ALC M7 Priest
Notes:
Though this vehicle was officially named the Sherman Fire Support
Vehicle, the name “Priest” was given to it by British crews who looked at its
pulpit-like commander’s station, and after similar commander’s stations on their
Bishop and Deacon SP Artillery.
Based on the chassis of the M4 Sherman series, the M7 has no turret, an open
top, and mounts a 105mm howitzer instead of more normal Sherman armament.
It is, however, a sort of a kludge, mounted on a chassis not meant to be
carrying such a weapon to give it a measure of mobility in a war that was
becoming more and more mobile. It was sort of a “Let’s start with a Sherman,
than add a howitzer, lop off the top, leave it open…” and such.
Such a design genesis had worked with British guns and some Canadian gun,
based on M3 Lee and Grant chassis.
And the Americans needed that more mobile was discovered to be needed yesterday,
in the Sicilian campaign, and they didn’t need SPHs armed with and firing
British ordnance, i.e., not in the US supply chain.
With no dedicated SPH design available that could be put into action
almost immediately, the Priest was settled upon for US units.
While the first Priests were sent to US Army units in North Africa, they
were based on M3 Lee main battle tanks, supply was soon diverted to the
Lend-Lease program and to Britain.
They had their own teething problems with them, and ended up replacing their
guns with British-made ordnance. Two iterations of these early Priests went
through in less than three months, and then the base hull was changed to the M4
Sherman tank. Though it may seem that there was a lot of internal space (if
open-topped); however, most of this space was reserved for the backstroke of the
gun, which was not well-bufferred.
The Priest was,
like the Sherman, widely exported, but by 2000, remained in service only by
Yugoslavia, Israel (in a reserve role), and some South American and Southeast
Asian countries.
The M7 Priest
proved to be so ubiquitous that most US Army posts have one parked in front of
their museums, or at their parks of main gates.
There is a similar mounting in front of most Israeli armor and former
West German armor museums.
The M7 – the Original
Priest
The US Army
needed mobile heavy artillery and it needed it yesterday, As the M3 Lee was
being quickly supplanted with the M4 Sherman, this was seen as a vehicle which
could be modified and altered (in and off the production line) to produce a
semi-ad hoc self-propelled howitzer.
In order to maintain a low silhouette, the gun’s elevation was limited to
35 degrees, which effectively gave the gun less than 75% of the range that the
howitzer was actually capable of delivering.
Some 800 of these versions were produced, though many were built for the
British under the Lend-Lease program.
As construction and modification work went on, the M7 acquired more and
more M4 components, starting with the suspension, to the primary fighting
compartment incorporating more and more cast steel.
The British made an ad hoc FDC version of the M7, in which 24 rounds for
the main gun were replaced with radio equipment and a radio operator.
An early modification to the M7 allowed the M7 to greatly-modify it’s
ammunition storage, increasing main gun round carriage dramatically. The engine
is the Wright R975 EC2 developing 340 horsepower and with manual transmission.
The driver was on a front right sponson, looking through the face of the sponson
with one vision block to his front and one to his left side.
Other Sherman-Based
Priests
The introduction
of the M7B1 completed the move to the Sherman chassis, specifically the M4A3.
The engine was replaced with a higher-producing one of the same type,
developing 400 horsepower. The turret was removed and the gun installed into
this space, with the pulpit-like commander’s station next to the gun
installation on the right.
Continual unsolved problems with the limited elevation (and lack of depression)
of the main gun reared its head.
These Priests began delivery in Sep 1943.
In the Korean
War, the lack of elevation and deflection flexibility finally became a serious
issue in North Korea’s rough terrain and deep valleys.
The poor depression (roughly +5 degrees) could not be fixed, but the
maximum elevation was increased dramatically to +65 degrees.
In addition, the commander’s station was increased in height to the point
that it has a 360-degree field of fire, and could fire almost straight up.
This was the M7B2.
The M7 was also
used has the basis for an FDC vehicle, which was meant to be used with units
equipped with the M7. These
essentially the same as the later Defrocked Priests, and like them, received no
official designation. Instead of a
large number of troops, they were equipped with two long-range, two mediuMrange,
and two short-range vehicular radios.
(And that was in the days when most vehicular radios were huge.)
The FDC also carried 10 field telephones, enough to be connected to each
gun in the battery plus a couple of spares.
Though it had no howitzer, it did carry more ammunition for its
machinegun. A large number of
equipment to plot and aim fire and produce fire missions was also carried.
The FDC variant was equipped with bows and a tarp to cover the FDC
section in the rear; this tended to make the FDC a target and was often not
used.
The “Defrocked Priest”
During the
Allied effort to capture Caen and during the breakout from the Normandy beaches,
moving troops under protection became for a short time more important than
moving howitzers. To this end, the
howitzer, ammo racks, fuze storage…essentially everything that made the Priest
an SPH, was removed and troops piled into the rear.
The fronts were fitted with Cullen devices and they were used as assault
personnel carriers. No additional
vision blocks, firing ports, or doors were installed, just climb on the thing
and go. They were later converted back to their SP howitzer configurations.
They never received an official US Army designation, but were usually
called “Defrocked Priests,” “Unfrocked Priests” or “Holy Rollers”
Most of the modifications were actually produced by Canadian engineers,
and most of them were in fact used by the 2nd Canadian Division and
the British 51st Highland Division, as they were meant to take the
brunt of the German resistance on Sword and Gold Beaches, and later in the push
inland after the landings.
The Canadians
saw this modification and ran with it, producing the Kangaroo APC. (This will be
found in Canadian APCs.)
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M7 (Early) |
$201,324 |
G, A |
500 kg |
22.67 tons |
5 |
17 |
Headlights |
Open |
M7 (Late) |
$237,845 |
G, A |
425 kg |
22.97 tons |
6 |
19 |
Headlights |
Open |
M7 FDC |
$61,760 |
G, A |
468 kg |
22.8 tons |
7 |
21 |
Headlights |
Open |
M7B1 |
$231,832 |
G, A |
425 kg |
22.97 tons |
6 |
19 |
Headlights |
Open |
M7B2 |
$240,376 |
G, A |
425 kg |
22.98 tons |
6 |
16 |
Headlights |
Open |
“Defrocked Priest” |
$38,793 |
G, A |
1.76 tons |
21.64 tons |
2+12 |
14 |
Headlights |
Open |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M7 (Early) |
125/88 |
35/24 |
662 |
149 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF8
HS5 HR4 |
M7 (Late) |
125/88 |
35/24 |
662 |
152 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF8
HS5 HR4 |
M7 FDC |
126/88 |
35/25 |
662 |
189 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF8
HS5 HR4 |
M7B1/M7B2 |
140/98 |
39/27 |
677 |
178 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF8
HS5 HR4 |
“Defrocked Priest” |
131/91 |
36/25 |
662 |
152 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF8
HS5 HR4 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M7 (Early) |
Nil |
None |
105mm M1A2 L/22
Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
57x105mm, 1000x .50 |
M7 (Late)/M7B1 |
Nil |
None |
105mm M1A2 L/22
Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
69x105mm, 1000x .50 |
M7 FDC |
Nil |
None |
M2HB (C) |
1000x.50 |
M7B2 |
Nil |
None |
105mm M1A2 L/22
Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
45x105mm, 1000x .50 |
“Defrocked Priest” |
Nil |
None |
M2HB (C) |
2000x.50 |
Cadillac M44
Notes:
This elderly self-propelled howitzer dates from US use in the early
1950s. It went out of US service in
1962, but as of 2000 was still being used by Greece, Jordan, Spain, and Taiwan.
