The
105 mm M2A1 howitzer was the standard light field
howitzerA howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
for the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, seeing action in both
EuropeanThe European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
and
Pacific theatersThe Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
. Entering production in 1941, it quickly entered the war against the
Imperial Japanese Army-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in the Pacific, where it gained a reputation for its accuracy and powerful punch. The M101 fired 105 mm high explosive (HE) semi-fixed ammunition and had a range of 11200 metres (12,248.5 yd), making it suitable for supporting
infantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
.
Widespread usage
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. In 1962 the artillery designation system was changed and the 105mm M2A1 howitzer became the M101A1. It continued to see service in the
KoreanThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
s. Though a similar model, the
M102 howitzerFirst introduced during the Vietnam War, the M102 was the light-towed 105 mm howitzer used by the United States Army in the Vietnam War, the First Gulf War, and most recently in the Iraq War.- An Air Mobile Howitzer for the Vietnam War :...
, shared the same roles in battle, it never fully replaced the M101. Today the M101A1 has been retired by the U.S. military, though it continues to see service with many other countries.
The
Canadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
continued to use the M2A1 as the C1 Howitzer until 1997 when a modification was made to extend its service life. It is now designated the C3. Those improvements include a longer barrel, a
muzzle brakeMuzzle brakes and recoil compensators are devices that are fitted to the muzzle of a firearm or cannon to redirect propellant gases with the effect of countering both recoil of the gun and unwanted rising of the barrel during rapid fire...
, reinforced trails and the removal of shield flaps. It remains the standard light howitzer of Canadian Forces
ReserveThe Primary Reserve is a reserve force of the Canadian Forces. It is the largest of the four sub-components of the CF reserves; those being the Primary Reserve, the Supplementary Reserve, the Canadian Rangers, and the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service .The reserve force is...
units. The C3 is used by Reserve units in
Glacier National ParkGlacier National Park is one of seven national parks in British Columbia, and is part of a system of 43 parks and park reserves across Canada. It protects a portion of the Columbia Mountains. It also contains the Rogers Pass National Historic Site, designated for its importance in the construction...
in
British ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
as a means of
avalancheAn avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
controlAvalanche control or avalanche defense activities reduce the hazard avalanches pose to human life, activity, and property. Avalanche control begins with a risk assessment conducted by surveying for potential avalanche terrain by identifying geographic features such as vegetation patterns,...
. In addition, the M101 has found second usage in the U.S. as an avalanche control gun, supervised by the US Forest Service.
FranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the
State of VietnamThe State of Vietnam was a state that claimed authority over all of Vietnam during the First Indochina War, and replaced the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam . The provisional government was a brief transitional administration between colonial Cochinchina and an independent state...
used it during the
First Indochina WarThe First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
.
A number of M2/M101 howitzers were used by
Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaThe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
and approximately 50 were inherited by
CroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
of which 4 are still in use for training with the Croatian army.
M2 Howitzers are still in service in the
Australian Army ReserveThe 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 Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
, albeit in small numbers. They are gradually being replaced by
L118 Light GunThe L118 Light Gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer, originally produced for the British Army in the 1970s and widely exported since, including to the United States, where a modified version is known as the M119A1...
and
M198The M198 howitzer is a medium-sized, towed artillery piece, developed for service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. It was commissioned to be a lightweight replacement for the WWII era M114 155mm howitzer. It was designed and prototyped at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1969 with firing...
Howitzers.
Variants
Gun variants:
- M1920 - prototype.
- M1925E - prototype.
- T2, standardized as M1.
- M2 (1934) - minor changes to the chamber to allow use of fixed ammunition.
- M2A1 (1940) - modified breech ring.
- M3 - lightweight howitzer, with barrel shortened by 27 inches.
- T8, standardized as M4 - 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.
- C3 - Canadian C1 (M2A1) with lengthened, 33-caliber barrel
Carriage variants:
- M1920E - prototype, split trail.
- 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.
- M2A2 - modified shield.
Self-propelled mounts
- Medium Tank M4A4E1
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
- M2A1 in mount T70.
- Medium Tank M4(105), M4A3(105)
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
- M4 in mount M52.
- Medium/Heavy Tank M45
The Heavy Tank M26 Pershing was an American heavy tank briefly used in World War II and in the Korean War. It was named after General John Pershing, who led the American Expeditionary Force in Europe in World War I....
- M4 in mount M71.
- Experimental mount on Holt tractor - M1920.
- Experimental chassis designed by J Walter Christie - M1920.
- 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T9 (based on Cletrac MG-2 tractor).
- 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T19 (based on M3 halftrack
The Carrier, Personnel Half-track M3 was an armored vehicle used by the United States, the British Empire and the other Allies during World War II and the Cold War. Nearly 43,000 were produced, and supplied to the U.S...
