Artillery / Towed guns / Tampella M-83
Tampella M-83
General Facts
- TYPE
Towed howitzer - ORIGIN
Finland
- NICKNAMES
155 K 83 (Finnish service) - DESIGNED
1970's - DESIGNER
Tampella - PRODUCTION
Early 1980's - PRODUCERS
Finland - Tampella
- QUANTITY
54 or 108 built, production complete - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Good range and firepower
High rate of fire
Large and heavy
Lacks an APU
Introduction
The M-83 is a late Cold War era towed howitzer of Finnish origin. It was developed by Tampella in the 1970's and is based on the earlier Tampella 122 K 60. The Israeli Soltam M-68 and M-71 are a similar development of the 122 K 60 design.
Layout
The M-83 uses a 155mm 39-caliber ordnance with single baffle muzzle brake. The four wheel split trail carriage hinges at the cradle. In the firing position the M-83 rests on a turntable baseplate. In travel configuration the ordnance is rotated rearwards over the trails. The FH-70 is crewed by 8 men. There is no gun shield.
Firepower
The M-83 fires NATO standard 155mm shells. The maximum range is 23 km with standard ammunition and 30 km with base bleed shells. Burst rate of fire is 3 shells in 15 seconds. Maximum rate of fire is 8 rounds in 1 minute. The sustained rate of fire lies lower.
Mobility
The M-83 is towed by a heavy off-road truck which also carries the crew and ammunition. The M-83 has no APU and is too heavy to be manhandled.
Users
The M-83 was adopted only by the Finnish forces under the designation 155 K 83. Production numbers are reported to be 18, 54 or 108 pieces. The newer Patria-Vammas 155 GH 52 APU is based on the design of the Tampella M-83.
Tampella M-83
155 K 83: Original production model of the M-83 in Finnish service.
155 K 83-97: Service life extension of M-83 in Finnish service
- Specifications:
- M-83
Type | Towed howitzer |
---|---|
Crew | 7 - 8 |
Ordnance | 155mm L/39 howitzer, 5.990 m barrel, 800 m/s muzzle velocity |
Elevation | -5 to +70° |
Traverse | 45° left and right |
Rate of fire | 10 rpm (max), 3 rounds in first 12 seconds |
---|---|
Range | 23.5 km with standard ammunition, 30.0 km with base bleed ammunition |
Carriage | 4 wheel split trail carriage |
Weight | 9.5 t (firing position) |
Length | 7.5 m (travelling) |
Width | 2.7 m (travelling) |
---|---|
Height | 2 m (travelling) |
Towing vehicle | 6x6 truck |
Speed | 80 km/h on roads |
Remarks | - |