Description:
Features: The howitzer is a
vehicle that
provides armored combat support, is air transportable, internally
loaded, and has excellent ground mobility. It allows firing in a 360
degree circle through its primary armament, the 155mm cannon assembly,
and its secondary armament, the M2 Heavy Barrel .50 caliber machine
gun. The system is capable of both direct (line of sight) and indirect
(out of the line of sight) firing.
Differences
between models:
- M109A2:
The M109A2 is a new production weapon which incorporated 27 mid-life
improvements to the M109A1. The improvements provide for increased
Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) and safety
characteristics as well as enhanced operational capabilities. The
M109A2 has the long tube M185 cannon installed in the M178 gun mount.
The cab has a rear bustle rack which provides an increased ammunition
stowage capacity. It has an all weather ballistic shield mounted over
the panoramic telescope; counterbalanced travel lock and provisions for
mounting the M140 alignment device.
- M109A3:
The M109A3 is a depot converted M109A1 incorporating the 27 mid-life
improvements. The operational characteristics of the M109A3 are
virtually identical to the M109A2. Some M109A3s have three contact arm
assemblies: all M109A2s have five contact arm assemblies.
- M109A4:
The M109A4 is a M109A2/A3 improvements include the addition of Nuclear,
Biological, and Chemical/ Reliability, Availability, and
Maintainability (NBC/RAM) product improvement kits. The driver and
cannoneer no. 2 have an air purifier and two heaters mounted in the
hull. An air purifier and four heaters are mounted in the cab for the
rest of the crew. NBC Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear
is stored in the new cannoneer seats and stowage boxes. The traversing
mechanism operates with a hydraulic clutch in the M109A4 instead of
using an electric clutch as in the traversing mechanism of the
M109A2/A3 Howitzer. A clutch valve, with a manual override, provides
for power traverse in the event of an electrical failure to the clutch
valve solenoid. The M109A4 has two hydraulic filters mounted outside of
the power pack. The M109A2/A3s have one internal hydraulic power pack
filter. The M109A4 has a starter protection circuit with a combat
override switch, to allow for emergency starting. The slave start
receptacle has been moved from the battery compartment to the driver's
compartment. The M109A2/A3 100 amp alternator has been replaced by a
180 amp alternator. Crew compartment subfloor drains have been added to
provide for the drainage of DS2 used in the NBC decontamination process
and provide for the drainage of excess water.
- M109A5:
The M109A5 is a modified M109A4 with two major improvements: a new M284
Cannon and a new M182 Gun Mount. These improvements provide the M109A5
with greater range and allow for sustained fire for prolonged periods
of time.
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