Turkey also used them, but these were upgraded in the 1980s to the M44T
standard (see Turkish Self-Propelled Artillery).
Many were also used by Italy, but most of these ended up as range targets
after their service was complete. They were widely disseminated, and can be
found in a number of museum and private collections. The chassis is that of the
M41 Walker Bulldog light tank; instead of a turret, the M44 was fitted with a
large open-topped superstructure which allowed the designers to simplify the
design as well as lower the silhouette and reduce the costs of the vehicle. The
M44 replaced the World War Two M41 155mm Howitzer Motor Carriage.
The US Army
looked at the prototypes and blueprints, and were enthusiastic about the new
vehicle, and 250 were built even before type-standardization was applied; these
250 vehicles were provisionally called T99E1s.
In field-testing, however, a plethora of problems rapidly became
apparent. The T99E1 attempted to use as much of the M41’s chassis as possible,
to simply production and logistics.
However, the engine, originally under the crew compartment, proved to make the
vehicle too high in silhouette. The
five roadwheels of the M41 chassis became six,, with the track idler being
deleted and the front roadwheel doing double duty as a roadwheel/track idler.
The engine was therefore relocated to the front, which incidentally
allowed for s smaller profile while still having a fully-enclosed
superstructure. This led to a new
problem – exhaust fumes from the engine made it into the crew compartment, along
with the more substantial fumes from firing the gun.
The problem with these fumes was essentially never solved; instead, the
roof was removed from the superstructure became open-topped.
This resulted in the T149, which, after all T99E1s were rebuilt,, became
the M44.
The M45 L/23 gun
has much shorter range than normal NATO standard 155mm howitzers but can fire
most 155mm rounds. Again, the short
gun was used to lighten the vehicle and simplify the design. The driver was in
the front of the superstructure; indeed, all crewmembers were in the
superstructure. The M45 was a variant of the M114 used on the M41 HMC, modified
to dramatically reduce recoil forces of the gun. To aid in reloading, the rear
had a round lifter, which took the round from the ground to the reloading door
in the rear. The commander’s
position was on the front right superstructure corner, and he has a
pintle-mounted weapon mounted on a manually-rotating cupola.
The rest of the crew was deeper in the superstructure with vision blocks
and sights for both direct and indirect fire; the gunner is on the front right,
while the loaders are in the left rear.
Traverse within the superstructure was very narrow; and 30 degrees to the
left or right. Elevation, on the
other hand, was from -5 to +65 degrees.
The M44’s binary
powerpack was in the front of the vehicle.
The engine was a gasoline-fueled AOSI-895-3 engine, developing 450
horsepower, and hooked to a manual transmission.
The engine and transmission were also capable of exceptional torque,
improving off-road performance.
Steering is by a simple T-bar, with a gas, brake, and clutch pedal. The M44A1
used a variant of this engine, the AOSI-895-5, which used fuel injection and
increased fuel efficiency, and developed 500 horsepower.
The British Army
called the M44 the Cardinal.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
T99E1 |
$272,791 |
|
710 kg |
29 tons |
5 |
23 |
Headlights
|
Enclosed |
M44 |
$267,591 |
G, A |
750 kg |
28.35 tons |
5 |
23 |
Headlights |
Open |
M44A1 |
$262,722 |
G, A |
780 kg |
28.05 tons |
5 |
23 |
Headlights |
Open |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
T99E1 |
129/91 |
36/25 |
568 |
202 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF9 HS4
HR2* |
M44 |
131/92 |
36/26 |
568 |
200 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF9 HS4
HR2* |
M44A1 |
142/100 |
40/28 |
568 |
222 |
Stnd |
T4 |
HF9 HS4
HR2* |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M44 (Both)/T99E1 |
None |
Basic |
155mm M45 L/23 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
24x155mm, 900x.50 |
Cadillac M52
Notes:
These ancient self-propelled howitzers were still being used by Greece,
South Korea, and Spain at the turn of the century.
Turkey upgraded their M52s to the M52T standard in the late 1980s and
early 1990s (see Turkish Self-Propelled Artillery).
Their original purpose in the US Army was to replace the M7 Priest and
M37 105mm HMC. The M52 saw
extensive use by the US and ARVN during the American involvement in the Vietnam
War. Though development began in 1951, there were repeated developmental
problems and delays and first issue did not take place until 1955. The vehicle
is in a large part similar to the M44, but it has a partially-rotating turret
instead of a fixed, open superstructure.
The M52 was a contemporary of the M44; in fact, though design work began
on the M52 almost a year earlier than the M44.
However, the turret was difficult to get right and field testing did not
take place until 1955, two years later than the M44.
The M52 was
based on components of the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank, though it does not use
the full chassis. The M52 has a large turret at the rear of the chassis, with a
non-rotating cupola at the front left of the turret for the driver.
He has all-around vision blocks and a hatch with an adjustable-height
seat. He also has a two-piece hatch
to his left. The gunner is on the right side of the turret and has a hatch to
his right with a vision block in it.
The hatchway is small and the hatch is more to receive instructions than
for anything else. The gunner’s
primary sights are indirect fire sights and a x4 telescopic sight with a
10-degree field of view. At the rear of the turret to the right is the
commander’s cupola. The cupola has
all-around vision blocks and a sight allowing him to look for air threats while
the vehicle is buttoned up. He has
a pintle-mounted machinegun. The cupola is found at the right rear of the
turret, unlike most turreted armored vehicles. In Vietnam, a machinegun mount
was often mounted by the loader’s hatch, and machinegun ammunition load
increased to whatever could be shoehorned in. At the rear of the turret are a
two-piece circular hatchway and a rectangular two-piece hatch below it; these
are for crew entry and ammunition resupply.
The gun can be depressed to -10 degrees or elevated to +65 degrees.
The turret faces forward and may be turned up to 60 degrees to the right
or left. The ammo is positioned in the vehicle with a set of 21 ready-use
rounds; the rest is usually kept in the packing crates on the floor of the
turret and in the area behind the turret ring. Resupply is done via a large door
on either side of the turret. The gun is a 105mm gun designated M49 and has
slightly better optics for aiming. than the M44’s gun.
The M52 was
originally supposed to have an “ultimate” fire control, but funding was cut and
this was replaced in development with a more basic fire control system.
The fancy fire control system was also seen as contrary to the spirit of
the program, which led to several vehicles being built on the same basic
chassis. The hull is in fact quite
similar to the M44’s hull, though the M52 has a fully-enclosed turret instead of
an open superstructure. The M52
uses the same supercharged gasoline engine that the M44 version uses; this was
also updated to the fuel-injection system of the M44A1 during development, and
the new engine develops 500 horsepower. The M52 also has a 1kW APU, powered by
gasoline.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Greek M52s were given a unit award in 2001 during the Twilight War for
their dogged defense of the 2-9 Salient near Sparta.
The M52 was the first US SPH
that was designated “Self-Propelled Howitzer” rather than “Gun, Howitzer
Carriage.”
