The Model 1968 recoilless gun is a 105-mm antitank weapon developed and employed by Argentina. The weapon has been in active service since 1968 and 150 were still operational with Argentine forces as of 2000.[2] A similar weapon is the Argentine 105-mm Model 1974 FMK-1 recoilless gun.
The Model 1968 is mounted on a towing carriage with wheels for transport and can be fired either with its wheels on or dismounted onto a tripod. Aiming is primarily done with the optical sight, but the weapon also includes a FAP (fusil automatico pesado, heavy automatic rifle) spotting rifle.[3] Ammunition for the Model 1968 includes both an 11-kilogram high-explosive and a 15-kilogram high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round. The Model 1974 fires a 16.6-kilogram HE round with a muzzle velocity of 400 meters/second and a 14.7-kilogram HEAT round at 514 meters/second.
The maximum range of the piece is 9,200 meters. Direct fire is limited to 1,800 meters using the optical sight with stadiametricrangefinder or 1,200 meters using the spotting rifle. The Model 1974's range characteristics are the same. The Model 1968 is credited with a 200 mm penetration of armor with its HEAT round.[4] The HEAT round for the Model 1974 can penetrate 400 mm of armor.[5]
Like many recoilless weapons, there is a significant back-blast from the Model 1968 with a 40-meter danger zone to the rear of the weapon.
Combat historyedit
In the late 1960s or early 1970s, the Argentine military attempted to use it as a self-propelled gun or tank destroyer. At least two prototypes (one being either an IHCM5 or M9 half-track and the other a Bren carrier) were fitted with a six-cannon mount each, similar to that of the US-made M50 Ontos. Between 1977 and 1978, on the eve of Operation Soberanía, many carriers and half-tracks were converted to self-propelled guns by having a single Model 1968 mounted on them.[citation needed]
^For the caliber of the weapon and the era it was designed in, this estimate is probably less than the true performance of the weapon. Comparable weapons of the same era and caliber could penetrate 300 to 400mm of armor.
^Montes, Julio A. (2 January 2015). "Infantry Support and Anti-tank Weapons in Latin America: 90mm and 105mm Recoilless Rifles". Small Arms Defense Journal. Vol. 6, no. 4.
^"Armamento argentino olvidado por la historia en Centro América". Desarrollo y Defensa (in Spanish). 30 June 2015.
^Decreto S 478/1981 (in Spanish). Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina. 19 June 1981. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
^Decreto S 1742/1971 (in Spanish). Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina. 9 June 1971.
^Ley N. 22.680 (in Spanish). Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina. 26 July 1983.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Model 1968 recoilless gun.
Photo of the Model 1968 in the Falklands
December 15, 2023
model, 1968, recoilless, antitank, weapon, developed, employed, argentina, weapon, been, active, service, since, 1968, were, still, operational, with, argentine, forces, 2000, similar, weapon, argentine, model, 1974, recoilless, modelo, 1968typerecoilless, rif. The Model 1968 recoilless gun is a 105 mm antitank weapon developed and employed by Argentina The weapon has been in active service since 1968 and 150 were still operational with Argentine forces as of 2000 2 A similar weapon is the Argentine 105 mm Model 1974 FMK 1 recoilless gun Modelo 1968TypeRecoilless riflePlace of originArgentinaService historyUsed byArgentinaWarsFalklands WarProduction historyDesigned1960sManufacturerRio Tercero Military FactoryProduced1968SpecificationsMass397 kg 875 lb Length4 20 m 13 8 ft Barrel length3 00 m 9 84 ft Height1 07 m 3 5 ft Model 1974 Crew4ShellHEAT HEElevation 7 to 40 1 Traverse360 Rate of fire3 5 rpmMuzzle velocity400 m sMaximum firing range9 200 m 5 7 mi Sights4x opticalstadiametric rangefinder Contents 1 Description 2 Combat history 3 Operators 3 1 Current 3 2 Former 4 References 4 1 Bibliography 5 External linksDescription editThe Model 1968 is mounted on a towing carriage with wheels for transport and can be fired either with its wheels on or dismounted onto a tripod Aiming is primarily done with the optical sight but the weapon also includes a FAP fusil automatico pesado heavy automatic rifle spotting rifle 3 Ammunition for the Model 1968 includes both an 11 kilogram high explosive and a 15 kilogram high explosive anti tank HEAT round The Model 1974 fires a 16 6 kilogram HE round with a muzzle velocity of 400 meters second and a 14 7 kilogram HEAT round at 514 meters second The maximum range of the piece is 9 200 meters Direct fire is limited to 1 800 meters using the optical sight with stadiametric rangefinder or 1 200 meters using the spotting rifle The Model 1974 s range characteristics are the same The Model 1968 is credited with a 200 mm penetration of armor with its HEAT round 4 The HEAT round for the Model 1974 can penetrate 400 mm of armor 5 Like many recoilless weapons there is a significant back blast from the Model 1968 with a 40 meter danger zone to the rear of the weapon Combat history editIn the late 1960s or early 1970s the Argentine military attempted to use it as a self propelled gun or tank destroyer At least two prototypes one being either an IHC M5 or M9 half track and the other a Bren carrier were fitted with a six cannon mount each similar to that of the US made M50 Ontos Between 1977 and 1978 on the eve of Operation Soberania many carriers and half tracks were converted to self propelled guns by having a single Model 1968 mounted on them citation needed The Model 1968 was fielded by the Argentine Army during the Falklands War 6 The Model 1974 is in service with Argentina and Guatemala citation needed Operators editCurrent edit nbsp Argentina nbsp Guatemala 64 M 1974 guns acquired in 1982 or 1983 7 Former edit nbsp Bolivia 72 M 1974 guns acquired in 1981 8 nbsp Peru 156 Model 1968 guns acquired in 1971 9 nbsp Uruguay 1 Model 1968 donated by Argentina to the National Navy of Uruguay in 1983 10 References edit ATW p 13 JWA p 25 JIW p 689 For the caliber of the weapon and the era it was designed in this estimate is probably less than the true performance of the weapon Comparable weapons of the same era and caliber could penetrate 300 to 400mm of armor JIW 2008 Montes Julio A 2 January 2015 Infantry Support and Anti tank Weapons in Latin America 90mm and 105mm Recoilless Rifles Small Arms Defense Journal Vol 6 no 4 Armamento argentino olvidado por la historia en Centro America Desarrollo y Defensa in Spanish 30 June 2015 Decreto S 478 1981 in Spanish Boletin Oficial de la Republica Argentina 19 June 1981 Retrieved 10 June 2018 Decreto S 1742 1971 in Spanish Boletin Oficial de la Republica Argentina 9 June 1971 Ley N 22 680 in Spanish Boletin Oficial de la Republica Argentina 26 July 1983 Bibliography edit JIW Hogg Ian Jane s Infantry Weapons 1984 85 London Jane s Publishing Company Ltd 1984 JIW 2008 Jones Richard and Ness Leland Jane s Infantry Weapons 2007 2008 Coulsdon Jane s Information Group Ltd 2007 JWA Keymer Eleanor Jane s World Armies Issue Twenty three Coulsdon Jane s Information Group Ltd 2000 ATW Norris John Anti tank Weapons London Brassey s 1996 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Model 1968 recoilless gun Photo of the Model 1968 in the Falklands Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Model 1968 recoilless gun amp oldid 1146335249, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
