M109

M109

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.

PHOTOS

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