Howitzer, Light, Towed: 105 mm, M-102
When emplaced, the very low silhouette Howitzer, Light, Towed: 105 mm, M-102 has a high volume of fire that compensates in large measure for the lower explosive weight of the projectile compared to the Army's 155mm and 8-inch howitzers. It has a roller tire attached to the trail assembly of the M102 permits the weapon to be rotated 360 degrees around a firing platform, which provides the pivot for the weapon. The weapon can be elevated from -5 degrees to a maximum of 75 degrees.
The M102 carriage is lightweight welded aluminum, mounted on a variable recoil mechanism, nearly 3/4 ton lighter than the M101A1 Howitzer. The weapon is manually loaded and positioned, and can be towed by a 2 1/2 ton truck or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), can be transported by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, or can be dropped by parachute with airborne units.
Specifications of the M102 Howitzer
| Length | 17.1 feet |
| Width | 6.4 feet |
| Height | 5.2 feet |
| Weight | 3,004 lbs |
| Crew | 8 |
| Range | 11,500 m (standard rounds) |
| Range | 15,100 m (rocket-assisted rounds) |
| Max rate of fire | 10 rounds per minute for first 3 minutes |
| Sustained rate of fire | 3 rounds per minute |
| Ammunition | All standard NATO 105mm ammunition except newer extended range rounds |
M102 105mm howitzer.
M102 105mm howitzer.
Members of C Btry., 1st Bn., 319th Air Field Arty. Regt., secure M-102 105mm towed howitzers to the slings of 2nd Battalion, 82nd Aviation Brigade UH-60 Black Hawk (Blackhawk) helicopters for a two-gun raid training mission during Operation Desert Shield, 1 April 1992.
M102 105mm howitzer at the 82nd Airborne Division Museum, Ft. Bragg, NC.
