M109 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario

The 155-mm M109 self-propelled medium howitzers were highly 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.

General Characteristics

Cruising Range: 220 miles
Maximum speed: 35 miles per hour
Weight: 27.5 tons
Projectile weight: 98 pounds
Engine type: Detroit Diesel engine was coupled to an Allison XTG-411-4A cross-drive transmission

The M109 155mm sef-propelled Howitzer was employed by the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery during the Cold War. This gun is marked as "26A", the first gun in the second troop and is shown as belonging to the second battery of the regiment.

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Photos and text provided by LCol L. Jensen