The M101A1 (previously designated M2A1) howitzer is an artillery piece developed and used by the United States. It was the standard U.S. light field howitzer in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and saw action in both the
European
European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...
and
Pacific theaters and during the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
. Entering production in 1941, it quickly gained a reputation for accuracy and a powerful punch. The M101A1 fires
105 mm
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
high explosive
An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An exp ...
(HE)
semi-fixed ammunition and has a range of , making it suitable for supporting
infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
.
All of these qualities of the weapon, along with its widespread production, led to its adoption by many countries after the war. Its ammunition type also became the standard for many foreign countries' later models.
History
Development and designation
After World War I, the U.S. Army Ordnance Department studied various captured German 105 mm-caliber howitzers and developed the 105 mm Howitzer M1920 on Carriage M1920. A box trail carriage design (the M1925E carriage) and two other split trail designs (the T1 and T2) were also developed, but the original split trail design was found superior after testing. After being selected, the piece was standardized in December 1927 as the 105 mm howitzer M1 on carriage M1. The Army had an intention to replace all
75 mm gun-howitzers in its divisional and non-divisional field artillery regiments with 105 mm pieces, but a lack of appropriations stalled the idea and eventually forced it to be completely abandoned by 1929; a limited plan developed in 1925 envisioned re-equipping three regiments, but by 1933, only 14 M1 howitzers had been manufactured,
A modified version of the M1 was trialed in 1932 which used semi-fixed ammunition instead of separate-loading ammunition. Since this development required a different breech block, the new piece was designated the 105 mm howitzer M2 on carriage M1. 48 pieces were manufactured in 1939. The original M1 carriage had been designed for towing using horses rather than trucks, and a new carriage, the T5 (M2), was developed in 1939 and standardized in February 1940. The breech ring of the howitzer M2 was modified in March 1940 before large-scale production began, creating the 105 mm howitzer M2A1 on carriage M2.
The weapon was heavy for its calibre but this was because the gun was designed to be durable. Thus the barrel and carriage could see great use and remain functional without wearing out.
The U.S. military artillery designation system was changed in 1962, redesignating the M2A1 howitzer the M101A1. The gun continued to see service in the
Korean
Korean may refer to:
People and culture
* Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula
* Korean cuisine
* Korean culture
* Korean language
**Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl
**Korean dialects and the Jeju language
** ...
and
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
s. Though a similar model, the
M102 howitzer
The M102 is a light, towable 105 mm howitzer used by the United States Army in the Vietnam War, the First Gulf War, and the Iraq War.
Overview
The M102 105 mm howitzer is used in air mobile (helicopter), attack plane, and light infantry ...
, shared the same roles in battle, it never fully replaced the M101A1. Today, the M101A1 has been retired by the U.S. military, though it continues to see service with many other countries. By the end of the Second World War, 8,536 105 mm towed howitzers had been built and post-war production continued at Rock Island Arsenal until 1953, by which time 10,202 had been built.
Australia
M2 Howitzers are still in limited service in the
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen ...
, but are being replaced with mortars with an emphasis on the retention of indirect fire support skills. In regular service they were replaced by the 105 mm
L119 Hamel gun and the
M198 howitzer
The M198 is a medium-sized, towed 155 mm artillery piece, developed for service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. It was commissioned to be a replacement for the World War II-era M114 155 mm howitzer. It was designed and prototyped at ...
s.
Canada
The
Canadian Forces
}
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force.
...
used the M2A1 as the C2 howitzer until 1997, when a modification was made to extend its service life; it is now designated the C3. The changes include a longer barrel, a
muzzle brake
A muzzle brake or recoil compensator is a device connected to, or a feature integral to the construction of, the muzzle or barrel of a firearm or cannon that is intended to redirect a portion of propellant gases to counter recoil and unwanted ...
, reinforced trails and the removal of shield flaps. It remains the standard light howitzer of Canadian Forces
Reserve
Reserve or reserves may refer to:
Places
* Reserve, Kansas, a US city
* Reserve, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish
* Reserve, Montana, a census-designated place in Sheridan County
* Reserve, New Mexico, a US vi ...
units. The C3 is used by Reserve units in
Glacier National Park in
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
as a means of
avalanche
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain.