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M52 |
$355,808 |
G, A |
750 kg |
24.5 tons |
5 |
21 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
M52A1 |
$356,793 |
G, A |
750 kg |
25.2 tons |
5 |
21 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M52 |
145/102 |
40/28 |
659 |
251 |
Stnd |
T4 |
TF5 TS3
TR3 HF6
HS3 HR2 |
M52A1 |
154/108 |
43/30 |
659 |
278 |
Stnd |
T4 |
TF5 TS3
TR3
HF6 HS3
HR2 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M52 |
None |
Basic |
105mm M49 L/30 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
102x105mm, 900x.50 |
M52A1 |
+1 |
Basic |
105mm M49 L/30 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
102x105mm, 900x.50 |
Notes:
This self-propelled howitzer was developed in the 1950s at the same time
as the M110 203mm SP howitzer. The
M110 was to be the lighter brother to the M110. It has been long phased out of
service in most armies that once used them, including the US, but in 2000 was
still being used by Greece (converted to M110A2), Iran, Israel, and South Korea.
They were used by a dozen countries, including both the US Army and
Marines. (Modern-day Vietnam does not actively use the M107, but keeps some
captured during the Vietnam was in working order.) The vehicle is normally
accompanied by a drove of M548 tracked load carriers or (later) M992 FAASVs,
carrying the ammunition and 8 members of the gun crew.
The M108 had one of the longest effective ranges of all Cold War
howitzers. Combat use was limited to US forces in Vietnam and the IDF. (The IDF
calls the M107 the Romach.) The M578 is also based on the M107 and M110 chassis.
Most M110s were eventually modified into M110A2’s, as the designs are
modular; on a few occasions, M110s were re-modified back to M107A1s.
The chassis is
the same as used on the M110, but like the rest of the vehicle, the gun hasn’t
been produced since 1980, and parts for it are getting hard to find except in
countries actively using them. The
gun is carried on top of the chassis of the vehicle; it’s 175mm L/60 gun is
hard-hitting and satisfyingly long-ranged. The mounting unfortunately gives no
protection to the crew from small arms fire or artillery splinters; to remedy
this, a tubular framework was issued with the vehicle that could be erected
around the firing position; over which Kevlar shields are placed.
Most of the time, these were considered too cumbersome and difficult to
use, and they were typically left strapped to the side of the vehicle or
abandoned in the rear areas.
Without these shields, the turret armor value from all directions is 0 for the
crew or 1 for the gun.
The M107 is
powered by a 450-horsepower supercharged General Motors 8V71T diesel, with a
semi-automatic transmission. The
M107 was not heavy for SP artillery of the time, and it won speed records at the
time of its introduction; in fact, with the barrel removed and packed beside the
M107 on the same pallet, it could be airdropped The engine is on the right
front, and the driver is on the front right deck; he is the only crewmember
under armor. The commander’s
position is opposite the driver on the front right deck.
Behind them are seats for three members of the crew.
At the rear is the gun and a large stabilizing spade which raises and
lowers depending whether the gun is in or out of action. (Firing without the
spade lowered is right out!) The
M107 was fairly quick for its time, and was one of the first self-propelled
howitzers to in and out of action fast enough to use the then-new
shoot-and-scoot technique. (An M107 recorded a speed of 80 kph in Germany in the
1970s; however, this speed run did break a torsion bar.)
The gun and only
armament is a 175mm M113 howitzer.
The gun tube is so long that the gun is mounted at the very rear of the hull to
counterbalance it. The early-model
M107 had an L30 barrel, but this was found inadequate and the standard barrel
length became L/60.At the rear are two elevators for the shells and charges; the
same charges are used for the M107 as for the M110.
The elevators include a device to insert the shell and charges in line
with the breech, where a power rammer takes over. When US and some other
countries’ M107s reached their service lives, most were turned into M110A2s;
this was an easy conversion. The
M113 gun had a long range, but is notoriously inaccurate at ranges longer than
Long range (to put it in game terms).
If an M113 gun fires at longer ranges, triple scatter ranges.
It is also notoriously difficult to load quickly, with 1 rpm being the
maximum burst rate. The M113 gun
has a minimum depression of -2 degrees, and a maximum elevation of +65 degrees.
Deflection, however, is limited to 30 degrees in either direction, from
the front. The crew includes three gunners, but the 8 loaders are carried in the
accompanying vehicles. Special steel alloy is used to lighten the gun barrel
without sacrificing strength.
However, it was not as strong as advertised; in Vietnam, barrels with supposed
design lifetimes of 1000 rounds tended to last a maximum of 428 rounds. The
M107A1 was therefore designed, with a new M113A1 gun that corrected the
early-wear problem; essentially, the M107 has what would be considered a bull
barrel with a stainless steel bore.
The M107 was
poorly-protected, and took heavy losses in Vietnam from suicide raids by
infantry, Viet Cong, and combat engineers.
The IDF has considerable success, however, at destroying SA-2 SAM sites
from long range. IDF experience, and the effect of being outranged by artillery
rockets, led to a new family of base-bleed and ERFB ammunition for the M107.
Note that while
the M107 is capable of direct fire. Actual direct fire shots are quite difficult
due to the cumbersomeness of the vehicle and gun.
In addition, there are no dedicated antivehicle rounds available for the
M107, nor are there defensive rounds like Beehive rounds are made for the M107.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M107 (Early) |
$146,692 |
G, A |
940 kg |
27.61 tons |
5 (+8) |
23 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
M107 (Standard) |
$213,217 |
G, A |
800 kg |
28.17 tons |
5 (+8) |
24 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
M107A1 |
$191,272 |
G, A |
1.01 tons |
24.74 tons |
5 (+8) |
21 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor* |
M107 (Early) |
134/94 |
37/26 |
1137 |
251 |
Stnd |
T4 |
TF1
TS1 TR1
HF4 HS2
HR2 |
M107 (Standard) |
132/92 |
37/26 |
1137 |
251 |
Stnd |
T4 |
TF1
TS1 TR1
HF4 HS2
HR2 |
M107A1 |
145/101 |
40/28 |
1137 |
251 |
Stnd |
T4 |
TF1
TS1 TR1
HF4 HS2
HR2 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M107 (Early) |
None |
None |
175mm M113 L/30 Howitzer |
2x175mm |
M107/M107A1 |
None |
None |
175mm M113 L/60 Howitzer |
2x175mm |
*Kevlar Sheets may be erected on a frame to protect the gunners and loaders,
giving a turret AV of 2 on all sides.
Cadillac M108
Notes:
This elderly self-propelled howitzer is still being used by Brazil,
Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey. The only combat service seen by the M108 is in the
Vietnam War, where it was used by the US.
Though it had an excellent combat record, after the Vietnam War, NATO
felt that the M109 was better for employment with NATO forces.
The M108 was specifically designed to replace the M52 SPH above.
The M108 uses
components also used by several armored vehicles, including the turret of the
M109 and some of the suspension of the M113 APC. Components from the M107
comprise the primary chassis. It uses the M103 L/30 105mm howitzer; the M108 was
meant to be the light component of the US’s SP howitzer fleet, and at the time,
bridged the gap between 120/4.2” mortars and the 155mm howitzer. Nonetheless,
the warhead of a 120/4.2” mortar is comparable to a 105mm round, and they became
superfluous with the introduction of the M109.
The gun is capable of extreme elevation and depression, with a depression
of -6 degrees and an elevation of an astounding +75 degrees. (HEAT rounds were
devised to take advantage of the low depression, making direct fire effective.)
The chemical rounds present a special problem; their range is short
enough that firing into a headwind could contaminate friendly positions, and the
M108 has no NBC protection. It’s
aluminum armor is decent for such a vehicle, but there are no anti-spall liners.
On the whole, the M108 looks a bit lumpish, being flat on all sides of the
chassis and a squat turret mounted at the rear of the chassis.
