M109 | |
---|---|
Type | Self-propelled artillery |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | M109: 1963–present M109A1: 1973–present M109A2: 1979–present M109A6: 1994–present M109A7: 2015–present |
Used by | See Operators |
Wars | Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Yom Kippur War Western Sahara War Iran–Iraq War 1982 Lebanon war South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000) Persian Gulf War Iraq War Gaza War 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict War in Iraq (2013-2017)[1] Yemeni Civil War (2014–present), Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Syrian Civil War Russian invasion of Ukraine Israel–Hamas war |
Production history | |
Designed | 1952–1962 |
Manufacturer | Cadillac General Motors Chrysler BMY Harsco, formerly Bowen & McLaughlin York (1974–1994) United Defense (1994–2005) BAE Systems Inc. (2005–present) Samsung (1985–2015) Hanwha (2015–present) |
Specifications | |
Mass | 27.5 tons M109A7: 84,000 lb (38.1 t) |
Length | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
Width | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) |
Height | 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) |
Crew | 6 (commander, driver, gunner, 3 loaders) M109A6–A7: 4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader) |
Shell | separate loading, bagged charge |
Breech | interrupted screw |
Traverse | 360° |
Rate of fire | Maximum: 4 rpm/3 min.[2] Sustained: 1 rpm[2] |
Effective firing range | M109A1–A4: 18.1 km (11.2 mi) (M107, HE) 23.5 km (14.6 mi) (M549A1, RAP/HE) M109A5–A7: HE: 21 km (13 mi) RAP: 30 km (19 mi) Excalibur: 40 km (25 mi)[3] |
Armor | Aluminum alloy |
Main armament | M109: M126 155 mm 23 caliber, 28 rounds M109A1–A4: Watervliet Arsenal M185 155 mm 39 caliber, 28 rounds (A1) or 36 rounds (A2–A4) M109A5–A7: M284 155 mm 39 caliber[4] |
Secondary armament | .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun |
Engine |
|
Transmission | Allison Transmission XTG-411-2A, 4 forward, 2 reverse M109A6: Allison Transmission XTG-411-4 M109A7: HMPT-800 |
Suspension | torsion bar |
Ground clearance | M109A7: longitudinal slope: 60 % lateral slope: 40 % trench: 72 in (1.8 m) fording: 42 in (1.07 m) |
Operational range | 216 mi (350 km) M109A7: 186 mi (300 km) |
Maximum speed | 35 mph (56 km/h) M109A7: 38 mph (61 km/h) |
The M109 is an American 155 mm turreted self-propelled howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s to replace the M44. It has been upgraded a number of times, most recently to the M109A7. The M109 family is the most common Western indirect-fire support weapon of maneuver brigades of armored and mechanized infantry divisions. It has a crew of four: the section chief/commander, the driver, the gunner, and the ammunition handler/loader.
The British Army replaced its M109s with the AS-90. Several European armed forces have or are currently replacing older M109s with the German PzH 2000. Upgrades to the M109 were introduced by the U.S. (see variants) and by Switzerland (KAWEST). With the cancellation of the U.S. Crusader, Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon and M1299 the M109A6 ("Paladin") will likely remain the principal self-propelled howitzer for the U.S. until a replacement enters service.