The 75/24 Pack Howitzer (75/24 Indian Mountain Gun) is a towed howitzer developed in India and saw extensive use in the Indian Army.
| 75/24 Pack Howitzer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| Used by | India |
| Production history | |
| Designer | ARDE |
| Manufacturer | Ordnance Factory Board |
| Specifications | |
| Caliber | 75 mm (3.0 in) |
Development
editThe circumstances leading to the defeat during the Sino-Indian War led to a lot of introspection. The difficulties faced in the deployment of artillery on the heights led to the army to develop a light mountain gun. This programme was led by Brigadier Gurdial Singh and it delivered quick results.[1][2]
By 1963, the first prototypes of the 75/24 mountain pack howitzer had been developed by the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) and other Ordnance Factories based on a Canadian design.[3][4] The Solid State Physics Laboratory, Delhi was involved in the development of the VT fuze of the howitzer.[5] This thus became the country’s first indigenously made artillery gun.[6] The Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur started manufacture of the guns in 1968.[7]
Characteristics
editThe gun is light weight and can be dis-assembled into multiple units and transported by mules in mountains as well as carried by helicopters. It weighs 983 kg and could fire up to a maximum range of 11,104 metres.[6]
Operators
edit
The gun entered service in the Indian Army in the late 1960s and saw extensive use in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[8] The last battle it saw action in was the Kargil War.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "An Extensive Overview of Artillery Indigenization in India". 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "Development Of Indian Defence Industry – A Macro Level Perspective" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "75/24 pack howitzer". Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "The pitfalls in evolution of Indian Army-II". 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ Shenoy, Ramadas Panemangalore (2006). Defence Research & Development Organisation, 1958-1982. Defense Scientific Information & Documentation Centre. p. 176. ISBN 978-8186514153.
- ^ a b "From Centurions, PT-76 tanks to 75/24 Pack howitzers: Weapons used by Indian Army during '65 and '71 wars roll down Rajpath at Republic Day parade". 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "History". Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "Sainik Samachar, page 13" (PDF). 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "How we pushed Pak out of the Batalik Sector". 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2023-01-25.