) - M2A1.
- 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T32 / M7
The 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 was an American self-propelled artillery vehicle produced during World War II. It was given the official service name 105 mm Self Propelled Gun, Priest by the British Army, due to the pulpit-like machine gun ring, and following on from the Bishop and...
- M2A1.
- 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T76 / M37 (Light Tank M24
The Light Tank M24 was an American light tank used during World War II and in postwar conflicts including the Korean War and with the French in the War in Algeria and First Indochina War. In British service it was given the service name Chaffee, after the United States Army General Adna R...
chassis) - M4 in mount M5.
- 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T88 (76mm GMC M18
The 76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 was an American tank destroyer of World War II. The manufacturer, Buick, gave it the nickname "Hellcat" and it was the fastest tracked armored fighting vehicle during the war with a top speed up to 60 mph. Hellcat crews took advantage of the vehicle's...
chassis) - M4 in mount M20.
Ammunition
The gun fired semi-fixed ammunition, with 105mm Cartridge Case M14. The propelling charge consisted of base charge and six increments, forming seven charges from 1 (the smallest) to 7 (the largest). Use of M1 HE rounds prepared for the 105mm howitzer M3 (same projectile and cartridge, but different propelling charge) was authorized.
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.
| Available ammunition |
| Type |
Model |
Weight, kg (round/projectile) |
Filler |
Muzzle velocity, m/s |
Range, m |
| HE |
HE M1 Shell |
19.08 / 14.97 |
TNT or 50/50 amatol Amatol is a highly explosive material made from a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate. Its name originates from the words ammonium and toluene...
, 2.18 kg |
472 |
11,160 |
| HEAT-T |
HEAT M67 Shell |
16.71 / 13.25 |
Pentolite Pentolite is a high explosive used for military and civilian purposes e.g. warheads and booster charges.Military pentolite comprises a mixture of 50% PETN and 50% TNT. A 50:50 mixture has a density of 1.65 g/cm3 and a detonation velocity of 7400 m/s. Civilian pentolite sometimes contains a lower...
, 1.33 kg |
381 |
7,854 |
| Smoke |
HC BE M84 Shell |
19.02 / 14.91 |
Zinc chloride (HC) |
472 |
11,160 |
| Smoke, colored |
BE M84 Shell |
17.86-18.04 / |
Smoke mixture |
|
|
| Smoke |
WP M60 Shell |
19.85 / 15.56 |
White Phosphorus (WP), 1.84 kg |
472 |
11,110 |
| Smoke |
FS M60 Shell |
20.09 / |
Sulfur trioxide Sulfur trioxide is the chemical compound with the formula SO3. In the gaseous form, this species is a significant pollutant, being the primary agent in acid rain. It is prepared on massive scales as a precursor to sulfuric acid.-Structure and bonding:Gaseous SO3 is a trigonal planar molecule of...
in Chlorosulfonic acid, 2.09 kg |
|
|
| Chemical |
H M60 Shell |
19.43 / |
Mustard gasThe sulfur mustards, or sulphur mustards, commonly known as mustard gas, are a class of related cytotoxic, vesicant chemical warfare agents with the ability to form large blisters on exposed skin. Pure sulfur mustards are colorless, viscous liquids at room temperature...
, 1.44 kg |
|
|
| Practice |
Empty M1 Shell |
|
|
472 |
11,160 |
| Drill |
Drill Cartridge M14 |
|
|
- |
- |
| Blank |
|
|
|
- |
- |
| Armor penetration, mm |
| Ammunition \ Distance, m |
0 |
457 |
914 |
1,828 |
| HEAT M67 Shell (meet angle 0°) |
102 |
| Concrete penetration, mm |
| HE M1 Shell (meet angle 0°) |
457 |
427 |
396 |
335 |
| Different methods of measurement were used in different countries / periods. Therefore, direct comparison is often impossible. |
See also
- List of U.S. Army weapons by supply catalog designation (SNL C-21)
- L118 Light Gun
The L118 Light Gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer, originally produced for the British Army in the 1970s and widely exported since, including to the United States, where a modified version is known as the M119A1...
- Lightweight 105 mm howitzer designed in the 1970s
- LG1
The LG1 is a modern 105 mm/30-calibre towed howitzer designed and produced by GIAT Industries 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 long distances. Its lightweight construction gives the barrel...
- Modern lightweight 105 mm howitzer
- G7
The G7 is a South African 105 mm howitzer, produced by Denel. With a maximum range of it outranges all existing 105 mm howitzers, as well as most current 155 mm howitzers...
- Modern 105 mm howitzer
External links