130mm Type-59-I TOWED

The 130mm Type-59-I is a Chinese-produced towed field gun, a variant of the Soviet M-46. It is known for its long range and robust construction, making it a widely exported and utilized artillery piece.

Developed in the late 1960s to address the excessive weight of the original Type 59, the Type 59-I mated the 130mm ordnance with a lighter carriage derived from the Type 60 122mm field gun to improve tactical mobility. The artillery piece officially entered service with the People's Liberation Army in 1970. It saw extensive combat during the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and was later exported in large numbers to both sides during the Iran-Iraq War. Although largely relegated to reserve status or replaced by self-propelled systems in China, the Type 59-I remains in active service with several militaries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.