M110 howitzer - Misplaced Pages

203 mm Self-propelled artillery

8" M110 self-propelled howitzer
M110 203 mm self-propelled howitzer of the Royal Netherlands Army
Type	Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Wars	Vietnam War Yom Kippur War Iran–Iraq War 1982 Lebanon War Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present) Gulf War
Production history
Manufacturer	General Motors (transmission)
Specifications
Mass	31.2 short tons (28.3 t; 27.9 long tons)
Length	35 ft 5 in (10.8 m)
Width	10 ft 2 in (3.1 m)
Height	10 ft 2 in (3.1 m)
Crew	13 (driver, 2 gunners, 2 loaders, (8 support crew–other vehicle))

Caliber	203 mm (8.0 in)
Barrels	1
Effective firing range	16.8–25 km (10.4–15.5 mi) RAP 30 km (19 mi)

Armor	.51 in (13 mm)
Main armament	8 in (203 mm) M201A1 howitzer
Secondary armament	none
Engine	Detroit Diesel 8V71T, 8-cylinder, 2-stroke, turbocharged diesel 405 hp (302 kW)
Suspension	Torsion bar
Maximum speed	30 mph (54.7 km/h)

The 8-inch (203 mm) M110 self-propelled howitzer is an American self-propelled artillery system consisting of an M115 203 mm howitzer installed on a purpose-built chassis. Before its retirement from US service, it was the largest available self-propelled howitzer in the United States Army's inventory; it continues in service with the armed forces of other countries, to which it was exported. Missions include general support, counter-battery fire, and suppression of enemy air defense systems.

Description

According to the operator's manual, the M110's typical rate of fire was three rounds per two minutes when operated at maximum speed, and one round per two minutes with sustained fire. The M110 featured a hydraulically operated rammer to automatically chamber the 200 lb (91 kg)+ projectile. These rammers were prone to breakdown and generally slowed operation of the gun because the rammers required crews to completely lower the massive barrel before using it. Well trained and motivated crews could achieve two to four rounds per minute for short periods by using the manual rammer, essentially a heavy steel pole with a hard rubber pad on one end. Using the manual rammer was physically demanding, but crews were not required to lower the barrels as much as with the hydraulic rammer.

The M110's range varied from 10.4 mi (16.8 km) to approximately 16 mi (25 km) when firing standard projectiles, and up to 19 mi (30 km) when firing rocket-assisted projectiles.

History

The M110 howitzer first entered service with the U.S. Army in 1963 and was used in the Vietnam War by the United States Army. Later versions were used in the Gulf War - Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm by Tango Battery 5th Battalion 11th Marines, and the British Army's 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery.

In 1977 the upgraded M110A1 entered service, featuring a longer M201 series barrel which gave it an increased range. The final version, the M110A2, added a double muzzle brake. The M110A2s were made from refitted M110s or M107 175 mm self-propelled guns. The 2nd Battalion 18th Field Artillery (U.S. Army), which inactivated in 1994 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the 5th Battalion 18th Field Artillery served in Desert Storm with the M110A2, as did the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade (Arkansas Army National Guard) and 1st Battalion 181st Field Artillery (Tennessee Army National Guard). Most of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps relied on M109 series 155-millimeter howitzer systems during this conflict, sending remaining M110s to reserve or National Guard units. These units then took possession of M109s as they returned from combat operations. M110s were still in service with the 3rd Battalion 92nd Field Artillery (US Army Reserve) and running fire missions at Camp Atterbury as late as the summer of 1994.

The howitzer has been retired from U.S. Army service, replaced by the M270 multiple launch rocket system.

At the end of the Cold War under U.S. Division Plan 86, all armored and mechanized infantry divisions included a battalion of heavy artillery that included two batteries of M110A2 SP howitzers with six guns each for a total of 12 guns, plus one battery of nine M270s.

Israel used M110s along with M107s during the Yom Kippur War against Egyptian and Syrian forces. Later, in 1982, Israel used M110 systems against the Palestine Liberation Organization and their Lebanese allies with deadly effect during the Siege of Beirut as part of Operation Peace for Galilee.

Iran used its M110s during its offensives against Iraq in the Iran–Iraq War.

The Turkish Armed Forces have used M110A2 systems against the Kurdistan Workers' Party since the 1990s, as well as in the Turkish military intervention in Syria, mainly against the People's Protection Units.

Projectiles

A 203 millimetre W33 nuclear artillery shell on display

M14 dummy
M106 HE
M650 HE rocket assist projectile (RAP)
M509 ICM
M404 ICM anti-personnel (airburst)
M426 agent GB Sarin
M422A1 Artillery Fired Atomic Projectile
M424 High Altitude Spotting Round for the M422 projectile
XM753 Atomic RA (rocket assisted)

Operators

Current operators

Bahrain: Royal Bahraini Army 13 as M110A2 from Netherlands delivered in 1994, 25 as M110A2 from US delivered in 1996.
Cyprus: Cypriot National Guard 8 as M110A2
Greece: Hellenic Army 145 as M110A2.
Egypt: Egyptian Army Received 144 as M110A2 as aid in 1996.
Iran: Iran Army 30 M110.
Jordan: Jordanian Armed Forces 120 as M110A2.
Morocco: Moroccan Army 60 as M110A2.
Pakistan: Pakistan Army 140 in service as of 2021.
Taiwan: Republic of China Army 70 M110A2 as of 2023
Turkey: Turkish Army currently phasing out 219 as M110A2 in favor of T-155 Fırtına

Former operators

Belgium: Belgian Army 11 M110A2 between 1972 and 1993 used by the 20th Artillery Regiment (Belgian Forces in Germany).
Germany: German Army M110A2 until 1993.
Israel: Israeli Army 36 as M110, retired in 1990s.
Italy: Italian Army used M110A2s, phased out by 1998.
Japan: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 91 as M110A2. As of 2023, approximately 10 M110A2s were in active, owned by 104th Artillery Battalion of 4th Artillery Group (Mechanized) in Hokkaido. They retired in March 2024 and the battalion was disbanded.
South Korea: Republic of Korea Army Operated M110 since 1961. Retired in the late 2000s after being replaced by K9 Thunder.
South Vietnam: Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
Netherlands: Royal Netherlands Army M110A1 and M110A2, replaced by the M109 in the 1990s
Spain: Spanish Army as 64 M110A2, deployed in divisional fire support regiments until 2009.
United Kingdom: British Army as M110A2 firing high explosive and nuclear shells only. (The FV433 Abbot SPG, the M109A2, and the M110A1 were replaced by the AS-90 in the early-mid-1990s.) Used in Operation Granby/Gulf War.
United States: Used by United States Army and United States Marine Corps, M110A2s retired in 1994.