76 mm mountain gun M48

M48 B-1
M48 B-1
	A Croatian M48 photographed in 2011
Type	Mountain gun
Place of origin	Yugoslavia
Service history
In service	1950−1992 (Yugoslavia)
Used by	See users
Wars	Myanmar Civil War; Yugoslav Wars; 2001 insurgency in Macedonia;
Production history
Designed	1947
Manufacturer	Crvena Zastava
Variants	See variants
Specifications (M48 B-1)
Mass	720 kg (1,590 lb) (standard); 705 kg (1,554 lb) (combat);
Length	2.42 m (7 ft 11 in)
Barrel length	1.178 m (3 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Width	2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Height	1.22 m (4 ft 0 in)
Crew	6
Shell	HE, HEAT, smoke
Caliber	76.2 mm (3.00 in)
Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	-15° to +45°
Traverse	50°
Rate of fire	25 rpm (sustained); 70 rpm (rapid fire);
Muzzle velocity	222–398 m/s (730–1,310 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	8,750 m (9,570 yd)
References

The 76 mm mountain gun M-48 (AKA the Tito Gun), was developed after the Second World War to meet the requirements of Yugoslav People's Army mountain units, it can also be used as a field gun.

Description and history

The original M-48 B-1 model which was designed in 1947 and adopted by Yugoslav People's Army in 1950,^[2] it was specifically designed for mountain warfare, being able to be broken down and towed by horse or mule (with the exception of the B-1A1-I), though it also doubles as a field gun.^[4] In Yugoslav service the Zastava AR51 4×4 vehicle was used for towing before it was replaced a license-built version of the Fiat 1107.^[5]

The M48 was also a successful military export item, sold to South Asian countries such as India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka,^[2] where weight instead of range was the main factor considered.^[5]

The Romanian 76.2 mm Mountain Gun Model 1982 is related to the M48, firing some of the ammunition types used by the Yugoslav gun.^[3]

Variants

Yugoslavia/Serbia

There have been at least five variants of the M48:

M48 B-1 − First production version, its fitted with pneumatic tires and a maximum towing speed of 60 km/h (37 mph). The complete gun can also towed by pack animals or broken down for transport^[4]
M48 B-1A1-I − A variant combining the wheels and tires of the B-1 and some of the suspension components of the B-1A2 version^[4]
M48 B-1A2 − A dual-purpose variant featuring light alloy wheels with solid rubber tires and a modified suspension, its maximum towing speed is 30 km/h (19 mph). The B-1A2 can be used as a field gun, but it cannot be disassembled for transport or towed by pack animals^[4]
M48 B-2 − Last version produced in Yugoslavia, little is known about it^[4]
M48 B1 A5 − A Serbian variant offered for export by Yugoimport SDPR in 2004. Specifications are almost identical to the B-1, but its operated by a crew of seven^[3]

Romania

76.2 mm Mountain Gun Model 1982 − A related design, it was designed to equip the Romanian Land Forces mountain units. The Model 82 is operated by a crew of seven, can be brought into action in about a minute, and broken down into eight pack-animal loads without the need of specialised tools^[6]
98 mm Model 93 mountain howitzer − A 98 mm (3.9 in) caliber mountain gun and possibly an improved Model 82. Both Romanian mountain guns were never exported, even though they were offered for sale in the international market^[7]

Ammunition

Ammunition is of the semi-fixed type with four charges. It is based on that used for the Soviet 76 mm regimental gun M1927 which fired fixed ammunition. Ammunition types include high-explosive (HE), high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) and smoke rounds:^[3]

HE M55 projectile weighing 6.2 kg with a muzzle velocity between 222 and 398 m/s;^[8]
High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) projectile weighing 5.1 kg which will penetrate 100 mm of conventional steel armour at a range of 450 m; and
Smoke shell WP M60 weighing 6,2 kg.
HE M70 projectile weighing 6.2 kg with a muzzle velocity up to 398 m/s;^[9]

