Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50

Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50 was a French 155 mm 30 calibre howitzer introduced in 1952.[2] The first French artillery designed since World War II, it was manufactured in both France - 980 howitzers were produced (French army and export) - and under license in Sweden for the Swedish armed forces. The Model 50 was replaced in French service during the 1980s by the TRF1.[2] Reserve units were produced until the end of the 1990s.[3]

Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50
Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50 in Beyt ha-Totchan Museum, Zikhron Ya'akov.
TypeField howitzer
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1952-1990s
Used bySee Operators
Specifications
Mass8,100 kg (17,900 lb)
Length7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)[1]
Barrel length4.65 m (15 ft 3 in) L/30
Width2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)[1]
Height2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)[1]
Crew11[1]

ShellSeparate loading charge and projectile[1]
Caliber155 mm (6.1 in)
Breechinterrupted screw
RecoilHydro-pneumatic[1]
CarriageSplit trail
Elevation-4°/69°
Traverse80°
Rate of fire3-4 rpm[1]
Muzzle velocity650 m/s (2,100 ft/s)
Effective firing range18,000 m (20,000 yd)
Maximum firing range23,300 m (25,500 yd)

Description edit

 
French Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50 in Djibouti in 1979.

The Model 50 has a split trail, large slotted muzzle-brake, four-wheeled bogie and a retractable firing pedestal beneath the axles.

Operators edit

 
IDF M50 155 mm self-propelled howitzer [ja]

See also edit

  • M-50 155 mm - An M4 Sherman chassis based self-propelled artillery piece mounting the Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50 155 mm L/30 howitzer in large enclosed superstructure.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Foss, Christopher (1977). Jane's pocket book of towed artillery. New York: Collier. p. 121. ISBN 0-02-080600-0. OCLC 911907988.
  2. ^ a b c d Kinard, Jeff (28 March 2007). Artillery: An Illustrated History of Its Impact (2007 ed.). ABC-CLIO Publishers. pp. 301–303. ISBN 978-1-85109-561-2.
  3. ^ L’Obusier de 155 mm, modèle 1950/1963, Base documentaire des Artilleurs
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
  5. ^ Jane's Armour and Artillery, 2002, Volume 23 p. 727.

External links edit