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.
34-573: M109 is a self-propelled 155 mm howitzer. M109 may also refer tto: M109 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
68-507: A nuclear, biological and chemical protection system and halon fire extinguishers. A total of 1,180 K55s were produced between 1985 and 1996. The vehicle's name was changed from KM109A2 to K55, originally a code name from the Samsung factory. In November 1990, the United States and South Korea signed an agreement to allow South Korea to supply M109 parts to third parties. In May 1997, during
102-503: A 155 mm M126 cannon in an M127 mount, and carried 28 rounds of 155 mm ammunition. It was also armed with a .50cal M2HB machine gun with 500 rounds of ammunition. Easily identified by its short barrel and a double baffle muzzle brake with a large fume extractor just behind it. Maximum range of 14,600 meters. The West German army M109s were designated as the M109G, and featured a breechblock system developed by Rheinmetall extending
136-537: A longer barrel while increasing maximum range to 18,100 meters. The M109 rebuilt to M109A1 standard. The M109 (Pz Hb) 66/74 is a Swiss upgraded M109 (Pz Hb 66) to M109A1B (Pz Hb 74) standard. Switzerland purchased 146 M109 under the armament program 1968, and introduction of the howitzer started in 1971. All vehicles received upgrade to M109A1B (Pz Hb 74) standard and were delivered from May 1977 to February 1979. Incorporated 27 Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) mid-life improvements. Most notably,
170-573: A maximum range of 22,000 meters with unassisted projectiles and 30,000 meters with rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) rounds. The vehicle can carry 36 complete rounds of ammunition and has a 440 hp engine instead of the standard 405 hp engine. Various manufacturers have upgraded the fire control and other components of the M109A5. BAE Systems in York, PA recently delivered 12 M109A5+ vehicles to Chile and 32 M109A5+ vehicles for Brazil. Also originating in
204-601: A new self-propelled artillery system. In December 1983, the ministers of defense of the United States and South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to co-produce M109A2 in South Korea using American technical data. The United States delivered two completed M109A2s to South Korea for operational review, and the Agency for Defense Development began to translate the data package and created field and maintenance manuals for soldiers. South Korea wanted to produce every part of
238-487: A redesigned internal arrangement for safer ammunition and equipment storage, engine and suspension upgrades, and 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
272-556: Is able to fire three-round bursts within 15 seconds, or maintain a constant firing rate of over one round per minute. Upgraded Swiss PzHb (Panzerhaubitze)74, 79 and 88 (M109A1B) are known as respectively PzHb 74/95 , PzHb 79/95 and PzHb 88/95 . The latest version in service with the Norwegian Army's Artilleribataljonen . In 2006, there were 56 M109A3GNs in the Army's inventory, meaning that at least 70 SPGs had been scrapped after
306-673: The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine . Improvement of the Swiss Kawest variant, 133 in total were brought up to this standard: The K55A1 is a South Korean overhaul and modernization of the K55, augmenting the proven systems of the K9 Thunder and the K9A1. The development took three years between 2007 and 2010. The upgrade started in 2010. In November 2010, in the wake of the North Korean artillery attack ,
340-618: The German Army purchased 586 conversion kits from the FMS Corporation (now Marvin Land Systems) to convert its fleet of M109Gs to the M109A3G standard. This upgraded variant uses a new gun barrel developed by Rheinmetall, giving an extended range of 24 kilometres (15 mi). It also features a new fire-control system, and three forward firing 76 mm smoke grenade launchers on either side of
374-535: The Military Demarcation Line as a warning after several North Korean provocations. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine , Ukraine has used M109 howitzers donated by Western countries. According to video and photographic evidence compiled by the open-source intelligence website Oryx , as of 24 September 2024, at least 70 units of different variants had been lost (54 destroyed and 16 damaged). The M109
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#1732902849648408-691: The Division Weapon Support System study in early 1980s, the Howitzer Improvement Program was devised as a more extensive modernization than the Howitzer Extended Life Program. The vehicle was originally designed as M109A3E2 before being adopted as M109A6 and is now better known as Paladin (M109A3E3 was to feature a longer barrel but was not adopted). The Paladin model has improvements in the areas of survivability, RAM, and armament. This includes increased armor,