Avalanches can be set off spontaneously, by such factors as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, animals, and earth ...
control
Control may refer to:
Basic meanings Economics and business
* Control (management), an element of management
* Control, an element of management accounting
* Comptroller (or controller), a senior financial officer in an organization
* Controllin ...
.
Croatia
A number of M2/M101 howitzers were used by the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as SFR Yugoslavia or simply as Yugoslavia, was a country in Central and Southeast Europe. It emerged in 1945, following World War II, and lasted until 1992, with the breakup of Yug ...
and approximately 50 were inherited by
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
, of which four are still in use for training with the
Croatian Army
The Croatian Army ( hr, Hrvatska kopnena vojska or HKoV) is the largest and most significant component of the Croatian Armed Forces (CAF).
Role and deployment
The fundamental role and purpose of the Croatian Army is to protect vital national i ...
.
France
The French Army used the M2 howitzer, designated ''HM2'', in the
Algerian War
The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence,( ar, الثورة الجزائرية '; '' ber, Tagrawla Tadzayrit''; french: Guerre d'Algérie or ') and sometimes in Algeria as the War of 1 November ...
and during the
Opération Tacaud in
Chad
Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
. France later supplied a battery of HM2 to the
Rwandan Armed Forces
french: Forces rwandaises de défense sw, Nguvu ya Ulinzi ya Watu wa Rwanda
, image = Rwanda Defense Force emblem.png
, alt =
, caption =
, image2 =
, alt2 =
, caption2 ...
during the
Rwandan Civil War
The Rwandan Civil War was a large-scale civil war in Rwanda which was fought between the Rwandan Armed Forces, representing the country's government, and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) from 1October 1990 to 18 July 1994. The war arose ...
that led into the
Rwandan genocide
The Rwandan genocide occurred between 7 April and 15 July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. During this period of around 100 days, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa, were killed by armed Hutu ...
.
Philippines
Several M101 howitzers are still in use with the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The P ...
and is normally used to battle rebels in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It was also used in direct fire against Islamic militants during the
Battle of Marawi
The siege of Marawi ( fil, Pagkubkob sa Marawi), also known as the Marawi crisis (), and the Battle of Marawi (), was a five-month-long armed conflict in Marawi, Philippines, that started on May 23, 2017, between Philippine government security ...
.
South Korea
Starting on 6 July 1950, South Korea received a total of 1,127 M2A1s until the end of the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
to supplement and replace the
M1 75 mm howitzer and the
M3 105 mm howitzer.
In the early 1970s, the
ROK Armed Forces
The Republic of Korea Armed Forces (), also known as the ROK Armed Forces, are the armed forces of South Korea. The ROK Armed Forces is one of the largest and most powerful standing armed forces in the world with a reported personnel strength o ...
needed to replace these old howitzers due to the maintenance burden. To match North Korea's artillery capability, South Korea invested in the domestic arms industry to equip its large military cost efficiently. After completion of ''Project Thunder I'', supported by the
U.S. Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secur ...
, for infantry weapons, in April 1972, the South Korean president
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee (, ; 14 November 1917 – 26 October 1979) was a South Korean politician and army general who served as the dictator of South Korea from 1961 until his assassination in 1979; ruling as an unelected military strongman from 1961 ...
ordered ''Project Thunder II'' for artillery weapons. The U.S. refused to cooperate due to the then
diplomatic overtures to the
People's Republic of China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. The
U.S. Embassy in South Korea ordered its technical team to withdraw, believing that South Korea lacked the tooling and knowledge to develop the weapons by itself. The
Agency for Defense Development
The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) is the South Korean national agency for research and development in defense technology, funded by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). It was established in August 1970 under the banner ...
however,
reverse engineered
Reverse engineering (also known as backwards engineering or back engineering) is a process or method through which one attempts to understand through deductive reasoning how a previously made device, process, system, or piece of software accompli ...
the M2A1 (M101A1), and prototype production began in March 1973.