Users

Bosnia and Herzegovina^[3]
Croatia − 57^[3]
Guatemala^[5]
India − 215^[3]
Indonesia − 50 in 2011^[3]
North Macedonia − 40 or 55^[1]^[3]
Montenegro − 96^[3]^[a]
Myanmar^[10] − 100^[3]
Papua New Guinea − 6, donated by Indonesia in 2012^[11]
Romania − Model 82 and Model 93^[7]
Serbia − 96^[3]^[b]
Sri Lanka^[10] − 14^[3]
East Timor − 6, donated by Indonesia in 2012^[11]
Yugoslavia^[10] − Passed on to successor states^[3]

Photo gallery

A close-up of an M48 76mm mountain gun belonging to the 28th BIH (Bosnia-Herzegovina) Division, 281st Brigade, 1st Tank Battalion, stationed in Visca, Bosnia.
Romanian M82 76mm mountain howitzer, mady by Arsenal Reșița. Based on the "Tito Gun".

Notes

^ Including guns in Serbian inventory.
^ Including guns in Montenegrin inventory.

References

^ ^a ^b Krott, Rob (October 2003). "Macedonia's Weaponry: A New Nation Re-Arms and Fights". Small Arms Review. Vol. 7, no. 1.
^ ^a ^b ^c Katz 1984, p. 356.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Foss 2011, p. 994.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Foss 2011, p. 993.
^ ^a ^b ^c Foss 1990, p. 691.
^ Foss 2011, p. 970.
^ ^a ^b Foss 2011, pp. 969−970.
^ "Marstar Canada - 76 mm Round with HE Shell M55". marstar.ca. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^ "Marstar Canada - 76 mm Round with HE Shell M70". marstar.ca. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bidwell 1977, p. 33.
^ ^a ^b Seno, Haryo Adjie Nogo (29 May 2012). "M-48 76mm: Meriam Gunung Yon Armed TNI AD" [M-48 76mm: Mountain Gun of the Indonesian Army]. Indomiliter.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 23 March 2015.

Bibliography

Bidwell, Brigadier Shelford, ed. (1977). Brassey's artillery of the world: guns, howitzers, mortars, guided weapons, rockets, and ancillary equipment in service with the regular and reserve forces of all nations. New York: Bonanza Books. ISBN 978-0-517-27718-8.
Foss, Christopher F, ed. (1990). Jane's Infantry Weapons 1990−1991 (11th ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Defence Data. ISBN 978-0-7106-0909-0.
Foss, Christopher F, ed. (2011). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2011−2012 (32nd ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2960-9.
Katz, James Everett (1984). Arms production in developing countries: an analysis of decision making. Lexington, Massachusetts: Lexington Books. ISBN 978-0-669-05872-7.
Chamberlain, Peter & Gander, Terry. Infantry, Mountain and Airborne Guns. New York: Arco, 1975
Jane's All the Worlds Artillery

External links

Media related to M48 76 mm mountain gun at Wikimedia Commons
Article at Jane's

[10] Including guns in Serbian inventory.

[13] Including guns in Montenegrin inventory.

[Krott-1] Krott, Rob (October 2003). "Macedonia's Weaponry: A New Nation Re-Arms and Fights". Small Arms Review. Vol. 7, no. 1.

[FOOTNOTEKatz1984356-2] Katz 1984, p. 356.

[FOOTNOTEFoss2011994-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Foss 2011, p. 994.

[FOOTNOTEFoss2011993-4] Foss 2011, p. 993.

[FOOTNOTEFoss1990691-5] Foss 1990, p. 691.

[FOOTNOTEFoss2011970-6] Foss 2011, p. 970.

[FOOTNOTEFoss2011969−970-7] Foss 2011, pp. 969−970.

[8] "Marstar Canada - 76 mm Round with HE Shell M55". marstar.ca. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.

[9] "Marstar Canada - 76 mm Round with HE Shell M70". marstar.ca. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.

[FOOTNOTEBidwell197733-11] Bidwell 1977, p. 33.

[:1-12] Seno, Haryo Adjie Nogo (29 May 2012). "M-48 76mm: Meriam Gunung Yon Armed TNI AD" [M-48 76mm: Mountain Gun of the Indonesian Army]. Indomiliter.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 23 March 2015.

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