The driver has a
hatch on the front left deck, the commander and gunner have hatches on the
turret roof, and there are large doors on either side of the turret and in the
rear of the turret for ammunition loading.
It is amphibious with preparation (takes 9 minutes) through inflatable
bags that attach to the hull above the tracks.
Power is provided by a Detroit Diesel 8V71T supercharged diesel, derated
to 426 horsepower due to the lighter weight than the M108 and to help conserve
fuel. However, the M108 was one of the first US armored vehicles to be equipped
with an automatic transmission. In Vietnam, crews were normally equipped with
several M14s or M16s, a plethora of fragmentation grenades, and an M20A1B1 Super
Bazooka rocket launcher. However,
these were not standard issue and are included in the entry below.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$314,847 |
D, A |
500 kg |
21 tons |
5 |
15 |
Passive IR (D, G) |
Enclosed |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
150/105 |
42/29/4 |
511 |
150 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF8 TS4
TR4 HF10
HS3 HR3 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+1 |
Basic |
105mm M103 L/30 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
87x105mm, 600x.50 |
Notes: The M109
is, essentially, a progressive upgrade of the M108; they use the same chassis
and a modified version of the M108’s turret..
The M109 was used, in its various iterations, by nearly 50 countries;
most of these have been upgraded to various degrees, especially in the gun
length. Most countries which
originally used the M1209 are still using them, The M109A6 Paladin is a
highly-modified version which will be covered in the next entry. With the
cancellation of the XM2001 Crusader program, the M109A6 and other marks of the
M109 remains the primary SP howitzer of some 25 of those 50 countries. Many have
license agreements to allow them to produce M109s at home and modify them as
needed; perhaps the greatest upgrades have been done by the South Koreans.
Several European countries are either going their own way with a variety of SP
howitzers, especially the AS-90.
M109: The Original
The original M109 was
essentially a straightforward gun upgrade of the M108.
It began deployment in 1963 and saw its first combat use by the US Army
in Vietnam. It was, at the time of
its development, essentially a heavy version of the M108 above. It has a short
L/23 M284 155mm howitzer, tipped with a large double-baffle muzzle brake,
It can fire basic NATO rounds (though not the more advanced rounds such
as BB, RAP, Smart, and suchlike).The driver is, as on the M108, The turret has
two large doors, one on each side; large ammunition loading doors in the rear
(which allow replenishment from a ground pile via conveyor belts, from a
resupply vehicle via conveyor belts, or by hand via conveyor belt.
The M109, as all members of the series, can feed from the M992 FAASV
resupply vehicle. M109 is able to
fire while being resupplied, and also normally carries one conveyor belt, while
the support vehicle carry one or two apiece.
An additional, small ramp is found below the ammunition resupply doors,
for crew ingress and egress; it is also used for resupply.
The gun of the
M109 has two telescopic sights, an indirect fire telescope and gear, and night
vision in case direct fire is necessary. Like the M108, the M109 is capable of
extreme elevation and deflection.
The commander has a cupola with all-around vision blocks and is
manually-rotating. The commander is
equipped with a heavy machinegun on a pintle, but as this is considered
defensive armament, little ammunition is provided for it. Power is produced by a
derated 8V71T developing 406 horsepower, which makes the M109 slightly
underpowered.
M109A1/M109A1B
The M109s were
quickly upgraded to use an L/30 howitzer; these were designated M109A1.
New production M109A1 were designated M109A1B.
The M109A1B was intended as a kit for countries using the M109, and not
for domestic use. The M109A1B also had several electrical and mechanical
upgrades, and improved the night vision situation. Both vehicles included a
computer, very primitive by today’s standard, which was analog-based and helped
compute fire solutions.
M109A2/M109A3/M109A3B
The primary
modification in the M109A2 was the installation of an L/39 M186 cannon.
The sights and night vision heads are now armor protected. Some 27
Reliability, and Maintainability (RAM) mid-life improvements were applied to the
engine, transmission, suspension, and electrical system.
The travel lock is counterbalanced to account for the weight of the
longer gun. Stowage of rounds was increased.
The M109A3 is an M109A1 upgraded to M109A2 standards; the M109A3B is an
M109A1B upgraded to the same standard. A 10kW APU was added for power when the
engine is switched off.
M109A4
The M109A2s and
A3s were further upgraded in the early 1980s to give them NBC resistance,
including anti-radiation cladding and an NBC overpressure system with a
vehicular NBC backup. A heater was also added, as well as an engine preheater
for starting in cold climate. The
clutch for turret rotation was changed to hydraulic, though overall operation
was still electrical. An additional
hydraulic filter was added. The
night vision suite was also strengthened. A mechanical loader was added, along
with a manual rammer, easing somewhat reloading.
A GPS system was installed, as well as a mapping module and a ruggedized,
compact computer for use in computing fire solutions as well as having software
to view and carry all applicable FMs, TOs, TBs, and other manuals. The computer
also allows partial diagnosing of vehicle or ordnance problems, when used by a
mechanic with the proper equipment. A second long-range radio was added, and all
of these are secure radios.
M109A5/M109A5+
The main gun was
replaced by an improved, longer-lasting M284 howitzer in an M182 mount.
This new gun allowed the M109A5 to fire any sort of 155mm in the Western
or Chinese arsenals. Some 30
kilometers can be achieved with RAP munitions.
Another major modification was the upgrade of the engine to a
440-horspower 8V71T supercharged diesel engine; this is an uprated version of
the engines of previous M109s.M109A5s are often seen with appliqué of ERA on the
front hull, glacis, vehicle sides, turret sides and front, and about the forward
one third of the turret. They also
often have a solid steel plate for mine protection. Eight smoke grenade
launchers have been added, a cluster on each turret corner.
One of the big improvements in the M109A5 is that most of the components
have been made modular, making further upgrades easy.
It has an embedded GPS system, limited self-surveying and a limited
ability to function as its own FDC, though fire will be inaccurate (double
scatter distances). The M109A5 has air conditioning and heating, including NBC
filters. The fire control system
includes onboard ballistic computing and automatic weapon pointing, which slews
the turret and elevates or depresses the gun automatically to acquire the target
(roughly; fine adjustments must be made by the gunner). The M109A5 also has a
vehicle state system, though not a full BMS. Finally, there is a slave
receptacle allowing the M109A5 to be powered by the generator aboard the M99A2
FAASV, and vice versa.
Various
manufacturers, most notably IWI and BAe, have applied further upgrades to the
M109A5; these are sometimes known as “M109A5.5s” or “M109A5+s.” Upgrades include
a power rammer, an autoloader, improved direct-fire sights, and computers that
allow the M109A5+ to more fully integrate with the FDC.
One computer is connected to the radio,
allowing fire coordinates to be inputted directly into the gun, giving it a
rough set of coordinates which are to be sharpened by the crew.
The GPS has been backed up by an inertial navigation system, as many of
the places in target countries do not have reliable connections with GPS
satellites. Equipment includes appropriate earlier upgrades as well as a
30-liter tank of drinking water, an air conditioner, and a 13kW APU. Storage
space for personal items is…well not ample, but more than the M109A5, with any
sort of empty space being used for crew and personal gear.
Thusfar, the M109A5+ has been exported only to Chile and Brazil, but IWI
and BAe continue to market these upgrades, and claim that they can update an
original M109 into an M109A5+.
