Indian artillery's aging warhorse plays crucial role in conflict
The tense situation between Pakistan and India shows no signs of easing, as illustrated by the artillery exchanges along the border. The Indians are employing M-46 field guns that date back to the Stalin era. Let's examine what this relic is capable of.
The nighttime airstrike by India against Pakistan, taking place on the night of 6th to 7th May 2025, has initiated ongoing hostilities. It is reported that India lost at least two aircraft during the raid, one of which was a Rafale. The conflict, expected to be resolved in a few days, primarily involves artillery exchanges between both parties. The video below shows how the Indians are employing M-46 field guns to bombard Pakistani targets.
It is noteworthy that India plans to replace these with modern ATAGS 155 mm howitzers. However, the delivery of several hundred systems will take years. This implies that the M-46 field guns, harking back to Stalin's era, will remain in service for a few more years.
M-46 field gun - a relic from Stalin's era
The history of the field gun dates back to the post-World War II period when the USSR sought a new solution to replace the A-19 guns. In response to operational needs, the M-36 naval gun was developed and installed on a wheeled carriage.
Although this new gun had limitations, such as being unable to fire at angles greater than 45 degrees, its barrel length of 55 calibres (approximately 7 metres) provided a high muzzle velocity for projectiles, resulting in a considerable range.
The 3OF33 fragmentation shells, containing 3.6 kilograms of TNT, enable firing at targets up to approximately 28 kilometres away. In the case of projectiles with a base bleed, like the Chinese ERFB (NUBB), this range extends to 39 kilometres. Consequently, these guns possess superior capabilities to most 122 mm systems, whereby the maximum range is 14 kilometres for the Gvozdika or 24 kilometres for longer-barrel versions like the D-74.
For this reason, they are advantageous in exchanges with 105 mm howitzers or, in certain respects, permit engagement with short-barrel 155 mm howitzers. Additionally, in India's case, there are large reserves of 130 mm ammunition.