442-476: The K9. The self-propelled gun has significantly enhanced field operability and accuracy through the installation of Honeywell Aerospace 's TALIN 5000 INS (inertial navigation system), a satellite navigation device (GPS), and a speed calibrator. As a result, the vehicle automatically lays the gun in the desired direction and delivers a first round within 45 seconds between stops, or 75 seconds between maneuvers after receiving
476-939: The M109 in the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s. The M109 saw service with the British , U.S. Army, Egyptian and Saudi Arabian Armies in the 1991 Gulf War . The M109 also saw service with the U.S. Army in the Iraq War from 2003 to 2011. 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 , guided projectiles ( Copperhead ), Rocket Assisted Projectiles (RAP), FAmily of SCAtterable Mines ( FASCAM ), and cluster munitions (the Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition , DPICM). In August 2015, South Korean K55A1s fired rounds behind
510-659: The M109A6 ("Paladin") will likely remain the principal self-propelled howitzer for the U.S. until a replacement enters service. 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. Around 200 vehicles were deployed in 1966, but
544-647: The Security Cooperation Committee held in Washington D.C., South Korea requested that the United States revise the MOU to export complete K55s, originally intended for domestic use only. South Korea was expecting to export 72 K55s and four ammunition support vehicles to Brazil for $ 160 million over Belgium's offer, but the United States Department of Defense declined the request to avoid an arms race in
578-520: The South Korean government authorized a massive increase in military spending. South Korea allocated 11.5 billion KRW on K55A1 upgrades for FY2011, more than a 1500% increase from 700 million KRW for FY2010. The upgrade was performed by Samsung Techwin, and the first vehicle was fielded by the South Korean Army in early 2011. The K55A1 is fitted with the same electronics and fire control system as
612-469: The effective range to 18 kilometres (11 mi) or 18.5 kilometres (11.5 mi) according to some sources, a new fire control system, and three smoke dischargers mounted on either side of the turret as well. In December 1966, the United States and Norway signed an agreement related to the co-production of the M109G. Fielded in 1973, this modification replaced the M126 cannon with a 39 caliber M185, featuring
646-574: The end of the Cold War. 14 of the M109A3GNs received upgrades in 2007, and were designated M109A3GNM. The upgrade includes a new intercom and new navigation and positioning systems. In 2020 the 14 units with A3GNM upgrades and those still with A3GN specs were placed in storage because all the new Korean K9 Thunder units had been delivered. In May 2022, Norway donated 22 A3GN-spec M109s to Ukraine. Two M109A3GN howitzers were destroyed and three damaged during
680-456: The entire fleet suffered a mechanical malfunction within a year of operation. The U.S. dispatched engineers and mechanics, but all M109s were recalled back to the U.S. in 1967 after failing to repair in the field. The howitzer underwent upgrades afterward, which resulted in the M109A1. Israel used the M109 against Egypt in the 1973 Yom Kippur War and in the 1982 and 2006 Lebanon Wars . Iran used
714-490: The howitzer to send grid location and altitude to the battery Fire Direction Center (FDC) . The battery FDCs coordinates fire through a battalion or higher FDC. This allows the Paladin to halt from the move and fire within 30 seconds, with an accuracy equivalent to the previous models when properly emplaced, laid, and safed—a process that previously required several minutes under the best of circumstances. Tactically, this improves
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#1732902849648748-634: The hull flotation feature. These were designated M109A1B . The K55 is a South Korean license produced variant of the M109A2. In the 1960s, the South Korean Army received M107 and M110 from the United States. However, the number of these self-propelled guns was insufficient to counter rapidly-growing North Korean artillery capabilities. In the 1970s, South Korea began mass-producing towed howitzers locally, but intelligence reports of North Korean 170 mm self-propelled artillery forced South Korea to look for
782-466: The last Paladin of 950 in 1999. 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. It features an inertial navigation system coupled with a new gun-laying system, along with an ammunition storage increase of 40 rounds and 64 charges. The KAWEST (lit. Kampfwertsteigerung = upgrade of combat capabilities) requires only six crew members instead of eight. It
