cylindrical muzzle brake. It can fire a variety of semi-fixed ammunition including HE, smoke, and illumination rounds. Shells can accept the M203-A proximity fuse.

In the late 90's, Russia delivered 100 D-30's directly to Iran. Iran has also produced an unspecified number under the name HM-40. Given the ease of manufacture it is likely the number is much higher, some estimates put the total number now at around 500.

Specifications: HM-40
Caliber: 122 mm
Barrel length: 5.88 tonnes
Length: 5.4 m (transport configuration)
Width: 1.9 m (transport configuration)
Height: 1.6 m (transport configuration)
Max Range: 15.4 km
ROF: 1-8 rd/min
Traverse: 360
Elevation: -7-70
Ammunition: HE, smoke, illumination
Crew: 7

M-46 / Type 59

(IRNA)

The 130 mm M-46, or more usually, the Type-59 Chinese copy, is one of the most numerous towed artillery pieces in Iranian inventory. This came on the tail end of Iran-Iraq war where the war had devolved into a war of attrition featuring artillery duels where guns like the D-30 were too short ranged and weak to effectively target well-entrenched positions and there was no need for its mobility, this produced a situation that favored the long-ranged static fire of guns like the M-46.

Iranian M-46's fire standard HE, smoke rounds, HEAT sub-munitions as well as HE base-bleed shells which boost the range from 27.5 km to 36 km, and more recently HE-RAP shells. Shells can accept the M203-A proximity fuse.

Iran purchased 1,006 M-46/Type-59's, both from China as well as from North Korea during the Iran-Iraq war. These remain service as the backbone as many of the artillery groups. Some estimates put the remaining number in service as around 800. Iran is not domestically producing this gun meaning it is likely slated for removal from front-line service in favor of larger calibers.

Specifications: M-46 / Type 59
Caliber: 130 mm
Weight: 7.69 tonnes
Length: 11.73 m
Width: 2.45 m
Max Range: 27.5 km (36 km w/BB, 42 km w/RAP)
ROF: 5-8 rd/min
Elevation: -2.5-45
Ammunition: HE, HE-RAP, illumination, smoke, chemical, BB

D-20
Little is known about the possible deployment of this weapon, if it is used at all.


HM-41 / M-114
The 155 mm HM-41 is a domestic upgrade and production line of the M114 howitzer originally delivered from the US in the 1960's. The gun is a medium battlefield howitzer and is experiencing an increased presence in Iran's inventory following domestic production.

(Unknown)

The gun features a conventional carriage with a single-axle split-trail design.

The original M-114 had a short barrel with no muzzle brake, while the HM-41's barrel has been lengthened and features a double baffle muzzle brake.

Iran now manufactures a variety of semi-fixed ammunition for the new HM-41's, including HE, smoke, illumination, HEAT sub-munitions and HE-base bleed shells. Shells can accept the M203-A proximity fuse.

The original number of M-114's delivered, reduced during the Iran-Iraq war has now been boosted by an unknown amount by indigenous production of the HM-41.

Early in 2011, a variant of the HM-41 was unveiled that mounted the gun on the rear of a MAN truck. The role of such a system would be to provide a low cost, self-propelled artillery support capability to units that would otherwise be forced to rely on towed guns due to a shortage of conventional self-propelled units.

Specifications: HM-41
Caliber: 155 mm
Barrel length: 6.03 m
Weight: 6.89 tonnes
Max Range: 30 km
ROF: 4 rd/min
Traverse: 25-23.5
Elevation: 0-66
Ammunition: HE, illumination, smoke, chemical, HE BB
Crew: ~11



GHN-45

(Fars News)

Purchased illegally from Austria during the Iran-Iraq war, the 155 mm howitzer is another long-ranged gun that was heavily favored during the Iran-Iraq war for its long range and power which was deemed superior to the 130 mm M-46.

Unlike most towed guns in the Iranian inventory, the GHN-45 has a double-axle design for its carriage, while maintaining the usual split-trails. The gun has a distinctive hydro-pneumatic recoil system.

It fires 155 mm shells including HE, smoke, illumination, HEAT sub-munitions and HE-base bleed. Shells can accept the M203-A proximity fuse.

300 were originally purchased from Austria, current estimates put the remaining number at 100. It still maintains a prominent role within Artesh units on the western border with Iraq.

Specifications: GHN-45
Caliber: 155 mm
Weight: 11 tonnes
Length: 14 m
Height: 2 m
Max Range: 39.6 km w/BB
ROF: 2-5 rd/mn
Traverse: 534-711
Elevation: -89-1280
Ammunition: HE, illumination, smoke, chemical, HE BB

M-115

(ISNA)

The largest of Iranian towed artillery, the massive 203 mm M-115 is a super-heavy howitzer. It features a double-axle design much like the GHN-45 and a large, short barrel with a hydro-pneumatic recoil system. Out of the original 50 delivered, only handfuls remain in service with the army in Isfahan; estimates put 30 still in service. Shells can accept the M203-A proximity fuse.

Specifications: M-115
Caliber: 203 mm
Barrel length: 5.14 m
Weight: 14.51 tonnes
Length: 10.97
Effective Range: 16.8 km
ROF: .5-1 rd/min
Traverse: 60
Elevation: -2-65
Ammunition: HE
Crew: 14