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M109 howitzer

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M109 Howitzer
M109 self-propelled howitzer of the Egyptian Army during Operation Bright Star.
TypeSelf-propelled artillery
Place of origin United States
Specifications
Mass27.5 tons
Length30 ft (9.1 m)
Width10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Height10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
Crew4 (2 Gunners, Commander, Driver)
Shellseparate loading, bagged charge
Caliber155 mm L/39 caliber[1]
Breechinterrupted screw
Traverse360°
Rate of fireMaximum: 4 rpm
Sustained: 1 rpm
Effective firing rangeConventional: 18 km (11 mi)
RAP: 30 km (19 mi)
Main
armament
M126 155 mm Howitzer
Secondary
armament
.50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun
EngineDetroit Diesel 8V71T
450 hp (335.56 kW)
Power/weight18.7 hp/t
Suspensiontorsion-bar
Operational
range
216 mi (350 km)
Maximum speed 35 mph (56 km/h)

The M109 is an American-made self-propelled 155 mm howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. It was upgraded a number of times to today's M109A6 Paladin. The M109 family is the most common Western indirect-fire support weapon of maneuver brigades of armored and mechanized infantry divisions.

The M109 has a crew of six: the section chief, the driver, the gunner, the assistant gunner and two ammunition handlers. The gunner aims the cannon left or right (deflection), the assistant gunner aims the cannon up and down (quadrant). The M109A6 Paladin needs only a crew of four: the commander, driver, gunner and ammunition 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, which outperforms the M109 in many aspects. Upgrades to the M109 were introduced by the U.S. (see variants below) and by Switzerland (KAWEST). With the cancellation of the U.S. Crusader, the Paladin remains the principal self-propelled howitzer for the U.S. for the foreseeable future.

History

The M109 was the medium variant of a U.S. program to adopt a common chassis for its self-propelled artillery units. The light version, the M108 Howitzer, was phased out during the Vietnam War, but many were rebuilt as M109s.

The M109 saw its combat debut in Vietnam. Israel used the M109 against Egypt in the 1973 Yom Kippur War and in the 1982 Lebanon War and 2006 Lebanon War. Iran used the M109 in the Iran–Iraq War, in the 1980s. The M109 saw service with the British Army, the Egyptian Army and Saudi Arabian Army in the 1991 Gulf War. The M109 also saw service with the U.S. Army in the Gulf War, as well as in the Iraq War from 2003 to present.

Upgrades to the cannon, ammunition, fire control, survivability, and other electronics systems over the design's lifespan have expanded the system's capabilities, including tactical nuclear projectiles, Cannon Launched Guided Projectiles (CLGP or Copperhead), Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP), FAmily of SCAtterable Mines (FASCAM), and improved conventional munitions (the Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition, DPICM).

The developing BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program will likely replace the M109 as well as many other US army vehicles.

Design

Armament

Open breech of M109A5 howitzer.

Variants

M109

M109 enters South Vietnam.

First produced in 1963, with 155 mm M126/A1 gun in the M127 Howitzer Mount, 28 rounds of 155 mm were carried. Also armed with a .50cal M2HB machine gun mounted, and 500 rounds of .50cal ammunition.

M109A1 and M109A1B

Replaced M126 with longer barreled M126A1 gun for greater effective range. Same M127 mount and ammunition amounts carried. A more recent model, intended for export incorporated more recent improvements into a new production M109A1. These were designated M109A1B.

M109A2

Incorporated 27 Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) mid-life improvements. Most notably, the long barreled 155 mm M185 cannon in the M178 gun mount, ballistic protection for the panoramic telescope, counterbalanced travel lock, and the ability to mount the M140 alignment device. Stowage increased from 28 rounds of 155 mm, to 36 rounds, .50cal ammunition amount remain 500 rounds.

M109A3 and M109A3B

M109A1s and M109A1Bs rebuilt to M109A2 standard respectively. Some A3s feature three contact arm assemblies while all A2s have five.

M109A4

M109A2s and M109A3s improved with Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical / Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (NBC/RAM) improvements, including air purifiers, heaters, and Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear.

The traversing mechanism's clutch is hydraulic, as compared to the electric mechanism on previous M109s, and features a manual override in the event of an electrical failure. The A4 also adds an additional hydraulic filter, for a total of two. Also included is an improvement to the engine starting equipment, greatly improving the ability to start in an emergency.

Ammunition amounts remain the same as two previous models.

M109A5

Replaces 155 mm M185 cannon in M178 mount with 39-caliber 155 mm M284 cannon in the M182 mount, giving the A5 a maximum range of 23,500 meters with unassisted projectiles and 30,000 meters with Rocket Assisted Projectiles (RAP Rounds). The vehicle can carry 36 complete rounds of ammunition, has a 440 hp engine instead of the standard 405 hp engine.

