In the early spring of 1966, the state-of-the-art 105-millimeter towed M102 howitzer was introduced
into service in Vietnam.
However, many seasoned artillerymen hesitated to use the new model at first.
The men were well-accustomed to the M101A1 howitzer that had been used to support American
and Allied forces since World War 2, and had become entirely familiar with every detail.
As such, they were extremely wary of the new model and did not want their trusty old cannon
replaced.
However, their doubts were soon put to rest, as the M102 howitzer became a prized staple
in the United States Armed Forces arsenal within a matter of months and was praised
for its flexibility, accuracy, and light weight.
Now, after decades of service all over the world, the US Navy is about to give the classic
all-American artillery weapon a new chance with an upgraded iteration meant for the United
States Air Force...
Lightweight Powerhouse
In 1960, the US Army issued a requirement for a lightweight replacement for the 105-millimeter
M101 howitzer, which had been the standard weapon of its type since World War 2, serving
in both the European and Pacific theaters as well as the Korean War.
In response, engineers at the Army's Rock Island Arsenal created the M102 105-millimeter
howitzer.
This lightweight weapon was made of welded aluminum and designed to provide direct support
fires to light, airborne, and air assault forces.
The artillery weapon can fire a 33-pound projectile of semifixed ammunition that can travel up
to 7.14 miles.
With a muzzle velocity of 1,620 feet per second, the M102 can fire up to ten rounds per minute
for the initial three minutes and a sustained rate of three rounds per minute.
After being manually loaded and positioned, the howitzer can be towed by either a two-ton
truck or a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, transported by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters,
or even dropped by parachute by airborne units.
When emplaced, its high volume of fire compensates for the projectile’s lower explosive weight
compared to larger 155-millimeter howitzers.
In addition, its quite significant range can be increased to 9.38 miles with the help of
rocket-assisted projectiles.
With its low silhouette upon firing and a single roller tire attached to the trail assembly,
the weapon can be rotated 360 degrees around a firing platform, which serves as the pivot
for the weapon.
The howitzer can then be elevated from -5 degrees to a maximum of 75 degrees.
Revolutionizing Artillery
The first prototype of the M102 howitzer was finished at Rock Island Arsenal in 1962, and
the first production models were completed three years later.
Ready for combat, they were then introduced to the United States Army's 1st Battalion,
21st Field Artillery.
Initially, there was some reluctance from the crews, who were accustomed to the previous
model.
However, they quickly became enamored with the new howitzer's capabilities.
Weighing only 3,300 pounds compared to the 4,980 pounds of its predecessor, the new model
is nearly three-quarters of a ton lighter than the World War 2-era howitzer.
Over the next four years, the older weapons were steadily replaced, coinciding with the
escalation of the Vietnam War.
In a short period of time, the M102 howitzer took over as the service's standard artillery
weapon.
From Indo-China to Iraq
The M102 howitzer saw extensive use during the Indo-China wars, where United States Army
divisions, South Vietnamese, and Cambodian forces all used it in the fight against communism.
The Vietnam War was the first major conflict in which the M102 was used in combat.
Its lightweight aluminum chassis and rapid rotation swivel base made it a significant
upgrade from its revered predecessor, and it quickly proved its worth on the battlefield.
Also, its lightweight design made it easier to handle for troops, as it could be quickly
airlifted to remote fire support bases by helicopter or even parachute-dropped with
airborne units.
American artillerymen used the M102 to great effect in Vietnam, particularly with the M546
APERS-T round, which was devastating in close-range antipersonnel use.
This round was also known as the "beehive" due to the furious humming of 8,000 flechettes.
When the United States Army was summoned for war in 1991's Operations Desert Shield and
Desert Storm, the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne Air Assault Divisions deployed more
than a hundred M102s.
Then, to support a campaign in February, the division's artillery commanders used CH-47
Chinook helicopters to airlift the howitzers, along with a whopping 900 rounds of ammunition
per battery.