On 25 June 1973, three prototypes were demonstrated publicly. After the test, the U.S. ambassador
Philip Habib
Philip Charles Habib (February 25, 1920 – May 25, 1992) was an American career diplomat active from 1949 to 1987.
During his 30-year career as a Foreign Service Officer, he had mostly specialized in Asia. In 1968, he was working to prevent th ...
arranged the meeting of South Korean chief secretary O Won-cheol and colonel Montgomery from the Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group-Korea. The colonel provided technical review of the howitzer, and recommended purchasing of the U.S. equipment for logistics issues because the howitzer was not compatible with the U.S. standard. South Korea refused and pursued domestic design, but the two nations eventually signed an agreement for technology transfer in September 1973. It was the first weapons research cooperation between the two nations, and the South Korean defense industry began to form with guidance from the U.S.
In February 1974, hostilities grew after North Korea sunk a South Korean fishing boat and kidnapped fishermen near
Baengnyeong Island
Baengnyeong Island (sometimes spelled Baekryeong; ) is a , long and wide island in Ongjin County, Incheon, South Korea, located near the Northern Limit Line. The 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement which ended the Korean War specified that the fiv ...
. As a response, 10 howitzers crafted prior to the research cooperation were sent to the island, but pulled out after having severe malfunctions during operations. In November 1975, the reinforced variant experienced barrel breakdown; the failure led to the invitation of American engineers in January 1976 for an overview. After 1.5 months of inspection, the engineers suggested the
Eighth United States Army
The Eighth Army is a U.S. field army which is the commanding formation of all United States Army United States Forces Korea, forces in South Korea. It commands U.S. and South Korean units and is headquartered at the Camp Humphreys, replace South Korean copy with the original M101A1 design. The U.S. then provided its technical data package to South Korea, which quickly readied mass production of the howitzer before the year ended. Production began in 1977 as KM101A1 by Kia Machine Tool (now
Hyundai Wia) in
Changwon
Changwon () is the capital city of Gyeongsangnam-do, on the southeast coast of South Korea. With a population of 1.07 million , Changwon is South Korea's ninth-most populous city.
A port city, Changwon is bordered by Masan Bay to the south ...
.
In 1978, South Korea restarted domestic howitzer program based on M101A1. The howitzer applied 38 calibers barrel for extending the maximum range to 18 km using RAP ammunition. Only 18 howitzers saw service with South Korean military in favor of mass-producing
KH179 155 mm towed howitzer
The KH179 ("Korean Howitzer 1 (First) 79") is a South Korean 155 mm 39 caliber towed howitzer designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and is now manufactured by Hyundai WIA.
D ...
.
As of 2021, South Korea is the largest operator of the M101 howitzer with about 2,000 pieces in active service. It is planned to convert 1/3 of its inventory to K105A1 self-propelled howitzer.
Vietnam
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
and the
State of Vietnam
The State of Vietnam ( vi, Quốc gia Việt Nam; Chữ Nôm: 國家越南; french: État du Viêt-Nam) was a governmental entity in Southeast Asia that existed from 1949 until 1955, first as a member of the French Union and later as a country ...
used M2A1 howitzers during the
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam) began in French Indochina from 19 December 1946 to 20 July 1954 between France and Việt Minh (Democratic Republic of Vi ...
, as did the
Viet Minh
The Việt Minh (; abbreviated from , chữ Nôm and Hán tự: ; french: Ligue pour l'indépendance du Viêt Nam, ) was a national independence coalition formed at Pác Bó by Hồ Chí Minh on 19 May 1941. Also known as the Việt Minh Fro ...
guerilla forces they fought against, who were supplied with at least 24 by the
People's Republic of China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, along with other captured American artillery pieces and mortars formerly operated by both Nationalist Chinese forces (the
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
military) and US troops
fighting in Korea. Today upgraded M2A1 howitzers (some of which have been mounted on trucks and employed as self-propelled artillery) are still being used by the
People's Army of Vietnam
The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; vi, Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, QĐNDVN), also recognized as the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) or the Vietnamese Army (), is the military force of the Vietnam, Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the ...
