Colonel Ekow Jones (Rtd), the first Commanding Officer (CO) of the 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho, has been honoured for his vision, which led to the establishment of the then Medium Mortar Regiment, now the 66 Artillery Regiment. Col. Ekow Jones was awarded with a citation for his pivotal role…
They will make way for newer equipment employing latest technologies, it says
The Army on Tuesday decommissioned two of the longest serving artillery systems, the 130mm self-propelled M-46 catapult guns and 160mm Tampella Mortars from service at Mahajan field firing ranges.
“These weapon systems, having been in the inventory of the Army for close to 60 years, have been decommissioned to make way for newer equipment employing the latest technologies,” an Army statement said. The ceremony was marked by the customary firing of last salvos.
The 130mm Catapult inducted in 1981, with a range of more than 27 km, was a successful merger of two existing weapon systems, Vijayanta tanks and 130mm M-46 guns. “This hybrid platform was a response to the need for a mobile artillery gun system to support strike formations on the western borders, after the 1965 and 1971 wars,” the Army said.
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Indian Army on Tuesday de-commissioned two of its longest serving Artillery systems. The Mahajan Field Firing Ranges witnessed the decommissioning ceremony marked by the customary firing of last salvos of the 130mm Self Propelled M-46 Catapult Guns and the 160mm Tampella Mortars in the presence of the Director General Artillery Lieutenant General K Ravi Prasad, the head of the Arm of Artillery.
The proud end of the systems followed a long operational experience. The 130mm Catapult, with a range of more than 27 km, was a successful merger of two existing weapon systems: Vijayanta tanks and 130mm M-46 guns.
Indian Army decommissions 130mm self-propelled guns and 160mm mortars ANI | Updated: Mar 16, 2021 23:12 IST
New Delhi [India], March 16 (ANI): Two of the longest-serving Artillery systems the 130mm Self Propelled M-46 Catapult Guns and the 160mm Tampella Mortars were decommissioned by the Indian Army on Tuesday at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges. The ceremony was marked by the customary firing of last salvos. The decommissioning firing was attended by Lieutenant General K Ravi Prasad, Director General Artillery and other senior officers, read the press release by the ministry of defence.
The 130mm Catapult, with a range of more than 27 km, was a successful merger of two existing weapon systems: Vijayanta tanks and 130mm M-46 guns. This hybrid platform was a response to the need for a mobile artillery gun system to support strike formations on the Western borders, after the 1965 and 1971 wars. The guns were inducted in 1981 and were employ