The Chinook then remained with the battery to provide support.
The M102 howitzer saw its last known employment in its traditional indirect fire role in the
early 2000s when an Arkansas Army National Guard field artillery battalion deployed it
to support operations in the Iraq War.
In 2004, the 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, deployed 17 M102 howitzers to Camp Taji, located
just 22 miles from the capital of Baghdad.
On one curious occasion, the 206th Field Artillery provided fire and counter-fire missions in
support of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team operations, an element of the 1st Cavalry
Division.
The group then scavenged spare parts from nine M102 howitzers that were allegedly captured
by the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq War decades before.
Legacy and Revival
More than 1,200 M102s were built in Rock Island Arsenal before production was completed in
1970.
Twenty-two additional models were constructed for exports in 1980.
By 1985, almost 20 years after its first introduction, the United States Army had 526 M102 weapons
in its inventory.
A few years later, the standard howitzer was replaced in front-line service by the BAE
Systems 105-millimeter Light Gun, designated the M119.
But while the M102 is no longer in active use with the United States in its mounted
form, it is still used by the National Guard and the Marine Corps in extremely limited
roles, such as firing salutes.
Even so, the United States Air Force began testing a modified version of the M102 howitzer
in 1970 as a new weapon for its AC-130 gunship as part of the Pave Aegis program.
As such, the cannon underwent modifications to enable it to be fired from the left rear
side door of the gunship.
Then, in 1971, the service began integrating these weapons onto several AC-130E aircraft,
which soon entered service.
The AC-130 gunship and M102 howitzer pairing has a long combat history, beginning with
Vietnam, where the aircraft destroyed over 10,000 trucks and was credited with several
life-saving close air support missions.
Then, during Operation Desert Storm, several AC-130s provided close air support and air
base defense for ground forces.
Throughout the turn of the century, AC-130s were actively involved in combat operations
in Kosovo, heavily supported operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, and were used to support
many missions in Enduring Freedom and Resolute Support.
The gunships also played a pivotal role in the most recent uprisings in the Middle East,
providing armed reconnaissance, interdiction, and direct support to ground troops engaged
with enemy forces.
To this day, several American allies and partners around the world continue to use such weapons,
but a new version of the M102 may have just been introduced…
Inception
In January of 2022, the United States Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division,
or NSWCDD, announced that a team of engineers had successfully designed, developed, and
delivered an upgraded 105-millimeter Gun Aircraft Unit made specifically with the AC-130 gunship
layout in mind.
The new weapon allows ground warfighters to complete missions more effectively and safely,
while the AC-130 gunship provides close air support, air interdiction, and force protection.
According to Matthew Buckler, the NSWCDD Gun Weapons System lead mechanical engineer, the
Dahlgren workers traveled to several Air Force bases with active AC-130 models to kick off
the design effort.
While there, the team worked directly with the warfighter in order to get real-time feedback
from experienced gunners and technicians, who provided the engineers with valuable insight
into the hardware's performance after testing.
As stated by Buckler, the upgrade was highly necessary due to the obsolescence of the M102
Howitzer, which is no longer supported.
The updated model was first spotted in September of 2022 aboard an Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider
gunship during an event in New Mexico involving the 17th Special Ops Squadron.
While it remains unclear whether Dahlgren's howitzer is entirely new or incorporates components
from the M102, the Navy's website calls it an upgrade.
Moreover, several photographs show similar features, including a top-mounted recoil system
used in the older Cold War-era Army howitzer.
The reason the Navy was chosen to develop the improved 105-millimeter gun system for
the Air Force's AC-130 gunship remains unclear.
However, there is speculation that it is due to the Navy's general experience with large-caliber
guns designed to be fired accurately from ships potentially moving violently in multiple
directions.
Several experts believe the new iteration of the 105-millimeter Gun Aircraft Unit will
enable the US Air Force to continue providing close support in future military operations,
thus carrying on the legacy of the legendary M102 weapon.
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