The M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle (FAASV) is built on the chassis of the
M109 howitzer
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-fi ...
. It is also colloquially referred to as a "cat" (referring to its nomenclature, CAT: Carrier, Ammunition, Tracked). It replaced the
M548 supply vehicle. Unlike the M548, it is armored.
Design
![Loader M-992](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Loader_M-992.jpg)
This ammunition vehicle has no turret, but has a taller superstructure to store 90-95 rounds (depending on the model) with a corresponding number of powders and primers. For the M992 and M992A1 there is a maximum of 90 conventional rounds, 45 each in two racks, and three
M712 Copperhead
The M712 Copperhead is a 155 mm caliber cannon-launched guided projectile. It is
a fin-stabilized, terminally laser guided, explosive shell intended to engage hard point targets such as tanks, self-propelled howitzers or other high-value targe ...
rounds. Until recently, much of the remaining internal crew space was taken up by a hydraulically-powered conveyor system designed to allow the quick uploading of rounds or their transfer 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
The Mk 19 grenade launcher (pronounced Mark 19) is an American 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher that was first developed during the Vietnam War.
Overview
The Mk 19 is a belt-fed, blowback-operated, air-cooled, crew-serve ...
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 usually 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
two-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.
Between December 1995 to December 1996, Samsung Aerospace Industries upgraded the M992s used by
United States Forces Korea
United States Forces Korea (USFK) is a Unified Combatant Command#Subordinate Unified Command, sub-unified command of United States Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). USFK is the joint headquarters for U.S. combat-re ...
, including the increase of engine horsepower from 400 to 440.
Users
* - 40 (former U.S. Army)
* - 48 (former Swiss, upgraded by
RUAG
RUAG Holding (originally Rüstungs Unternehmen Aktiengesellschaft; Joint Stock Defence Company) is a Swiss company specialising in aerospace engineering and the defence industry. Its headquarters are located in Bern, while it also has numerous pr ...
and
FAMAE
FAMAE (''Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército'', "Factories and Workshops of the Army") is a Chilean state-owned firearms manufacturer. Its products are used by the Military of Chile, Chilean armed forces and the ''Carabineros de Chile, Carabinero ...
.)
* - 275
*
*
* - 85 in 2016
*
*
*
*
* - 231 M992A3
*
*
See also
Related development
*
M109 howitzer
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-fi ...
Vehicle of comparable role and configuration
*
K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle
References
External links
{{Commons category-inline, M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle
Military vehicles of the United States
Military vehicles introduced in the 1980s
Ammunition resupply vehicles