130mm gun

While the most common medium artillery piece worldwide is the 155mm howitzer, a towed 130mm gun was a popular Soviet design, introduced as the M46 in 1954 (sometimes called the M1954). A virtually identical Chinese version is the Type 59, for which a longer-range projectile was developed. The Chinese rocket-assisted projectile can be fired by the M46.

Having a longer barrel and thus higher muzzle velocity than a howitzer, it has longer range than all 105mm, and some 155mm howitzers. Maximum ranges are on the order or 28 km/17.5 mi.

In Russian and Soviet service, these were replaced by 152mm guns, often self-propelled, but the Russians are now starting to use 155mm howitzers as well.