Foreign Modifications to
the M109
Various
countries have made modifications to their M109. For the most part, this was
limited to changes in label languages. Some, however, were much larger and
comprehensive upgrades. These are
listed below,
Ruag M109 KAWEST
This Swiss
version of the M109 uses howitzers taken from a new design for a land-based gun,
the Bison Fortress gun. The gun is
L/47, and the KAWEST includes ECCM, vertically-firing flares and chaff in
addition to normal smoke grenades. The KAWEST has more ammunition storage than
most M109s. The KAWEST is equipped with ECCM and radio jamming capability, as
well as integral navigation and an interface system for the commander and
driver. Though it is not equipped with GPS, it is equipped with an inertial
navigation which is very accurate in interpreting the KAWEST’s travels, and it
can almost always find the way and its position. The KAWEST is therefor able to
operate in a limited manner as its own FDC, though this is somewhat inaccurate
and scatter distance is doubled at long range. The new autoloader includes a
telescoping rammer, easing the loaders’ work, and allowing a burst rate of 3
rounds in 15 seconds for one minute. The mechanical loader has been upgraded to
a semiautomatic autoloader. The gun is positioned using gunner’s input and an
automatic ring laser gyroscope. The rounds and charges are contained in a
magazine in the rear of the turret; this compartment is separated from the
turret by a blastproof door and is equipped with blow-out panels. The gun has an
automatic travel lock which engages at a command by the driver.
The KAWEST has
an upgraded electrical system, including a new alternator which is 80% more
effective than the unit it replaced.
This replaces the existing M109 electrical system, and exceeds the NATO
standard for the M109, and indeed, most NATO vehicles. The KAWEST can use the US
STE-ICE diagnostic system. The KAWEST has a similar computer suite similar to
the M109A5+.The batteries in the vehicle have been improved, and the among of
batteries has been doubled. It includes an uprated 450-horspower 8V71T
supercharged diesel engine. The
KAWEST Update includes a 12 kW APU for operation with the engine off; this APU
can also provide power to up to two resupply conveyor belts. The KAWEST has a
multichamber fire detection and fire/explosion system which operates in a
separate system in the engine, ammunition supply. Fuel cells, turret, and
driver’s compartment. The driver
has a fully automatic transmission with conventional driving controls; it also
has a manual transmission backup. No applique armor packages have yet been
developed for the KAWEST, but ERA can be applied to the turret side, front,
front third of the turret roof, hull side, and glacis.
The proper Swiss
Army designation is PzHb-79/95 and PzHb 88/95, depending what variant of the
M109 they were upgraded from. Deliveries to the Swiss Army began in 2004, and
are now complete. The Swiss are now
offering the KAWEST as an upgrade package for earlier M109s, but there have been
no takers so far. Upgrades of
individual components of the KAWEST package are also available; the Dutch used
the gun barrel and its associated fire control software to upgrade the UAE’s
M109A4s.
RDM/Rheinmetall M109L52
This is
essentially an M109A4 fitted with the gun of the PzH-2000, along with mechanical
and electrical components to mate the new gun with the M109 chassis.
A few things, like GPS with mapping module, an artillery fire direction
(AFD) computer, and a few gee-whizzes that allow the crew to keep track of the
state of their vehicle, as was an autoloader. An armor upgrade was applied.
United Arab Emirates M109L47
This version is
essentially an M109A4 with an L/47 gun.
Daewoo K-55
Notes: The first
K-55s (also known as M109A2Ks) were virtually stock M109A2s supplied and later
license-produced in South Korea.
Thus, the K-55 was primarily an M109A1B with 27 improvements to Reliability,
Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) mid-life improvements (MLUs). The gun is
a 39-caliber 155mm howitzer, capable of firing all 155mm howitzer rounds
available by the mid-1980s. The
K-55 has traded shots across the DMZ on occasion.
The K-55 is powered by a Detroit Diesel 8V71T 450 horsepower turbocharged
diesel, with a semiautomatic transmission and mostly conventional driver’s
controls. The driver is on the
front right side, while the rest of the crew is in the turret or directly behind
it (one loader). The commander has a manually-operated cupola with all-around
vision blocks and a weapons mount.
The primarily loader has a hatch on the left of the turret, but no vision blocks
or weapon mount (though it was a common modification).
The K-55 can produce a fire rate of 6 rounds per minute for 5 minutes, or
a sustained fire rate of 3 rounds per minute; a raised fire rate is hard work,
while a normal rate of bombardment is normal work.
Like the M109A2, the K-55 has a 10kW APU, as well as a vehicle state
system, map module, inertial navigation, NBC Overpressure, a laser rangefinder
with ballistic computer for direct fire work, and a small computer for vehicles
manuals and orders from other units and echelons.
The K55 has an extra data-capable long-range radio which interfaces with
that small computer.
The K-55A1
improvement installed a number of improvements, from the ability to fire all
Western and Chinese 155mm rounds, further automotive improvements, installation
of a fully automatic transmission, an automatic loader with power rammer, a
50-liter water tank, a crew ration heater/water heater, an integrated power
pack, and improved gearing allowing for higher speeds despite the actual engine
not having been changed. The K-55
typically carries ERA on its glacis, sides, turret sides, and the front
one-third of the turret front. It
can directly interface with the K-10 FAASV.
GPS, a ballistic computer for both indirect and direct fire (though HEAT
rounds are rarely carried, and then only two or three). and a ruggedized laptop
with a mapping module linked to the GPS and secondary inertial navigation.
The commander has an LCD telling him the vehicle and ammunition state.
The commander has a full panoramic sight, with another vision block
having a mil-ring for the artillery placement and pointing.
The gunner has the same sort of ring.
These were only partially effective and were not included on the K-9.