816-506: The long barreled 155 mm M185 Cannon in the new M178 gun mount, ballistic protection for the panoramic telescope, counterbalanced travel lock, and the ability to mount the M140 bore sight alignment device. Stowage of 155 mm rounds increased from 28 to 36 rounds; .50cal ammunition remained at 500 rounds. Fielded in 1979. During M109A2 production, a slightly simplified version was also produced for export. This had minor internal changes and deleted
850-433: The region. In May 1998, the South Korean military began operating a K55 simulator to boost artillery operator training. The simulator took a year and a billion KRW budget to develop. It is expected to save 150 million KRW per year per device. M109A1s rebuilt to M109A2 standard, also fielded in 1979. Some A3s feature three contact arm assemblies , while all A2s have five. M109A1B rebuilt to M109A2 standard. In 1983,
884-583: The second phase of the Reserve Component Modified Armament System to bring the range up to the version adopted as M109A6. It was fielded in 1991 in much smaller numbers than originally devised due to the end of the Cold War . It replaced the 155 mm M185 cannon in an M178 mount with a 39-caliber 155 mm M284 cannon in an M182 mount developed for the M109A3E2 (see below), giving the A5
918-399: The shooting specification, which required 2 minutes and 11 minutes, respectively, on the K55. With the help of a new semi-autoloader, while charges are still inserted manually, the howitzer can fire 4 rounds per minute, increased from 2 to 3 rounds per minute. The improved suspension, involving a strut-type hydropneumatic buffer from Mottrol Co, Ltd., along with an enhanced chamber, allowed
952-457: The system's survivability by allowing the battery to operate dispersed in pairs across the countryside, and allowing the howitzer to quickly move between salvos, or if attacked by indirect fire, aircraft, or ground forces. Ammunition storage of 155 mm rounds was increased from 36 to 39. Developed from 1984, it was adopted in 1990 with original plans to field the weapon in 1991 later slipping to 1992 and finally to 1993. The US Army received
986-450: The turret. Between 1969 and 1971 Norway acquired 126 M109Gs from West Germany. They were then upgraded to the M109A3GN configuration during the latter half of the 1980s. Soon after the adoption of A2/A3 versions, the Division Weapon Support System study was initiated in 1980, which by the end of the decade resulted in the development of several modernization packages. The most modest one
1020-554: The vehicle domestically; however, due to the amendment bill by Rep. Samuel S. Stratton of New York, which established a limit for foreign military technology cooperation, the turret and the M185 cannon from Watervliet Arsenal were imported from the United States. Compared to the M109A2, besides 63 percent of parts being produced locally, K55 has a driver's night periscope and light exposure minimization device to enhance night-time operations as well as additional radio systems. The vehicle has
1054-599: The vehicle to shoot K307 and K310 ammunition designed for K9 platform without laying spades at a maximum distance of 32 km. An APU (auxiliary power unit) was installed to operate the howitzer without turning on the main engine. The Army Consolidated Maintenance Depot joined the K55A1 upgrade, releasing its first results in December 2013. The upgrade cost 20% of the K9 Thunder, 800 million KRW, as of 2021. The K55A1 upgrade program
M109 (disambiguation) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1088-518: Was changed to be hydraulic (as compared to the electric mechanism on previous M109s), and added a manual override. The M109A4 also gained a second hydraulic filter and more reliable engine starting equipment which greatly improved the ability to start the vehicle in an emergency. Ammunition stowage remained the same as in previous models. This modification was also designed for the US Army Reserve, originally planned as an update for all M109A4s under
1122-649: Was developed by the Ground System Division of United Defense LP , now BAE Systems Land and Armaments . The M109 was powered by the 8V71T, a 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine, produced by the Detroit Diesel Engine Division of General Motors Corporation. The 8V71T is a turbocharged version of the 8V71 commercial truck engine. It was rated 390 hp at 2300 rpm and was used in the M107, M108, M110, and M578 series as well. First produced in 1963. It had
1156-633: Was the Howitzer Extended Life Program update originally designated as M1903A3E1 and later adopted as M109A4, initially scheduled for 1985-1987 but actually fielded in 1989 in the Reserve Component of the US Army . This modernization program fitted M109A2s and M109A3s with Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical / Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (NBC/RAM) improvements, including air purifiers, heaters, and Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) (protective) gear. The traversing mechanism's clutch
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