The M-56 Howitzer is a 105 mm 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 Howitzer M2A2 on Carriage M2A2) 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 Pa ...

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 (; abbr. ) is a Serbian weapons and aircraft design institute, headquartered in Belgrade, and governed by the Ministry of Defence (Serbia), Serbian Ministry of Defence. It is a top-level military scientific research ...

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

Zastava Arms Zastava Arms () is a Serbian manufacturer of firearms and artillery, based in Kragujevac, Serbia. In 1853, it was founded, and cast its first cannon. It is the leading producer of firearms in Serbia and is a large contributor to the local defense ...

. 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 abbreviated as SFRY or SFR Yugoslavia), known from 1945 to 1963 as the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as Socialist Yugoslavia or simply Yugoslavia, was a country ...

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 (ported barrel) 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 re ...

: 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 ...

, 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, for 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 and the M-56 by BNT TMiH in Bosnia.

Technical data M-56A1 105mm

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

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

M-09 Soko 105 mm 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 the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

, some 1,500 units of the M56, in its various models, have been produced and over 200 were exported between 1998 and 2004.

Current operators

* - 48 * - 18 * - 19 * - 56 * - 50 * - 50 * - 20 * - 14 * - 40 with the

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

and 16 with the Naval Infantry Corps * - 250+ * - 49 * - 113 * - 60 * - 12 * - 18

Former operators

* - 56 * * * - fielded during the Iran-Iraq War and

Persian Gulf War , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...

, former operator * * - 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 Artillery of the Cold War Wheeled self-propelled howitzers Self-propelled howitzers of Serbia Artillery of Serbia Military equipment introduced in the 1950s M09 SP