The K-55A1 is fitted with NBC Overpressure with a vehicular NBC system
backup. In extremis, the K-55A1 can
come up with its own fire solutions, but accuracy will suffer; double scatter
ranges.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M109 |
$388,359 |
D, A |
500 kg |
24.95 tons |
6 |
19 |
Passive IR (D, C, G) |
Enclosed |
M109A1 |
$411,760 |
D, A |
474 kg |
24.74 tons |
6 |
19 |
Passive IR (D, C, G) |
Enclosed |
M109A1B |
$437,712 |
D, A |
474 kg |
24.74 tons |
6 |
19 |
Passive IR (D, C, G), Image Intensification (G) |
Enclosed |
M109A2/A3 |
$490,572 |
D, A |
374 kg |
25.54 tons |
6 |
19 |
Passive IR (D, C, G) |
Enclosed |
M109A3B |
$341,529 |
D, A |
374 kg |
25.54 tons |
6 |
19 |
Passive IR (D, C, G), Image Intensification (G) |
Enclosed |
M109A4 |
$582,825 |
D, A |
374 kg |
25.54 tons |
6 |
18 |
Passive IR (D, C, G), Image Intensification (G) |
Shielded |
M105A5 |
$905,907 |
D, A |
465 kg |
25.76 tons |
6 |
20 |
Passive IR (D, C, G), Image Intensification (G) |
Shielded |
M109A5+ |
$1,075,081 |
D, A |
438 kg |
25.87 tons |
6 |
21 |
Passive IR (D, C, G), Image Intensification (G) |
Shielded |
M109 KAWEST |
$3,484,388 |
D, A |
428 kg |
26.91 tons |
6 |
19 |
Passive IR (D, C, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G, C) |
Shielded |
M109L52 |
$875,059 |
D. A |
328 kg |
26.51 tons |
6 |
18 |
Passive IR (D, C, G), Image Intensification (G) |
Shielded |
K-55 |
$964,418 |
D, A |
500 kg |
27.5 tons |
6 |
21 |
Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensification (G) |
Shielded |
K-55A1 |
$1,329,372 |
D, A |
325 kg |
28.5 tons |
5 |
22 |
Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensification (G, C) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M109 |
133/93 |
37/26/4 |
511 |
151 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF8
TS4 TR4
HF10 HS3
HR3 |
M109A1/M109B1 |
134/94 |
37/26/4 |
511 |
150 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF8
TS4 TR4
HF10 HS3
HR3 |
M109A2/A3/A3B/A4 |
119/83 |
33/23/4 |
511 |
150 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF8
TS4 TR4
HF10 HS3
HR3 |
M109A5 |
126/88 |
35/22/3 |
511 |
163 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF10S6Sp
TS4 TR4
HF12Sp HS5
HR3* |
M109 KAWEST |
128/89 |
36/25/4 |
511 |
167 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF11Sp TS5Sp
TR4 HF13Sp
HS5Sp HR3*** |
M109L52 |
116/81 |
32/22/3 |
511 |
151 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF10S6Sp
TS4 TR4
HF12Sp HS5
HR3* |
M109A5+ |
125/88 |
36/24/3 |
511 |
163 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF10S6Sp
TS4 TR4
HF12Sp HS5
HR3** |
K-55 |
121/85 |
34/24/3 |
511 |
166 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF8
TS4 TR4
HF10 HS3
HR3 |
K-55A1 |
118/83 |
33/23/3 |
511 |
166 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF8
TS4 TR4
HF10 HS3
HR3 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M109 |
None |
Basic |
155mm M126 L/23 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
28x155mm, 600x50 |
M109A1/A1B |
None |
Basic |
155mm M126A1 L/30 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
28x155mm, 600x50 |
M109A2/A3/A3B/A4 |
None |
Basic |
155mm M185 L/39 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
36x155mm, 600x.50 |
M109A4 |
+1 |
Basic |
155mm M185 L/39 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
36x155mm, 600x.50 |
M109A5 |
+1 |
Basic |
155mm M284 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
36x155mm, 600x.50 |
M109A5+ |
+2 |
Fair |
155mm M284 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
36x155mm, 600x.50 |
M109 KAWEST |
+2 |
Fair |
155mm Bison Fortress L/47 Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
40x155mm, 600x.50 |
M109L52 |
None |
Basic |
155mm L/52 Rheinmetall Howitzer, M2HB (C) |
35x155mm, 600x.50 |
K-55 (Both) |
+2 |
Fair |
155mm L/39 Howitzer, M2HB (C), M60 (L) |
48x155mm, 1000x.50, 1000x7.62mm |
*Belly AV is 3.
**Belly AV is 3Sp.
***Bally AV is 5Sp. Roof AV is 5.
BAe M109A6/A7 Paladin
Notes: In the
mid-to-late 1990s, development was begun on this radical upgrade of the M109 SP
howitzer. The Army had been
floundering out there, going through one abortive MRL, SP mortar, and SP
Howitzer program, only to cancel them as soon as they could not meet the design
roles, or killed in the budgetary arena.
Two noted members of these casualties, the XM2002 Crusader and the NLOS
Cannon, essentially led nowhere on the development track (though the NLOS Cannon
is still officially in development).
Basically, the designers of the Paladin put every equipment they could
into the M109A6, along with improvements originally belonging to teat programs
and vehicles. Delivery of these vehicles began by October 1998 and was largely
completed by 2002. The Paladins have been about a 50/50 mix of upgraded vehicles
and new-build M109A6s. Some 25 were
built after the initial 960-vehicle block, and delivered by early 2002; these
were largely test and experimentation vehicles for the upcoming M109A7 Paladin.
The M109A6 is just now in 2014 being to be delivered to Active US Army
units. The M109A7 is already in LRIP, but operational testing will not occur
until September of 2014. Areas will be swathed in Kevlar antispall liners
internally wherever possible.
M109A6 Paladin
The Paladin
looks sort of like an M109 distorted by some sort of powerful steroids, as
doorways small and large vision blocks, clamp-down points for cargo such as for
servicing the Paladin, water cans, ration boxes, and some personal gear are
basically everywhere. The turret
has a huge bustle (used primarily for ammunition storage), and on the sides of
the turret, bustle racks for crew equipment, ammunition, or suchlike.
And there are literally tie-down points everywhere.
The Paladin has two large ammunition-resupply doors at the rear of the
bustle which open up directly into the Paladin’s ammunition racks. The commander
and gunner have similar hatches to those on other M109s, except the commander
has a direct feed to night vision equipment, and also can mark targets for the
gunner to deal with as the commander spots them. The gun can operate quickly
from a stop, able to fire within 30 seconds of a stop is a round is already
within the chamber. After firing a
quick mission (1-3 rounds), the Paladin can be gone within 15 seconds of firing
the howitzer, with the travel lock being engaged on the move. The gun
autoloading system is advanced enough that one loader was removed from the
required crew complement.
The M109A6’s
method of deployment is by small units; as few as four guns or less may be
assigned to fire support for a mid-level attack, and times have occurred where
only one or two Paladin’s have been added as support. A Paladin is able to
operate without data from an FDC, getting coordinates directly from requesting
units or from FIST teams. The Paladin is the type of NATO vehicle where you
might find “exotic” rounds; the Paladin Program is meant to operate with CLGPs,
exotic smart rounds, and even newer BB, Excalibur, and RAP shells. The Paladin
has a GPS system connected to LCD displays at the gunner’s commander’s, and
driver’s stations. The Paladin has
the equivalent of a ruggedized laptop, which can reach throughout the vehicle
revealing the vehicle state, as well as armament available, rations remaining,
etc. The crew has a ration
heater/water boiler available to the crew, as well as a 30-liter fresh water
tank. The vehicle has air conditioning and heating with NBC Filters, as well as
NBC Overpressure.
Perhaps the
greatest deficiency in the M109, it’s short gun, was not addressed by the
Paladin upgrade, though a longer gun was experimented with.
The Paladin has the M284 L/39 155mm cannon.
The computer feeds coordinates to the fire control system, with the
turret elevating, depressing, or slewing as necessary. (The Paladin’s have what
is called the PFDCS – Paladin Delivery Fire and Control System,) The Paladin
essentially needs no FDC to produce accurate fire, though it does need
information from a FIST team. The Paladin has a powerful ECCM unit to bore
through EW interference if necessary, as well as high-power, long-range radios.
One Paladin can feed coordinates and fire solutions to the others in a battery.
Power is
provided by DDEC 8V71T supercharged diesel, the same as in the M109A5, but
uprated to 450 horsepower. The
engine is coupled to an automatic transmission, with a T-bar steering yoke.
Some have said that the driver’s compartment is rather roomy. Shock
absorbers and tension bar systems are described as doing an excellent job. Three
grenade launchers are being contemplated – standard smoke grenade generators,
chaff grenades to fire straight up, and flares to fire straight up.(The vehicles
below have those grenade launcher upgrades.) The armor protection has been
increased; the problem that the engine power has been increased only a little,
more armor is being carried – the result is a possible underpowered vehicle.
The Paladin has a 13 kW APU; this can power both the gun and an FDC or
another Paladin if necessary. In addition to standard armor, the turret and
driver’s position have Kevlar anti-spall liners.
