India-Pakistan clash: Vintage M‑46 guns prolong border tensions
The tense situation between Pakistan and India shows no sign of de-escalating, as evidenced by the artillery exchanges along the border. The Indians are employing M-46 field guns that date back to the Stalin era. Let's explore what capabilities this relic possesses.
The nighttime airstrike by India on Pakistan during the night of May 6 to 7, 2025, triggered ongoing battles. It is known that India lost at least two aircraft in the raid, one of which was a Rafale. The fighting, which is likely to conclude in a few days, primarily involves artillery duels between both sides. The video below demonstrates how the Indians are using M-46 field guns to target Pakistani positions.
It is worth mentioning that India plans to replace these with modern ATAGS 155 mm howitzers. However, the delivery of several hundred systems will take years. This means the M-46 field guns, dating back to the Stalin 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 period just after World War II when the USSR was searching for a new solution to replace the A-19 guns. In response to operational needs, the M-36 naval gun was developed and mounted on a wheeled carriage.
Although the new gun had limitations, as it could not fire at angles greater than 45 degrees, its barrel length of 55 calibers (approximately 23 feet) provided a high muzzle velocity for projectiles, resulting in a significant range.
The 3OF33 fragmentation shells, containing 7.9 pounds of TNT, allow targeting at up to approximately 17 miles away. With projectiles featuring a base bleed, like the Chinese ERFB (NUBB), this range extends to 24 miles. For this reason, these guns have greater capabilities than most 122 mm systems, where the range is capped at 9 miles for the Gvozdika or 15 miles for longer-barrel versions like the D-74.
This makes them valuable in duels with 105 mm howitzers and, in some respects, allows engagement with short-barrel 155 mm howitzers. In the case of India, there is also the advantage of having vast reserves of 130 mm ammunition.
