CITER 155 mm L33 gun

Cañón 155 mm. L 33 Modelo Argentino
Cañón 155 mm. L 33 Modelo Argentino
Type	Field gun
Place of origin	Argentina
Service history
Used by	Argentine Army, Croatian Army
Wars	Falklands War, Yugoslav Wars, Croatian War of Independence
Production history
Designer	CITEFA
Manufacturer	DGFM
Specifications
Mass	8,200 kg (18,100 lb)
Barrel length	5.15 m (16 ft 11 in) L/33
Caliber	155 mm (6.1 in)
Breech	Interrupted screw
Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	-10° to +67°
Traverse	70°
Muzzle velocity	765 m/s (2,510 ft/s)
Effective firing range	20 km (12 mi)
Maximum firing range	24 km (15 mi) (with special ammunition)

The 155mm L33 Argentine Model gun (Argentine Army denomination: Cañón 155 mm. L 33 Modelo Argentino) is an Argentine artillery field gun in service with the Argentine Army.

Development

Developed in late 1970s by CITEFA as obus 155 mm L33 X1415 CITEFA Modelo 77 in order to replace the World War II era M114 155 mm howitzer still in service in the Argentine Army. The ordnance is based on the gun carried by the French Mk F3 155mm self-propelled gun, also in service with the Argentine Army.[1]

Also designed by CITEFA is a slightly improved version named "Modelo 81".[1]

Service

Examples of Modelo 77 were used during the Falklands War. A total four guns were captured by the British, these were flown in via Argentine Air Force C-130 Hercules during the conflict's last weeks in order to repel British naval gun fire[2] after direct request from Argentinian commander to Buenos Aires Junta. They were feared by British soldiers and were considered high value targets for British commanders.

Some were sold on the black market and were purchased by the Croatian Army where they were used in combat with Serbian forces during the Croatian War of Independence.

Operators

Map with L33 operators in blue

Current operators

Argentina: Argentine Army - 109[1]
Croatia: Croatian Army - 12[1]-18

References

Foss, Christopher F. (21 February 2002). "155 mm howitzer L33 X1415 CITEFA Models 77 and 81". Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002–2003.
Argentine Forces in the Falklands, Osprey Publications

Bibliography

Foss, Christopher F. (July 2004). Jane's Armour & Artillery, 2004-2005 (25th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2616-9.

External links

Official Argentine Army website - Artillery Branch, field artillery equipment webpage (in Spanish)
Official Argentine Army Military Academy webpage - Artillery Branch webpage Archived 2007-12-04 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
Citefa Modelo 77 Obusier

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[Janes_2002-1] Foss, Christopher F. (21 February 2002). "155 mm howitzer L33 X1415 CITEFA Models 77 and 81". Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002–2003.

[2] Argentine Forces in the Falklands, Osprey Publications