The M102 105 mm howitzer is used in helicopter, attack plane, and light infantry operations. The weapon carriage is lightweight welded aluminum. It is mounted on a variable recoil mechanism. The weapon is manually loaded and positioned. It can be towed by a 2-ton truck or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), which can be transported by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, or can be dropped by parachute with airborne units. Since 1964, the Army acquired 1,150 M102 towed howitzers. The weapon is being replaced by the M119-series 105 mm howitzer.[4]
102 Howitzer belonging to Battery A, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, 39th Brigade Combat Team, in position at Camp Taji, Iraq 29 May 2004
Characteristics
Caliber: 105 mm (4.13 in)
Length: 21.8 feet (6.4 m)
Barrel Length: 32 calibres
Width: 6.4 feet (2 m)
Height: 5.2 feet (1.6 m)
Weight: 1.5 tons (1.4 t)
Crew: 8
Rate of fire: 10 rounds per minute maximum, 3 rounds per minute sustained
Range: 11,500 m (7.1 miles), 15,100 m (9.4 miles) with rocket-assisted projectile
