Artillery in Canada: 155-mm M109 SP Howitzer

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4730776)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer, Fallex Oct 1987, Germany.

The 155-mm M109 self-propelled medium howitzers were highly mobile artillery weapons. The M109 had a crew of six, consisting of detachment commander, gunner, three ammunition members and the driver. The hull was made of all-welded aluminium armour. The driver had a single-piece hatch cover that opened to the left, with three M45 periscopes in front that could be covered by small metal flaps to prevent damage. The commander was seated on the right side of the turret and had a cupola that could be traversed through 360°, a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the rear and an M27 periscope. Pintle mounted on the forward part of the commander’s cupola was a 12.7 mm (0.50) machine gun for use in local defence. Mounted at the rear of the hull, each side of the hull door, is a large spade which is lowered manually to the ground before firing.

The M109 was fitted with night vision equipment for night moves. The upgrade to A4 included a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) defence system. It could ford to a depth of 1.828 m without preparation and could be fitted with an amphibious kit consisting of nine air bags, four each side of the hull and one at the front. The bags, which are not carried on the vehicle as part of its normal equipment, are inflated from the vehicle and it can then propel itself across rivers by its tracks at 6.43 km/h.  The initial M109 was equipped with a short barrel, double baffle muzzle brake, large fume extractor, and a maximum range of 14,600m. The M109A2/A3/A4 howitzers used an extended M185 barrel and achieved a range of 23,500 meters.

(Author Photo)

155-mm M109 Self-propelled Howitzer, (Serial No. 34813), 1968, AC: MD, ECC: 119204 HUI C: 1941, SAUI C: 1941, VMO No. DLE21343, VMO Date: 10 Jun 2005.  Churchill Park South of the Officer’s Mess, Edmonton Garrison, 3 CDSB Edmonton, Alberta.

(Author Photo)

155-mm M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer, (Reg. No. 77246), 1985, AC: MD, ECC: 119205 HUI C: 1735 SAUI C: 1735, VMO No. DLE21950, VMO Date: 15 Aug 2005.  Building 311 (5 RALC).

Obusier automoteur M109 de 155 mm, (n ° d'enregistrement 77246), 1985, AC: MD, ECC: 119205 HUI C: 1735 SAUI C: 1735, VMO n ° DLE21950, VMO Date: 15 août 2005. Bâtiment 311 ( 5 RALC).

(Author Photos)

155-mm M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer, standing at the front entrance to the Connaught Range and Primary Training Centre, 35 Shirley Blvd, Ottawa, Ontario.

(Author Photo)

155-mm M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer, (Serial No. 77233), 1985, AC: CX, ECC: 119205 HUI C: 1764, SAUI C: 1764, VMO No. DLE21804, VMO Date: 24 Jul 2005.  Display Monument.  “26A”, the 1st Gun, 2nd troop, 2nd Battery, Menin Road, 4 Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa, Ontario.

(Author Photo)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer, (Serial No. 8577237), No. 1 of 2, Memorial Park, Centreville, New Brunswick.

(Author Photo)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer, 63-348, No. 2 of 2, Memorial Park, Centreville, New Brunswick.

(NBMHM Photo)

(Author Photos)

155-mm M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer, (Reg. No. 77240), 1985, RRCAS, 5 CDSB Gagetown, New Brunswick.

(Terry Honour Photo)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer, CFR 85-34825, located at CMR St Jean.  It is located in the north West corner of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR), et Le Musée du Fort Saint-Jean.

Obusier M109 SP de 155 mm, CFR 85-34825, situé au CMR St Jean. Il est situé dans le coin nord-ouest du Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR), et Le Musée du Fort Saint-Jean.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4748921)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer, 4 CMBG, Grosse Rochade, Germany, 18 Sep 1975.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4748880)

Exercise Grosse Rochade, Bavaria, Germany. A 155-mm M109 self-propelled Howitzer of 1 RCHA moves onto a German Army Ferry, 16-18 Sep 1975.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4748866)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer, Ex Regensprung, Lahr, Germany, 9 Sep 1975.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4748867)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer, Ex Regensprung, Lahr, Germany, 9 Sep 1975.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4822861)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer, Ex Grosse Rochade, 4 CMBG, 18 Sep 1975.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4594347)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer camouflaged, RCHA, Fallex 1976, Germany.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4631311)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer camouflaged, RCHA, Reforger 76, Sep 1976, Germany.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4849077)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer, 4 CMBG, Ex Certain Sentinel, Germany, Feb 1979.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4876327)

155-mm M109 SP Howitzer cam, RCHA, Fallex 1982, Germany.

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