(the PAVN).
Other uses
In addition, the M101 has found a second use in the U.S. as an avalanche control gun, supervised by the
US Forest Service
The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency inc ...
and the US Army TACOM's cooperative effort in the Avalanche Artillery Users of North America Committee (AAUNAC). The M101 is used by a number of ski areas and state departments of transportation for long-range control work. Under the designation of M2A2, the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, 428th Field Artillery Brigade performs salutes with 7 guns with World War Two Medal of Honor recipient names on their barrels.
Two M2 howitzers (1942) are still employed in providing the gun salute at
Kristiansten Fortress
Kristiansten Fortress ( no, Kristiansten Festning, historically spelled ''Christiansten'') is located on a hill east of the city of Trondheim in Trøndelag county, Norway, named after Christian V of Denmark-Norway. It was built after the city fir ...
, in Trondheim, Norway.
M101/M2 is one of three approved salute guns in the Norwegian armed forces, and have been reduced to a caliber of for this purpose. They are used for gun salute also at Rena and Setermoen.
Five M101A1 howitzers are owned by the
Virginia Military Institute
la, Consilio et Animis (on seal)
, mottoeng = "In peace a glorious asset, In war a tower of strength""By courage and wisdom" (on seal)
, established =
, type = Public senior military college
, accreditation = SACS
, endowment = $696.8 mill ...
and are used for parades, evening retreat and other ceremonies.
Two M101A1 howitzers are utilized by Palmetto Battery of the
South Carolina Corps of Cadets
The South Carolina Corps of Cadets is the military component of the student body at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. The Corps of Cadets is the only residential, full-time undergraduate program at The Citadel, focusing on educating the " ...
at
The Citadel
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, commonly known simply as The Citadel, is a Public college, public United States senior military college, senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina. Established in 1842, it is one ...
for firing during parades. Officially, these guns are still property of the U.S. Army.
Variants
Gun variants:
* M1920 – prototype.
[Hogg – ''Allied Artillery of World War Two'', p 42–49.]
* M1925E – prototype.
* T2 prototype, standardized as M1.
* M2 (1934) – minor changes to the chamber to allow the use of fixed ammunition.
* M2A1 (1940) – modified breech ring.
[''Technical Manual TM 9-2005 volume 3, Infantry and Cavalry Accompanying Weapons''.]
*
M3 – lightweight howitzer, with barrel shortened by .
* T8 prototype (standardized as 105 mm M4 Howitzer in September, 1943) – vehicle-mounted variant with modified breech and with cylindrical recoil surface.
* M101 – post-war designation of M2A1 on carriage M2A1
* M101A1 – post-war designation of M2A1 on carriage M2A2
* M2A1 modernized variant by
Yugoimport SDPR
Yugoimport–SDPR ( sr, Југоимпорт–СДПР, Jugoimport–SDPR) is a Serbian state-owned weapons manufacturer as well as intermediary company for the import and export of defense-related equipment. It is headquartered in Belgrade, w ...
with max range of 18.1 km and 8 rds per minute
* C3 – Canadian C1 (M2A1) with lengthened, 33-caliber barrel
* KM101A1 - South Korean license of M101A1, 1977
*
KH178 105 mm Towed Howitzer
The KH178 ("Korean Howitzer 1 (First) 78") is a South Korean 105 mm 38 caliber towed howitzer. It was designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and manufactured by Hyundai WIA.
History
...
- South Korean 38 calibers variant, 1983
Carriage variants:
* M1920E – prototype,
split trail
A gun carriage is a frame and mount that supports the gun barrel of an artillery piece, allowing it to be maneuvered and fired. These platforms often had wheels so that the artillery pieces could be moved more easily. Gun carriages are also use ...
.
* M1921E – prototype,
box trail.
* M1925E – prototype, box trail.
* T2, standardized as M1 – split trail, wooden wheels.
* M1A1 – M1 carriages rebuilt with new wheels, brakes and other parts.
* T3 – prototype.
* T4 – prototype.
