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The M108 Howitzer is an American self-propelled 105 mm
Detailed dataOlive-Drab.comMilitaryfactory.comForecast International
Tracked self-propelled howitzers Self-propelled howitzers of the United States Cold War artillery of the United States 105 mm artillery Military vehicles introduced in the 1960s
howitzer
A howitzer () is a long-ranged weapon, falling between a cannon (also known as an Artillery, artillery gun in the United States), which fires shells at flat trajectories, and a Mortar (weapon), mortar, which fires at high angles of ascent and de ...
, first introduced in the early 1960s as a replacement for the M52 self-propelled howitzer.
The M108 was powered by a Detroit Diesel turbocharged 8V-71T 8-cylinders 405 hp engine. It used the same hull and turret as the 155 mm M109
The M109 is an American 155 mm turreted Self-propelled artillery, self-propelled howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s to replace the M44 self propelled howitzer, M44. It has been upgraded a number of times, most recently to the M109A7. T ...
self-propelled howitzer, and components of the M113 armored vehicle. The M108 was phased out soon after the American intervention in the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
, as the M109's 155 mm calibre was considered better fitted for modern war.
The M108 was used by several NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
countries.
Operational history
The M108 howitzer's sole use in combat occurred in theVietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
. M108s equipped the first U.S. Army field artillery unit deployed to the conflict, when the 3-6 Field Artillery Battalion was deployed to Pleiku
Pleiku is a city in central Vietnam, located in the Central Highlands region. It is the capital of the Gia Lai Province. Many years ago, it was inhabited primarily by the Bahnar and Jarai ethnic groups, sometimes known as the Montagnards or D ...
on June 17, 1966. This was soon followed by the 1-40th Field Artillery Battalion to Dong Ha Combat Base in October, 1966. M108s were generally employed from fortified fire bases providing artillery support to units in the field. Because M108 and M109 howitzers could traverse their main gun 360 degrees, unlike towed artillery, they were ideal for holding fire base positions, which might be subject to attack from any direction. Both M108 battalions were withdrawn and phased out of U.S. Army service in 1975.
General characteristics
* Length: 6.11 m * Width: 3.15 m * Height: 3.28 m * Weight: 21 t * Speed: 56 km/h (35 mph) * Range: 360 km * Crew: 5 * Armament: ** Primary: M103 105 mm Howitzer ** Secondary: .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun * Rate of fire: 4 rds/min * Shooting range: 11.5 km (HE) 15 km (HERA)Users
Current users
*:Chilean Army
The Chilean Army ( es, Ejército de Chile) is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 80,000-person army (9,200 of which are conscripts) is organized into six divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade.
In recent years, and a ...
21 M108 VBCL (Véhicule Blindé de Commandement et Liaison) (Former Belgian Army).
*: National Army of Uruguay 10 M108AP.
Former users
*: Lent by US Army for Australian Defence Force during the Vietnam War. *:Belgian Army
The Land Component ( nl, Landcomponent, french: Composante terre) is the land branch of the Belgian Armed Forces. The King of the Belgians is the commander in chief. The current chief of staff of the Land Component is Major-General Pierre Gérard ...
: 90, until the 1980s.
*: Brazilian Army 72 M108AP, withdrawn, 10 donated to Uruguay.
*: Khmer National Army: withdrawn
*: Spanish Army
The Spanish Army ( es, Ejército de Tierra, lit=Land Army) is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies — dating back to the late 15th century.
The ...
: 48, withdrawn
*: Republic of China Army
The Republic of China Army (ROCA), previously known as the Chinese Nationalist Army or Nationalist Revolutionary Army and unofficially as the Taiwanese Army, is the largest branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. An estimated 80% of th ...
: 100
*: Turkish Army: 26 M108T withdrawn
*: US Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, c ...
withdrawn.
*: Tunisian Army 48.
Comparable weapons
* FV433 Abbot SPG - British 105mm SPGSee also
* List of U.S. military vehicles by model number * List of U.S. military vehicles by supply catalog designation SNL G-296 * M7 Priest *M37 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage
The M37 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage is a 105 mm howitzer self propelled gun developed by the United States. It saw combat in the Korean War and remained part of the U.S. military until being replaced in the late 1950s. Approximately 300 were ...
References
{{reflistExternal links
Detailed data
Tracked self-propelled howitzers Self-propelled howitzers of the United States Cold War artillery of the United States 105 mm artillery Military vehicles introduced in the 1960s