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.. Maximum range of 14,600 meters. It had a 23 caliber 155 mm M126 Cannon in an M127 Mount, and carried 28 rounds of 155 mm ammunition. The M109 has a little brother in the form of the M108 which is armed with a smaller 105mm gun. The M109 was the medium variant of a U.S. program to adopt a common chassis for its self-propelled artillery units. The M109 is the original version of the M109 family. The155mm-armed M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) was developed concurrently with the 105mm-armed M108 SPH. The system is capable of both direct (line of sight) and indirect (out of the line of sight) firing. It was also armed with a .50cal M2HB machine gun with 500 rounds of ammunition. During the mid-1970s, the US Military determined that there was a need to update, replace or overhaul their existing and aging fleet of self-propelled guns (SPG). It continues to be backed by the extensive life-cycle sustainment support of the weapon's proponent, The U.S. Army's Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command - Armament and Chemical, Acquisition and Logistics Activity (ACALA) . The M109A1. Although gradually being replaced with upgraded versions or completely new designs, the M109 continues to soldier on, as it has for over fifty years, with at least 7 000 units produced. The M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) is the primary mobile artillery unit in NATO and Western countries. The M109L has a maximum range of 24 km with standard ammunition and 30 km with rocket assisted munitions. The aluminum armor provides protection against small arms fire and shell splinters. Copyright © 2020 BAE Systems. The US Army could select a foreign vehicle such as the French GCT, or the Italian/UK/German SP-70 project, or a new project could be started. A Fire Direction Center (FDC) has been developed on the same chassis and superstructure as the FAASV. A total of 36 projectiles are carried. The M109A4 is an M109A2 or A3 with an improved NBC system and reliability upgrades. Production ceased in 1999. Later models were fitted with the longer M185 howitzer with a maximum range of 18.1km. The 155mm M284 L/39 cannon is also able to fire assisted projectiles. It was exported to most Western European nations and many US allies around the world. The military, unsurprisingly, selected a US-based program and had to consider whether to replace the whole fleet wit… See more ideas about Military vehicles, Self propelled artillery, Tanks military. Some nations have replaced the M109 with newer self-propelled howitzers. The M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (FAASV) is an ammunition carrier based on the M109 chassis. The M109 Family of howitzer continues to improve at considerable cost savings for the customer. Main armament: 155 mm Howitzer: Rheinmetall 155 mm L52 Artillery Gun (60 rounds) Firing range: 30 km (19 mi) 40km: Engine: Detroit Diesel 8V71T 450 hp (335.56 kW) A Detroit Diesel 405hp diesel engine provides propulsion. ... longer than the existing gun on the M109 howitzer. Easily identified by its short barrel and a double baffle muzzle brake with a large fume extractor just behind it. The M109, a system developed in the 1950s and first fielded in 1963, was a prime candidate for upgrading or replacement. The M109 has a little brother in the form of the M108 which is armed with a smaller 105mm gun. The M109A3 adds a new gun mount and reliability and safety upgrades. Israel used the M109 against Egypt in the 1973 Yom Kippur War and in the 1982 Lebanon War and 2006 Lebanon War. The M109 entered US service in 1963. The M109A6 is a much improved version. The crew are able to receive mission data via a secure voice and digital communications system, compute the firing data, automatically unlock the cannon from the travel lock, point the cannon and fire, and move to a new location without external technical assistance. Export operators are Israel and Taiwan. History; Design; Armament The widely used M109 carries a 155-mm howitzer and is the principal self-propelled artillery support for U.S. Army divisions. The Paladin is a 155mm howitzer on tracks - sort of like a howitzer and tank combined. First produced in 1963. The M109-series is old. The U.S. Army is on the verge of updating its howitzer fleet to double the shooting range. M109A5 155mm SP Howitzer. Israel used the M109 against Egypt in the 1973 Yom Kippur War and in the 1982 and 2006 Lebanon Wars. The M109A6 Paladin 155 mm along with the M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle (FAASV) provides the primary indirect-fire support to Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT), Infantry Brigade Combat Teams and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams. This M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer entered service with the US Army in 1991. The M109A6 Paladin configuration was achieved through modifications to earlier-built M109… It also provides a small, squat profile silhouette and - not needing a recoil pit - it requires less setup time resulting in … The 155-mm M109 series, Self-propelled medium howitzers are highly mobile combat support weapons. The artillery system integrates a 155mm/L52 howitzer firing all standard Nato 155mm ammunition. Standard ammumnition can be fired up to 26.1 km and assisted ammunition up to 36.4 km. The maximum rate of fire is 4 rounds a minute, with one round per minute being standard. The M109 is a tracked self-propelled howitzer of US origin. The M109 has a conventional layout with the driver in the front and the drive train to his right. Maine Military Authority – Capabilities: M-109 Howitzer. Like the earlier M109 models, the M109A6 Paladin is a fully tracked, armored vehicle. “Maine Military Authority stores M-109 Howitzers for the United States Army Security Assistance Center (USASAC). The M109 saw its combat debut in Vietnam. Contents. The M109A7 is the latest howitzer in the BAE Systems M109 family of vehicles, the primary indirect fire support system for the ABCTs. The M109A5 fires all NATO standard 155mm ammunition. The turret is mounted in the rear and houses the other crew members. The original M109 was fitted with a short 155mm M126 howitzer that provides a maximum range of 14.6km. The M109 is operated under full armor protection. The M109L is fitted with the 39-caliber ordnance of the towed FH-70 howitzer. The howitzer is intended to destroy batteries of artillery and anti-aircraft missiles, command posts, as well as enemy fortifications and mechanised detachments. A semi-automatic loader allows a burst of 3 rounds in 15 seconds or 8 rounds per minute. It’s a big deal. The M109 is an American 155 mm turreted self-propelled howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s.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.. The M109-series medium, self-propelled howitzer is a full-tracked, armored combat support, internally loaded, air transportable, vehicle powered by an eight cylinder, diesel engine. The M109A6 Paladin is a further upgrade of the M109 self-propelled howitzer, which was introduced in early 1960s. For too long, the US has neglected field artillery, at least compared to China and Russia and even the EU, at least in technological advancements. The M109A5 is a modified M109A4 it consists of two major improvements: a new M284 cannon and a new M182 gun mount. But because such rounds are “dumb,” Army experts estimate it can take anywhere from 10 to 50 unguided rounds to destroy a target that Excalibur can take out in a single shot. It was developed from 1956 to 1961 to replace the older M44. Both shared the same hull superstructure and turret design and were differentiated primarily by their choice of armament. In total 47 units of military hardware will be purchased from Austria, including not only M109 155mm self-propelled guns but also driver training platforms and a mobile tactical control center. Good list of purchasing countries. The M109 was the medium variant of a U.S. program to adopt a common chassis for its self-propelled artillery units. 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