The M-56 Howitzer is a 105mm artillery gun from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Early towed version is comparable to the German 10.5 cm leFH 18 and the American

M101 howitzer The M101A1 (previously designated M2A1) howitzer is an artillery piece developed and used by the United States. It was the standard U.S. light field howitzer in World War II and saw action in both the European and Pacific theaters and during the ...

while newer M-56A1 and self propelled M-09 Soko has more improvements and greater range.

History

The gun's design is based on the M101 and leFH 18. The gun's initial model was the SH-1, designed by the

Military Technical Institute Belgrade Military Technical Institute ( sr, Војнотехнички институт, Vojnotehnički institut; abbr. ) is a Serbian weapons and aircraft design institute, headquartered in Belgrade, and governed by the Serbian Ministry of Defence. It ...

, Yugoslavia, in 1951. It was produced by Crvena Zastava in Kragujevac, now

Zastava Arms Zastava Arms ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Застава oружје, Zastava oružje) is a Serbian manufacturer of firearms and artillery, based in Kragujevac, Serbia. It was founded in 1853 when it cast its first cannon. It is the leading producer of firear ...

. Second prototype, also developed by Military Technical Institute Belgrade, in 1955 designated as SH-2 was basis for serial M-56. Serial production started in 1956 Bratstvo Novi Travnik because prior to that in 1945 decision was made by communist government of

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as SFR Yugoslavia or simply as Yugoslavia, was a country in Central and Southeast Europe. It emerged in 1945, following World War II, and lasted until 1992, with the breakup of Yug ...

to move factories from Serbia to other parts of newly formed Yugoslavia in order to develop their industries. Because of that decision in 1951 Zastava Arms factory, then called Crvena Zastava, was partially dissembled (including complete Crvena Zastava factory artillery program with calibers over 20 mm) and together with 250 experts was transferred to Bosnia into new Bratstvo Novi Travnik factory from then Socialist Republic of Serbia to Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina to help in Bosnia development at cost of Serbia who in that time was heavy industrialized and had educated technical staff. The original production version was 28 caliber with a maximum range of 13 km.

Technical data M-56

* M-56 caliber 28 * Weight: Between 2,190 kg * Min. reach: 2,000m * Max. reach: up to 14 km *

Muzzle brake A muzzle brake or recoil compensator is a device connected to, or a feature integral to the construction of, the muzzle or barrel of a firearm or cannon that is intended to redirect a portion of propellant gases to counter recoil and unwanted ...

: Double * Min. elevation: -180 mils * Max. elevation: 1200 mils * Horizontal limits: 462 thousandths * Frequency of fire: 6 round/min * Range M-56: 13.1 km

Later development

MTI developed the M56A1 version, with a longer 33 caliber barrel designed to last for at least 18,000 shots, with a stronger

breechblock A breechblock (or breech block) is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a breech loading weapon (whether small arms or artillery) before or at the moment of firing. It seals the breech and contains the pressure generated by th ...

, with

recoil Recoil (often called knockback, kickback or simply kick) is the rearward thrust generated when a gun is being discharged. In technical terms, the recoil is a result of conservation of momentum, as according to Newton's third law the force requ ...

systems that allow it to fire modern rounds up to 18 km and a hydro-pneumatic balancer. The M-56A1 and M09 Soko

Self-propelled artillery Self-propelled artillery (also called locomotive artillery) is artillery equipped with its own propulsion system to move toward its firing position. Within the terminology are the self-propelled gun, self-propelled howitzer, self-propelled mo ...

are offered by

Yugoimport Yugoimport–SDPR ( sr, Југоимпорт–СДПР, Jugoimport–SDPR) is a Serbian state-owned weapons manufacturer as well as intermediary company for the import and export of defense-related equipment. It is headquartered in Belgrade, wi ...

and the M-56 by BNT TMiH in Bosnia.

Technical data M-56A1 105mm

* M-56A1 caliber 33 * Weight: 2,370 kg * Min. reach: 2,000m * Max. reach: up to 18.5 km *

: Double * Min. elevation: -180 mils * Max. elevation: 1200 mils * Horizontal limits: 462 thousandths * Frequency of fire: 6-8round/min * M-56A1: 18.1 km * Length of barrel: 3500mm M56A1 105mm 01

M-09 Soko 105mm self-propelled gun

The M-09 Self propelled 105mm gun has direct and indirect shooting capabilities. It can carry up to 60 rounds. It can be mounted on various truck chassis including TAM, FAP, TATRA, KAMAZ and Mercedes models. * Range: 15.1 km M02 HE ERBT 18.4 km M02 HE ERFB/BB * Rate of fire: 6-8 rsd/min * Armour STANAG 4569 level I *

M87 - 12.7x108 mm for defense * Integrated fire control system * An use ammunition developed for the US M101 and M-56A1 howitzer M09 105mm sph 06

Users

According to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

, some 1,500 units of the M56, in its various models, have been produced and over 200 were exported between 1998 and 2004. The M56 is known to be in service with the following nations: * - 56 * * * - 72 in 1998 * - 14 in reserve in 1998. 18 * - 56 in 1998 * - 10 in 1998 * - fielded during the Iran-Iraq War and

Persian Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...

, former operator * - 24 with the

Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

and 8 with the

Naval Infantry Corps The Naval Infantry Corps ( es, Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina) are the naval infantry and amphibious infantry force of the Mexican Navy. The main task of the ''Infantería de Marina'' is to guarantee the maritime security of the country's port ...

in 1998 * - 256 in 1998

References

External links

America Militar: Photos of the M56 in use

Máquina de Combate: Yugo Import moderniza el howitzer M56

{{Military Technical Institute Belgrade Artillery of Yugoslavia Howitzers 105 mm artillery Self-propelled artillery Wheeled self-propelled howitzers Self-propelled howitzers of Serbia Artillery of Serbia Military equipment introduced in the 1950s