The M-46 Catapult is a self-propelled gun developed in India by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment

Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment

Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation . Located in Avadi, in Chennai, India...

 of DRDO. It is based on the conversion of ageing British/Indian Vijayanta

Vijayanta

The Vijayanta main battle tank was built in India based on a licensed design of the Vickers Mk.1. The Vijayanta was the first indigenous tank of the Indian army. The prototype was completed in 1963 and the tank entered service in 1965. The first 90 vehicles were built by Vickers in the UK...

 tank's hull mounted with Russian 130mm M-46 field gun

130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)

The 130 mm towed field gun M-46 M1954 is a manually loaded, towed 130 mm artillery piece, manufactured in the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It was first observed by the west in 1954...

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Description

The turret-less vehicle has an open area in the centre for the gun and crew but retains the driver's position and includes a horizontal metal shield for overhead protection.

To withstand higher firing stresses and to cater for longer recoil the Vijayanta tank's hull has been elongated with seven bogie wheel stations on either side. The stability to the vehicle during firing is provided by unique hydraulic suspension locking system.
The self-propelled medium artillery gun can fire both HE and AP ammunition and has a maximum range of 27 km. The gun has a limited static traverse 12½% on either side and an elevation of +45% to -2%. The system can stow 30 rounds of separate loading ammunition. A total of 170 M-46 Catapult systems were built and are now being phased out from active service being replaced by 4,000 new 155 mm self-propelled howitzers.