Bot at 19:46, 1 November 2022

2022-11-01T19:46:39Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = M-46 Catapult
| image = M46Catapult1.jpg
| caption =
| origin = India
| type = [[Self-propelled artillery]]

| is_ranged = yes
| is_bladed =
| is_explosive =
| is_artillery = yes
| is_vehicle = yes
| is_missile =
| is_UK =

| service =
| used_by = India
| wars =

| designer =
| design_date =
| manufacturer =
| unit_cost =
| production_date = 1981
| Retired 2021
| number = 100-170 depending on source
| variants =

| spec_label =
| weight =
| length =
| part_length =
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| height =
| diameter =
| crew =

| cartridge =
| cartridge_weight =
| caliber = 130 mm
| barrels =
| action =
| rate =
| velocity =
| range =
| max_range = 27 km
| feed =
| sights =

| breech = Horizontal sliding wedge
| recoil =
| carriage =
| elevation = -2.5° to 45°
| traverse =

| filling =
| filling_weight =
| detonation =
| yield =

| armour =
| primary_armament =
| secondary_armament =
| engine = [[Diesel fuel |Diesel]]
| engine_power =
| pw_ratio =
| transmission =
| payload_capacity =
| suspension = [[torsion bar]]
| clearance =
| fuel_capacity =
| vehicle_range =
| speed =
| guidance =
| steering =
}}

The '''M-46 Catapult''' was a self-propelled gun developed in India by [[Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment]] of the [[Defence Research & Development Organisation]].

==Description==
The turret-less vehicle has an open area in the centre for the gun and crew but retains the driver's position and includes a horizontal metal shield for overhead protection.
[[File:M46 Catapult 2.jpg|thumb|130 mm Self Propelled M-46 Catapult Guns decommissioning ceremony, March 2021]]
To withstand higher firing stresses and to cater for longer recoil the [[Vijayanta]] tank's hull has been elongated with seven bogie wheel stations on either side. The stability to the vehicle during firing is provided by unique hydraulic suspension locking system.
The self-propelled medium artillery gun can fire both [[High-explosive fragmentation|HE]] and [[Armor-piercing shot and shell|AP]] ammunition and has a maximum range of 27 km. The gun has a limited static traverse 12½% on either side and an elevation of +45% to -2%. The system can stow 30 rounds of separate loading ammunition. Retired in 16 March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Army says goodbye to artillery guns that served for six decades|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/03/16/army-says-goodbye-to-artillery-guns-that-serve-for-six-decades.html|access-date=2021-06-20|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref>

==Development==
After the 1965 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan, the Army was in search of mobile (self propelled) artillery gun systems, primarily for the strike formations on the western borders. The production of Catapult guns began in the late 1970s and they were inducted in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/defence/catapult-guns-tampella-mortars-2-long-serving-artillery-systems-army-just-decommissioned/623395/|title=Catapult guns & Tampella mortars, 2 long-serving artillery systems Army just decommissioned|date=2021-03-17|access-date=2021-05-28}}</ref> The platform is based on the Russian 130 mm [[130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)|M-46 field gun]] mounted on the lengthened chassis of the ageing British/Indian [[Vijayanta]] tank's hull.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/m-46-catapult.htm |title=M-46 Catapult |publisher=Globalsecurity.org |access-date=2013-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/130-mm-sp-vijayanta-catapult|title=130 mm SP Vijayanta Catapult|date=|access-date=2021-05-28}}</ref> A total of 100 M-46 Catapult systems were built and are being replaced by an unspecified number and type of 155mm self-propelled howitzers and K-9 Vajra gun systems.

==Operational history==
The guns never saw combat, though they were deployed during [[2001–02 India–Pakistan standoff|Operation Parakram]] in 2001 at [[Samba district]] of Jammu and Kashmir — in the chicken neck area and [[Shakargarh]] bulge and during Operation Zafran after the [[2019 Pulwama attack|Pulwama terror attack]]. It was retired from service in 2021 after 40 years of active service with the Indian Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1705139|title=Indian Army DE-Commissions 130mm Self Propelled Catapult Guns and 160mm Tampella Mortars from Service|date=2021-03-16|access-date=2021-05-28}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Arjun (tank)#Variants|130 mm Catapult on the Arjun Mk 1 chassis]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}

[[Category:Tracked self-propelled howitzers]]
[[Category:Self-propelled howitzers of India]]
[[Category:Artillery of India]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1980s]]

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M-46 Catapult - Revision history

Bot at 19:46, 1 November 2022