* T5, standardized as M2 (1940) – split trail, steel wheels with pneumatic tires.
* M2A1 – electric brakes removed.
[''Technical Manual TM 9-1325, 105 mm Howitzers M2 and M2A1; Carriages M2A1 and M2A2; and Combat Vehicle Mounts M3 and M4''.]
* M2A2 – modified shield.
* XM124 & XM124E1 Light Auxiliary Propelled Howitzer – prototype (1962–1965) – produced by Sundstrand Aviation Corporation, who added an auxiliary drive system for local maneuverability (See also similar
XM123 Medium Auxiliary Propelled 155 mm Howitzer with similar configuration). The base XM124 provided two , air-cooled engines, while the XM124E1 provided a single engine and electric steering.
* M2A2 Terra Star Auxiliary Propelled Howitzer – prototype (1969–1977) – Lockheed Aircraft Service Company added an auxiliary drive system and a
tri-star wheel system to the carriage of an M2A2 105 mm Light Howitzer to provide local maneuverability. The last surviving example is at the
Rock Island Arsenal
The Rock Island Arsenal comprises , located on Arsenal Island, originally known as Rock Island, on the Mississippi River between the cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. It lies within the state of Illinois. Rock Island ...
Museum.
File:Canadian C3 howitzer March 3, 2009.jpg, Canadian soldiers fire a high explosive round with a C3 howitzer in 2009.
File:Royal Thai army M101.jpg, Royal Thai army M101 with new barrel.
File:XM124E2 Light Auxiliary-Propelled 105mm Howitzer.jpg, XM124E2 Light Auxiliary-Propelled 105 mm Howitzer at the Rock Island Arsenal
The Rock Island Arsenal comprises , located on Arsenal Island, originally known as Rock Island, on the Mississippi River between the cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. It lies within the state of Illinois. Rock Island ...
museum
File:M2A2 Terra Star 105mm Auxiliary Propelled Howitzer front quarter.jpg, The only surviving prototype M2A2 Terra Star Auxiliary Propelled Howitzer at the Rock Island Arsenal
The Rock Island Arsenal comprises , located on Arsenal Island, originally known as Rock Island, on the Mississippi River between the cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. It lies within the state of Illinois. Rock Island ...
Museum. Note the tri-star wheel system and auxiliary drive system on the right trail leg.
File:105mm howitzer in Greenup, KY, US.jpg, Greenup, Kentucky
Greenup is a home rule-class city located at the confluence of the Little Sandy River with the Ohio River in Greenup County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,188 at the 2010 census. Greenup is one of three county seats in the Com ...
, US
File:21-24-151-howitzer.jpg, M101 A1 on display at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum
Self-propelled mounts
*
Medium Tank M4A4E1 – M2A1 in mount T70.
*
Medium Tank M4(105), M4A3(105) – M4 in mount M52.
*
Medium/Heavy Tank M45 – M4 in mount M71.
* Experimental mount on Holt tractor –
* Experimental chassis designed by
J Walter Christie – M1920.
* 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T9 (based on Cletrac MG-2 tractor).
* 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T19 (based on
M3 halftrack
The M3 half-track was an American armored personnel carrier half-track widely used by the Allies during World War II and in the Cold War. Derived from the M2 half-track car, the M3 was extensively produced, with about 15,000 standard M3s and mo ...
) – M2A1.
*
105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T32 / M7 – M2A1.
*
105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T76 / M37 (
Light Tank M24 chassis) – M4 in mount M5.
* 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T88 (
76 mm GMC M18 chassis) – M4 in mount M20.
*
K105HT 105 mm howitzer mounted on an armored 5-ton truck system built by
Samsung Techwin
Hanwha Techwin (), founded as Samsung Techwin, is a video surveillance company. It is a subsidiary of Hanwha Group. The company employs 1,822 people and is headquartered in South Korea. Its total sales in 2020 were 529.8 billion South Korean won ...
for the
Republic of Korea Army
The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA; ko, 대한민국 육군; Hanja: 大韓民國 陸軍; RR: ''Daehanminguk Yuk-gun''), also known as the ROK Army or South Korean Army, is the army of South Korea, responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the l ...