The M109A7 Paladin
This upgraded
paladin is very much the same as the M109A6; however, the M109A7 has a
self-survey capability. Some of the
M109A7’s features are taken from the cancelled Crusader and NLOS-C SPHs. They
are usually referred to as the PIM (Paladin Integrated Management). The chassis
of the M109A7 is very different from that of its processor, having a large
amount of components from the US Army’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle, such as the
engine, drive train, tracks, and suspension. The M109A7 also has six larger
roadwheels instead of seven smaller ones. NLOS-C components include the
autoloader, electrical rammer, and elevation and traverse drives. The Crusader’s
fire control system, BMS, vehicle state computer, GPS (with auxiliary inertial
navigation), and radios are modified versions of those in the Crusader. The ammo
racks and autoloader are finally compatible with even long and large rounds like
the Excalibur. LRIP began in 2015,
and eventually all M109A6s will be converted to M109A7s. Though initially, the
M109A7 will have the same 450-hoprsepower engine as other Paladins, there is
already rumors of the engine’s being replaced by a Cummins turbocharged diesel
developing 600 or 675 horsepower. The M109A7 has new technology autoloaders and
some of the Fire Control and loading equipment of the Crusader. Guns and turrets
are electrically controlled, to exacting tolerances. The gun is fed by a
22-round magazine in the rear of the turret, plus 17 rounds in racks partially
surrounding the turret and in the rear.
The new cannon
has an advanced bore evacuator, a new breech housing, and longer length that
allows for longer range. The armor
on the turret is improved and has Kevlar ballistic lining; a new fire control
system is fitted, with GPS, onboard fire control computers, inertial navigation
system, and automatic fire control input; frequency-hopping radios, night vision
gear, a 15kW generator, a water heater (for heating rations), and a reduction in
crew required to four. The Paladin
is capable of laying and firing the howitzer without input from the FDC if the
target’s location is known, via the Automatic Fire-Control System (AFCS).
The M109A7 Paladin may decrease reload time to 1 for one minute.
Early version
used an M2HB at the commander’s hatch, protected by AV2 gun shields.
However, versions are now being retrofitted with CROWS RWSs which are
equipped with an M2HB and a Mk19 grenade launchers.(This is what’s illustrated
in the stats below.) The A7 has
lugs for ERA and attachment points for MEXAS applique armor.
Currently, the M109A7 is armed with the M284 L/39 gun, though it is
expected to be replaced with 52-caliber ordnance before it exits field testing.
The “M109A8” Paladin
This is a
fictional (so far) variant of the Paladin, armed with the L/58 gun currently
being tested on Paladins at Ft Sill, Texas.
In addition, the vehicle is powered by the 675-horsepower listed above,
and has a fire control system that is designed to work with the new gun, The
M109A8 is equipped with a US copy of the Trophy hard-kill APS. Otherwise, it has
the features of the M109A6 and M109A7, except that the 675-horsepower is
standard.
All these
vehicles are normally followed with an M992A3 ammunition carrier. This is simply
an M992 modified to work with the Paladins.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M109A6 |
$1,431,463 |
D, A |
561 kg |
28.8 tons |
5 |
26 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G, C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/39
Gun, 450 hp) |
$1,475,160 |
D, A |
545 kg |
34.78 tons |
4 |
27 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/39
Gun, 600 hp) |
$1,475,713 |
D, A |
542 kg |
35.28 tons |
4 |
30 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/39
Gun, 675 hp) |
$1,476,608 |
D, A |
542 kg |
35.56 tons |
4 |
30 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/39
Gun, 450 hp, Applique) |
$1,509,821 |
D, A |
537 kg |
35.17 tons |
4 |
30 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/39
Gun, 600 hp, Applique) |
$1,510,296 |
D, A |
542 kg |
35.67 tons |
4 |
30 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/39
Gun, 675 hp, Applique) |
$1,511,889 |
D, A |
542 kg |
35.95 tons |
4 |
30 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/52
Gun, 450 hp) |
$1,509,388 |
D, A |
511 kg |
34.92 tons |
4 |
30 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/52
Gun, 600 hp) |
$1,509,829 |
D, A |
538 kg |
35.42 tons |
4 |
30 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/52
Gun, 675 hp) |
$1,510,503 |
D, A |
538 kg |
36.1 tons |
4 |
32 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/52
Gun, 450 hp, Applique) |
$1,544,126 |
D, A |
506 kg |
35.31 tons |
4 |
30 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/52
Gun, 600 hp, Applique) |
$1,544,706 |
D, A |
528 kg |
35.81 tons |
4 |
30 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A7 (L/52
Gun, 675 hp, Applique) |
$1,545,205 |
D, A |
528 kg |
36.6 tons |
4 |
32 |
Passive IR (D,
G), Image Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imager (C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A8 |
$1,812,260 |
D, A |
520 kg |
36.9 tons |
4 |
32 |
Passive IR (D,
G), 2nd Gen Image Intensification (G, C), FLIR (C), Backup
Camera (D) |
Shielded |
M109A8
(Applique) |
$1,853,048 |
D, A |
507 kg |
37.4 tons |
4 |
32 |
Passive IR (D,
G), 2nd Gen Image Intensification (G, C), FLIR (C), Backup
Camera (D) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M109A6 |
129/90 |
26/25 |
511 |
167 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF11Sp TS7Sp
TR7 HF14Sp
HS5Sp HR5* |
M109A7 (L/39 Gun, 450 hp) |
103/72 |
29/20 |
511 |
167 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF11Sp TS7Sp
TR7 HF14Sp
HS5Sp HR5* |
M109A7 (L/39 Gun, 600 hp) |
125/88 |
35/24 |
511 |
222 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF11Sp TS7Sp
TR7 HF14Sp
HS5Sp HR5* |
M109A7 (L/39 Gun, 675 hp) |
137/96 |
38/27 |
511 |
250 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF11Sp TS7Sp
TR7 HF14Sp
HS5Sp HR5* |
M109A7 (L/39 Gun, 450 hp, Applique) |
102/71 |
38/27 |
511 |
169 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF14Cp TS10Cp
TR7 HF19Cp
HS8Cp HR5** |
M109A7 (L/39 Gun, 600 hp, Applique) |
124/87 |
35/24 |
511 |
224 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF14Cp TS10Cp
TR7 HF19Cp
HS8Cp HR5** |
M109A7 (L/39 Gun, 675 hp, Applique) |
135/95 |
38/27 |
511 |
253 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF14Cp TS10Cp
TR7 HF19Cp
HS8Cp HR5** |
M109A7 (L/52 Gun, 450 hp) |
103/72 |
29/20 |
511 |
168 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF11Sp TS7Sp
TR7 HF14Sp
HS5Sp HR5* |
M109A7 (L/52 Gun, 600 hp) |
121/85 |
34/23 |
511 |
229 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF11Sp TS7Sp
TR7 HF14Sp
HS5Sp HR5* |
M109A7 (L/52 Gun, 675 hp) |
135/95 |
38/27 |
511 |
254 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF11Sp TS7Sp
TR7 HF14Sp
HS5Sp HR5* |
M109A7 (L/52 Gun, 450 hp, Applique) |
102/71 |
29/20 |
511 |
170 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF14Cp TS10Cp
TR7 HF19Cp
HS8Cp HR5** |
M109A7 (L/52 Gun, 600 hp, Applique) |
120/84 |
33/23 |
511 |
231 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF14Cp TS10Cp
TR7 HF19Cp
HS8Cp HR5** |
M109A7 (L/52 Gun, 675 hp, Applique) |
134/94 |
38/27 |
511 |
257 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF14Cp TS10Cp
TR7 HF19Cp
HS8Cp HR5** |
M109A8 |
133/93 |
38/27 |
511 |
259 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF12Sp TS8Sp
TR7 HF14Sp
HS6Sp HR5*** |
M109A8 (Applique) |
131/92 |
38/27 |
511 |
262 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF15Cp TS11Cp
TR7 HF20Cp
TS9Cp HR5**** |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M109A6 |
+2 |
Fair |
155mm L/39 Howitzer, M2HB (C), M60 (L) |
39x155mm, 1000x.50, 1000x7.62mm |
M109A7 |
+2 |
Fair |
155mm L/39 or L/52 Howitzer, M2HB (CROWS), Mk 19 (CROWS) |
39x155mm. 1000x.50, 400x40mm |
M109A8 |
+2 |
Fair |
155mm L/58 Howitzer, M2HB (CROWS), Mk 19 (CROWS) |
39x155mm. 1000x.50, 400x40mm |
*Floor AV is 4Sp.