M109A5 under repair.

M109A5+

Various manufacturers have upgraded the fire control and other components of the M109A5.

M109A6 "Paladin"

M109A6 "Paladin" firing at night.
An M109A6 howitzer from Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, sends a round down range during combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq.

Overall product improvement in the areas of survivability, RAM, and armament. This includes increased armor, redesigned (safer) internal stowage arrangement for ammunition and equipment, engine and suspension upgrades, and product improvement of the M284 cannon and M182A1 mount. The greatest difference is the integration of an inertial navigation system, sensors detecting the weapons' lay, automation, and an encrypted digital communication system which utilizes computer controlled frequency hopping to avoid enemy electronic warfare and allow the howitzer to send grid location and altitude to the battery fire direction center (FDC). The battery FDCs in turn coordinate fires through a battalion or higher FDC. This allows the Paladin to halt from the move and fire within 30 seconds with accuracy equivalent to the previous models when properly emplaced, laid, and safed — a process that required several minutes under the best of circumstances. Tactically, this improves the systems survivability by allowing the battery to operate dispersed by pairs across the countryside and allowing the howitzer to quickly displace between salvos, or if attacked by indirect fire, aircraft, or ground forces.

The performance of the M109A6 is comparable to that of the first self-propelled artillery over the preceding towed artillery,[citation needed] since the howitzers are not fixed, but may move with the combat forces. They need stop only when a target is identified. After firing on a target, the Paladin is immediately able to resume movement.

Ammunition stowage is increased from 36 to 39 155 mm rounds.

M109 "KAWEST"

This Swiss improved version produced by Ruag incorporates a new Swiss-designed L47 155 mm gun with an increased firing range of up to 36 km. The L47 155 mm gun is derived from the Swiss Bison fortress gun's inertial navigation system coupled with a new gun-laying system and more ammunition storage. The KAWEST (lit. Kampfwertsteigerung = upgrade of combat capabilities) requires only 6 crew members instead of 8, and is able to fire 3-round bursts within 15 seconds or maintain a constant firing rate of over one round per minute. Technical modifications: Increased firing range of up to 27 km, increased rate of fire (burst of 3 rounds in 15 sec.), increased ammunition autonomy (40 rounds, 64 charges). New electrical system increases reliability (better than Mil STD 1245A, higher operational readiness, increased mean time between failures, fault-finding diagnostics with test equipment.) Integrated inertial navigation and positioning system, increased mobility (gears, engine), day and night operations capabilities, effective fire suppression system installed, NEMP and EMP protection. Camouflage: paint and netting. Upgraded Swiss PzHb (Panzerhaubitze) 79 and 88 (M109A1) are known as respectively PzHb 79/95 and PzHb 88/95.

M109L52

Jointly developed by the Dutch firm RDM and the German firm Rheinmetall, the M109L52 was first revealed in 2002. The main improvement was replacing the M126 series gun with the longer 52-caliber cannon from the PzH 2000, thus the MTLS ammunition of the PzH 2000 can be used. In addition, improvements to the loading system were made. This resulted in an increase of the rate of fire to 9–10 rds/min from the original 3 rds/min, and this high rate of fire can be sustained for up to 2 minutes. A total of 35 rounds can be carried and trials have revealed that the M109L52 is 90% as effective as the PzH 2000, while the unit price of the M109L52 is only 15% to 30% of the PzH 2000. The M109L52 provides an attractive alternative to customers with financial constraints that prevent them from replacing older M109s with the PzH 2000 on a one-to-one basis.

K55/K55A1

K55/K55A1 are South Korean variants of the M109, originally based on M109A2 with additional domestic augmentations, license-produced by Samsung Techwin. they are fitted with NBC protection, automatic fire extinguishing system, and a modified ammunition reception module for K56 automatic ammunition resupply vehicle.[2] The Performance Improvement Program variant, K55A1, is a complete domestic overhaul of the K55[3] which is further augmented by Samsung Thales with modern digital ballistic computers, multifunctional data display and controllers, GPS navigation and target acquisition system, wireless datalink equipment, and upgraded fire control storage battery and power supply unit,[4] to closely match the US military's modernization of the Paladin into next-generation standard. Many improved technologies of the South Korean K9 Thunder were retrofitted on the K55A1. 1,040 to 1,180 howitzers of these variants were produced.

