Name: 130 mm Illuminating SP-46
Availability: InStock

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Weights projectile

Weights flare

Weights ejector charge

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Lengths projectile, fuzed

Lengths projectile, unfuzed

Lengths cartridge case

Diameter of cartridge case rim

Max muzzle velocity

Eastern Asia

China

Southern Asia

Iran

Western Asia

Iraq

<h2>Armament</h2><p>130 mm Field Gun M-46 ; 130 mm Field Gun Type 59 and Type 59-1; Factory 100 M59-1M; 130 mm Gun Model 1982 . 130 mm Self-propelled Gun (Catapult); NORINCO 130 mm Self-propelled Gun.</p><h2>Development</h2><p>The 130 mm Illuminating SP-46 projectile is little changed from when it was introduced into service at the same time as the 130 mm Field Gun M-46 during the early 1950s. It has been produced with some slight variations, for example some early projectiles used two drive bands, but it is no longer manufactured in the RFAS. However, a variant is still manufactured by NORINCO of China for the 130 mm Type 59-1 gun.</p><h2>Description</h2><p>The body of the 130 mm Illuminating SP-46 is forged steel and it is shorter than other 130 mm projectiles. The nose is long and streamlined and the bourrelet is more pronounced than on other 130 mm projectiles. A single copper driving band, 23.87 mm wide, encircles the body. The base is flat and there is no boat tail. The projectile baseplate is held in place by two shear pins and the base has three balancing holes, creating an imbalance to ensure a clean removal from the projectile rear when required. The nose fuze cavity is occupied by an aluminium TM-16L or VM-60 time fuze. When the fuze functions, ideally 700 m over the target area, it ignites a 780 g black powder ejector charge in a light metal container located under the fuze well. The resultant internal pressures force down on the contents to push off the projectile base and eject the illuminating flare, which is also ignited by the ejector charge. Once the flare is out of the projectile body a single main parachute deploys to stabilise the flare canister and descend at a rate of approximately 10 m/s. The flare contains 2.38 kg of a magnesium-based illuminating composition which creates a white light with an intensity of 500,000 candela for up to 40 seconds. The 70:30 drawn brass cartridge case is issued in two versions; Full Charge and Reduced propellant load. Full Charge contains 13.5 kg of propellant loaded in a lower and upper bag, together with 2.5 kg of loose propellant in bundled stick form. An increment completes the Full Charge while removal of this increment creates Charge 1. The Reduced Charge weighs 6.75 kg and is supplied in a separate cartridge case. The top charge in the Reduced category is formed using the full complement of a base charge and two equal sized bags, forming Charge 2. Removal of one of the equal bags creates Charge 3 while removal of both equal bags, leaving only the base charge, creates Charge 4. A percussion primer is pressed into the cartridge case base to ignite both Full and Reduced propellant loads. The Full Charge produces a muzzle velocity of  930 m/s and provides a maximum range of 27,490 m. The maximum range at which the flare can be deployed is approximately 25,000 m, and the minimum is about 6,000 m.</p><h2>Authorised fuzes</h2><p>MT TM-16L or VM-60 Equivalent rounds CHINA , PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC</p><p>CHINA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO)</p><p>Type: 130 mm Illuminating Type 59</p><p>Description: Developed by NORINCO for the 130 mm Type 59-1 gun, this projectile is based on the</p><p>130 mm FRAG-HE body and is therefore longer (663 mm) than the 130 mm Illuminating SP-46, with</p><p>two copper drive bands. Weight is 29.1 kg and the illuminating flare (magnesium, barium nitrate and</p><p>binder) weighs 1.96 kg, burning for at least 40 seconds. Muzzle velocity given as 950 m/s and</p><p>maximum range 24,500 m. Fitted with Shi-1 or MS-1 time fuze</p><p>IRAN</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Defence Industries Organisation, Ammunition Group</p><p>Type: 130 mm Illuminating</p><p>Description: Projectile weight given as 32.5 kg. Otherwise standard specifications</p><p>IRAQ</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>State factories</p><p>Type: 130 mm Illuminating</p><p>Description: Apparently standard specifications. May no longer be in production</p>

The body of the 130 mm Illuminating SP-46 is forged steel and it is shorter than other 130 mm projectiles. The nose is long and streamlined and the bourrelet is more pronounced than on other 130 mm projectiles. A single copper driving band, 23.87 mm wide, encircles the body. The base is flat and there is no boat tail. The projectile baseplate is held in place by two shear pins and the base has three balancing holes, creating an imbalance to ensure a clean removal from the projectile rear when required. The nose fuze cavity is occupied by an aluminium TM-16L or VM-60 time fuze. When the fuze functions, ideally 700 m over the target area, it ignites a 780 g black powder ejector charge in a light metal container located under the fuze well. The resultant internal pressures force down on the contents to push off the projectile base and eject the illuminating flare, which is also ignited by the ejector charge. Once the flare is out of the projectile body a single main parachute deploys to stabilise the flare canister and descend at a rate of approximately 10 m/s.

The flare contains 2.38 kg of a magnesium-based illuminating composition which creates a white light with an intensity of 500,000 candela for up to 40 seconds. The 70:30 drawn brass cartridge case is issued in two versions; Full Charge and Reduced propellant load. Full Charge contains 13.5 kg of propellant loaded in a lower and upper bag, together with 2.5 kg of loose propellant in bundled stick form. An increment completes the Full Charge while removal of this increment creates Charge 1. The Reduced Charge weighs 6.75 kg and is supplied in a separate cartridge case. The top charge in the Reduced category is formed using the full complement of a base charge and two equal sized bags, forming Charge 2. Removal of one of the equal bags creates Charge 3 while removal of both equal bags, leaving only the base charge, creates Charge 4. A percussion primer is pressed into the cartridge case base to ignite both Full and Reduced propellant loads. The Full Charge produces a muzzle velocity of 930 m/s and provides a maximum range of 27,490 m. The maximum range at which the flare can be deployed is approximately 25,000 m, and the minimum is about 6,000 m.

130 mm Illuminating SP-46

130 mm Illuminating SP-46

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