(initially called EVO-105)
* Vietnamese M101 howitzer mounted on an
Ural-375
The Ural-375 is a general purpose 4.5 ton 6×6 truck, which has been produced at the Ural Automotive Plant in the Russian SFSR since 1961. The Ural-375 replaced the ZIL-157 as the standard Soviet Army truck in 1979. It was itself replaced by the ...
D 6×6 truck.
Ammunition
The gun fired
semi-fixed ammunition, with 105 mm Cartridge Case M14. The propelling charge consisted of a base charge and six increments, forming seven charges from 1 (the smallest) to 7 (the largest). Use of M1 HE rounds prepared for the
105 mm howitzer M3 (same projectile and cartridge, but different propelling charge) was authorized.
[''Technical Manual TM 9-1901, Artillery Ammunition'', p 167–178.]
HEAT M67 Shell was originally designed as fixed round, with Cartridge Case M14 type II. It was later changed to
semi-fixed type with the standard cartridge, but with non-adjustable propelling charge. For blank ammunition, a shorter Cartridge Case M15 with black powder charge was used.
Operators
![Royal Thai Army firing M101 modified with extended range ammunition](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Royal_Thai_Army_firing_M101_modified_with_extended_range_ammunition.jpg)
*
*
* : ''Haubitze M1A2''
*
* ''M101A1'' variant. 50 delivered in 1982. Status uncertain.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* Designated C3 - Canadian C1
(M2A1) with lengthened, 33-caliber barrel
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* (As salute gun only)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* - 242 in service
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
[John Keegan, page 589 ''World Armies'', ]
*
*
*
*
*
*
* (For avalanche control)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
See also
*
List of U.S. Army weapons by supply catalog designation
This is a historic (index) list of United States Army weapons and materiel, by their Standard Nomenclature List (SNL) group and individual designations — an alpha-numeric nomenclature system used in the United States Army Ordnance Corps Supply ...
(SNL C-21)
*
M3 howitzer
The 105 mm Howitzer M3 was a U.S. light howitzer designed for use by airborne troops. The gun utilized the barrel of the 105 mm Howitzer M2, shortened and fitted to a slightly modified split trail carriage of the 75 mm pack howitzer.
The ...
– Shortened barrel variant of M2 howitzer.
*
M102 howitzer
The M102 is a light, towable 105 mm howitzer used by the United States Army in the Vietnam War, the First Gulf War, and the Iraq War.
Overview
The M102 105 mm howitzer is used in air mobile (helicopter), attack plane, and light infantry ...
– The US partial replacement for M101 howitzer.
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KH178 105 mm Towed Howitzer
The KH178 ("Korean Howitzer 1 (First) 78") is a South Korean 105 mm 38 caliber towed howitzer. It was designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and manufactured by Hyundai WIA.
History
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– South Korean 38 calibers variant of M101A1.
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Indian field gun – Indian 105 mm howitzer.
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L118 light gun
The L118 light gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer. It was originally designed and produced in England for the British Army in the 1970s. It has since been widely exported. The L119 and the United States Army's M119 are variants that use a different ...
– British 105 mm howitzer.
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M119 howitzer
The M119 howitzer is the American version of the British L119 light gun, a lightweight British 105 mm howitzer also used by the United States Army. The M119 is typically towed by the M1097 or M1152 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicl ...
– The US license of L118, replacement for M101 and M102 howitzer.
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GIAT LG1
The LG1 is a modern 105 mm towed howitzer designed and produced by GIAT Industries (now Nexter group) of France.
Design
The LG1 howitzer is a 105 mm towed artillery piece that features both low weight and a high level of accuracy over lon ...
– French 105 mm howitzer.
Notes
References
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External links
''Two Guns For One'', November 1942, Popular Scienceone of the earliest detailed public article published on the M101 Howitzer
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105 mm artillery
World War II field artillery
Field artillery of the Cold War
World War II artillery of the United States
Cold War artillery of the United States
Artillery of the United States
Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1941