M109 PIM

Prototype

The replacement for the M109A6 in U.S. service is the M109 Paladin Integrated Management (PIM). PIM shares common components with the Bradley Fighting Vehicle such as the engine, transmission, and tracks. This creates commonality with other systems and maximizes costs-savings in production. The PIM's on-board power systems harness technologies originally developed for the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon. The PIM can sustain a one round per-minute rate of fire and a maximum rate of fire of four rounds per-minute.[5]

Prototypes of the vehicle are undergoing government testing in preparation for an low-rate initial production decision. The testing includes reliability, availability and maintainability mission testing as well as ballistic hull and turret testing. PIM is slated to begin low-rate initial production by 2013. The U.S. Army plans on procuring a fleet of 580 PIM enabled sets of howitzers and ammunition support vehicles. PIM is designed to accommodate networking technologies as they become ready.[5]

Derivatives

M992

Main article: M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle

The Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle (FAASV) is built on the chassis of the M109-series. It is also colloquially referred to as a "cat" (referring to its nomenclature, CAT: Carrier, Ammunition, Tracked). It replaces the M548 supply vehicle. Unlike the M548 it is armored. This ammunition vehicle has no turret but has a taller superstructure to store 93 rounds and an equivalent number of powders and primers. There is a maximum of 90 conventional rounds, 45 each in two racks, and 3 M712 Copperhead rounds. Until recently much of the remaining internal crew space is taken up by a hydraulically powered conveyor system designed to allow the quick uploading of rounds or transfer of rounds to the M109-series howitzer. Most early models had an additional mechanism called an X-Y Conveyor to lift the rounds into the honeycomb-like storage racks in the front of the superstructure. A ceiling plate above the two racks can be unbolted and opened to allow the racks to be winched out of the vehicle. This vehicle is fitted with a Halon fire suppression system and a weapons mount similar to that on the M109 turret, usually mounting a Mk 19 grenade launcher for local defense against infantry and light armored vehicles. The latest models have a mounting point for two secure radios.

The hydraulic conveyor system is removed by crews as it is slower than moving the rounds by hand. Recently the army has removed the conveyor system and changed the two horizontal opening doors to two vertical doors opening from the center to provide protection to the crew during transfers.

The vehicle also contains a 2-stroke diesel powered auxiliary power unit that can power all non-automotive energy requirements on the Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle and on the howitzer when a slave cable is used to connect the two. This reduces fuel consumption when mobility is not required.

Training systems

The US Army uses the Fire Support Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (FSCATT) in two versions for initial and sustainment training of the M109A6 and M109A5.[6] The system uses an actual surplus turret and a simulated ammunition system.

The Swiss Army uses a highly advanced KAWEST trainer from Van Halteren Metaal of the Netherlands.

The Dutch, Belgian, Thai, and Israeli Armies have various configurations of the Van Halteren Metaal LARIT M109 trainer.

Operators

M109 operators 2011 (former operators in red)

M109A1

M109A2/A3

M109A2/A5

M109A4

A Spanish Marines M109A2.

M109A5

M109A6 Paladin

K55/K55A1

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Paladin 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer". Army Technology. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  2. ^ "K56".
  3. ^ K55PIP overhaul
  4. ^ "Fire Control System For K55A1".
  5. ^ a b "Army developing new self-propelled howitzer". 1 September 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Fire Support Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (FS-CATT)". US Army. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  7. ^ a b {{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery-Upgrades/RUAG-Land-Systems-155-mm-M109-upgrade-Switzerland.html |title=RUAG Land Systems 155 mm M109 upgrade (Switzerland)
  8. ^ {{cite http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/autoGen_11194133123.html
  9. ^ "Panzerhaubitze M 109 KAWEST". He.admin.ch. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  10. ^ "DefenceNet - «Κοσμογονία» για το πυροβολικό του ΕΣ: Αγοράζονται 36 PzH-2000 και 169 μεταχειρισμένα Μ109Α3GEA2" (in Greek). Defencenet.gr. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  11. ^ "Oto Melara 155 mm M109L self-propelled howitzer (Italy)". Jane's Armour and Artillery. Janes.com. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  12. ^ Being phased out in 2007-2008 in favor of the PzH 2000 NL: "Koninklijke Landmacht - "M109" (combat support material)" (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 August 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  13. ^ "Obus Autopropulsado ATP M-109 A2 - Infantería de Marina - Armada Española" (in Spanish). Armada.mde.es. Retrieved 23 December 2010. {{cite web}}: soft hyphen character in |title= at position 45 (help)
  14. ^ "The Canadian Army - 2006 - Structure - Fact Sheet - Transformation". Archived from the original on 7 June 2008.
  15. ^ "M109 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer ... - Google Livres". Books.google.ca. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  16. ^ ":Ejército de tierra - ATP 155/39 M-109 A5E:" (in Spanish). Ejercito.mde.es. 1 December 2001. Retrieved 23 December 2010.

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