The Soltam M-66 is a heavy 160 mm mortar developed and manufactured by Soltam Systems of Israel. It is an indirect fire weapon system designed to provide substantial close-range artillery support, typically employed by mechanized infantry or armored units. Known for its high rate of fire and significant explosive power, the M-66 fills a niche between lighter field mortars and heavier artillery pieces.
Development and Design: The M-66's design lineage can be traced back to the Finnish 160 mm Tampella mortar, from which Soltam acquired licensing rights and further developed the system. Soltam's version improved upon the original, focusing on enhanced mobility, simplified operation, and increased reliability. The "M-66" designation typically refers to the year of its introduction or significant development in its series.
Key design features of the Soltam M-66 include:
- Caliber: 160 mm, allowing it to fire a large, high-explosive round.
- Weight: Due to its heavy caliber and robust construction, the M-66 is quite heavy and is almost exclusively mounted on wheeled or tracked armored vehicles to ensure mobility and rapid deployment. Common platforms include modified M4 Sherman tank chassis (such as the Israeli Makmat), M113 armored personnel carriers, and other indigenous designs.
- Rate of Fire: Depending on the crew training and operational conditions, the M-66 can achieve a sustained rate of fire of 3 to 4 rounds per minute, with a burst rate potentially higher.
- Range: It has an effective range of approximately 9,600 to 10,000 meters (about 6 miles), which is considerable for a mortar system.
- Ammunition: It fires a variety of 160 mm mortar rounds, including high-explosive (HE), illumination, smoke, and practice rounds. The HE rounds are particularly effective against infantry in the open, light fortifications, and unarmored vehicles.
- Recoil System: Given its heavy caliber, the M-66 incorporates an advanced recoil absorption system to manage the significant forces generated during firing, making it suitable for vehicle mounting.
Operational History and Users: The Soltam M-66 has been adopted by several armies worldwide since its introduction. Its primary user, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), employed it extensively as a self-propelled mortar, often mounted on the Makmat system (a modified M4 Sherman chassis) or on an M113 variant. It provided crucial indirect fire support in various conflicts, including the Yom Kippur War and subsequent operations.
Other notable users have included:
- South Africa: Utilized a locally produced variant known as the M-69.
- Singapore: Also acquired and operated the M-66.
- Myanmar: Acquired the M-66, likely for use by its armed forces.
The M-66 has proven to be a robust and effective heavy mortar, offering a powerful and relatively mobile indirect fire capability to the units that operate it. While newer mortar systems and artillery pieces have emerged, the M-66 and its derivatives continue to serve in some capacities.