**Roof Armor is AV 5, except for the front third of the turret roof, which is
6Cp. The Floor Armor for this
variant is 6Sp.
***Roof Armor is AV 7; Floor Armor is AV 7Sp
****Roof Armor is AV 7, except for the front third of the turret roof, which is
8Cp. The Floor Armor is 8Sp.
BMY M110
Notes: Based
upon the chassis of the M107 and developed in tandem, the M110 was meant to
provide heavy-caliber support in situations when more mobility was required and
where there was much uneven terrain, something the M107 was not good at dealing
with. The gun also had a higher throw weight and this was appreciated, as the
extra range of the M107 (in Vietnam, anyway) was not always necessary, while
watching Viet Cong flop around full of shrapnel was always a treat. Some 25
countries use or used it; known current users include Greece, Turkey, Iran,
Japan, Morocco, Pakistan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
As the M110 lasted far longer than was expected, new ammunition types
were being developed right up to the time of withdrawal. The new Vietnam
Republic captured a good number of M110s and used them for about a decade in
regional conflicts. The last US M110A2s in use by the US were in use in 1994 by
the US Army Reserve.
The M2A2 L/23
203mm howitzer had decent enough range of its own to satisfy, and explosions
were satisfyingly large. The M2A2 is itself a development of a British World War
1 8-inch howitzer. Recoil spades are lowered at the rear of the vehicle before
firing and preferably sunk as deep as possible into hard-packed ground.
The gun is carried on top of the chassis of the vehicle.
This gives no protection to the crew from small arms fire or artillery
splinters; to remedy this, a tubular framework was issued with the vehicle that
could be erected around the firing position; over which Kevlar shields are
placed. Most of the time, these
were considered too cumbersome and difficult to use, and they were typically
left strapped to the side of the vehicle or abandoned in the rear areas. The
entire assembly looks like the canvas-over-bows cover on a 2.5-ton truck.
Without these shields, the turret armor value from all directions is 0, while
the gun’s AV is 1. The gun is
carried atop the chassis, with the gun mounted at the extreme rear of the M110.
Practical range of fire on the turntable is left or right of 30 degrees
of center of the front. As there is almost no room for ammunition on the
vehicle, and also no room for 8 of the crew members, the M110A2 is normally
followed by a large amount of support vehicles carrying these members and the
ammunition, such as the M548, M648, or FAASV. Contrary to the M107, the M110 was
known to be one of the more accurate SP guns around in the world at the time.
The M110’s barrel tube has no muzzle brake nor fume extractor.
The round is absolutely massive; the shell itself is an average of 91
kilograms, not including fuze and charges; nonetheless, the gunners often found
using a manual expedient – a hard rubber cylinder on a long stick – worked
better than the power rammer. (This
manual rammer was generally called a “lunger” by gun crews.) Using the power
rammer required the barrel to be lowered to full depression, the round loaded,
and the barrel raised again to firing position; using the manual rammer allowed
the gun crew to skip the middle step, not requiring the crews to lower and raise
the barrel. Even a high-speed, low drag crew could only get the M110 up to 4
rounds per minute fired, and then only for a short time (in game terms, firing
at that rate for more than three minutes counts as heavy fatigue to the entire
loading and ammo-bearing crew, and light fatigue to the gunners and commander).
Using a common
chassis, the M110 uses a slightly-more derated version of the 8V71T supercharged
diesel engine developing 405 horsepower.
This was done to increase torque in both the engine and transmission.
Transmission is manual. It
was common practice in Vietnam to employ M107 and M110 barrels as needed, and a
given carriage could literally be firing a different caliber every day of the
week. The gun could be elevated to
+65 degrees and depressed -2 degrees. The gun was fed from twin loading baskets;
the charges and fuzes were affixed before the round was moved up to firing
position.
Unusual rounds
which could be fired from the M110 were the 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 kt nuclear
warheads. They were never used in
war, and not even test-fired very often, but formed a part of the nuclear triad.
Only the driver
had a full-armored position, with vision blocks.
He is the only one who had any sort of armored protection.
The two gunners and two of the loaders formed the rest of the vehicle
crew, but were essentially crouching on the deck, with poorly-formed seats.
There is no Overpressure, no vehicular NBC system, only the crews’ own
protective masks,
The M110A1 and
A2, other than cleaned-up electrical and hydraulic, had their barrels extended,
with the M110A1 having an L/36 barrel and the M110A2 having an L/40 barrel.
These were far less common than the original version, however. They also
were given muzzle brakes and fume extractors. The M110A1s were almost all
new-build (in 1977), the M110A2s were refitted M107s and M110s.
The two barrel-length guns were designated M201 and M201A1.
In an unusual
move, during Desert Storm, US F-111s were in need of casings for 5000-pound
bunker busters. (This was a new
idea and we didn’t have any in stock at the time.) The casings were at first
taken from retired M110s and their gun barrels, and had mixed results. Later,
purpose-built 5000-pound bunker-buster casings were made.
Before and after Desert Storm, new weapons were introduced that closed
the “firepower gap” that the M110A2 once filled, such as the MLRS, improved
M109s, the ATACMS, and a new series of bunker-buster bombs that were smart (at
first LGBs, but later enhanced with GPS guidance.)
These made the M110 (and M107) unnecessary to most countries, and their
M110s were sold off, given away to improve relations, or scrapped. A good number
have ended up in US military museums or on static display. (I saw an M110 on
display at Ft Carson in Colorado in 1991; it was kept in shamefully poor
condition…)
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M110 |
$218,153 |
D, A |
500 kg |
28.35 tons |
5(+8) |
23 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
M110A1 |
$251,316 |
D, A |
490 kg |
28.73 tons |
5(+8) |
23 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
M110A2 |
$277,560 |
D, A |
381 kg |
28.83 tons |
5(+8) |
20 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor* |
M110 |
110/77 |
31/21 |
1137 |
150 |
Trtd |
T4 |
HF4
HS2 HR2 |
M110A1 |
109/76 |
30/21 |
1137 |
149 |
Trtd |
T4 |
HF4
HS2 HR2 |
M110A2 |
108/76 |
30/21 |
1137 |
149 |
Trtd |
T4 |
HF4
HS2 HR2 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M110 |
Nil |
None |
203mm L/23 Howitzer |
2x203mm |
M110A1 |
Nil |
None |
203mm L/36 Howitzer |
2x203mm |
M110A2 |
Nil |
None |
203mm L/40 Howitzer |
2x203mm |