Source: United States Defense Media
US Army M109A6 Paladin 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer
The M109 is an American 155 mm turreted self-propelled howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. It has been upgraded a number of times, most recently to the M109A7.
The M109 has a crew of four: the section chief/commander, the driver, the gunner, and the ammunition handler/loader. The chief or gunner aims the cannon left or right (deflection) and up and down (quadrant).
With the cancellation of the U.S. Crusader and Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon, the M109A6 ("Paladin") will remain the principal self-propelled howitzer for the U.S. for the foreseeable future until the new M1299 will enter service.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Mass | 27.5 tons |
| Length | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Width | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) |
| Height | 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) |
| Crew | 4 (Ammunition Handler/Loader, Gunner, Commander, Driver) |
| Shell | separate loading, bagged charge |
| Caliber | 155 mm L/39 caliber[2] |
| Breech | interrupted screw |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire | Maximum: 4 rpm/3 min.[3] Sustained: 1 rpm[3] |
| Effective firing range | Conventional: 21 km (13 mi) RAP: 30 km (19 mi) |
Main armament | M126 155 mm Howitzer |
Secondary armament | .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun |
| Engine | Detroit Diesel 8V71T 450 hp (335.56 kW) |
| Power/weight | 18.7 hp/t |
| Suspension | torsion-bar |
Operational range | 216 mi (350 km) |
| Maximum speed | 35 mph (56 km/h) |
