“We will carry out a campaign characterized by shock, by surprise, by flexibility ... and by the application of overwhelming force.”
- CENTCOM commander General Tommy Franks commenting on the conduct of Operation: Iraqi Freedom, March 21st, 2003
(500 points) The M109 is an American self-propelled 155 mm howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. Continually upgraded and improved, to today's current version the M109A6 "Paladin", it is still the primary indirect-fire support weapon of maneuver brigades of armored and mechanized infantry divisions of the US Army, Israel Defense Forces, the Italian Army, and many other militaries, including the Norwegian, Swiss, Danish, Pakistani, Dutch and Austrian armies.
A number of European armies are currently replacing the M109 with the PzH2000 which significantly outperforms it in most aspects. Significant upgrades have been introduced by the US (PALADIN) and Switzerland (KAWEST). With the cancellation of the CRUSADER-Project in the US, the Paladin will remain the principal self-propelled howitzer for years to come.
The crew of the M109 consists of a section chief, driver, gunner, three cannoneers who load and fire the weapon and two gunners who handle the Ammunition. The M109A6 Paladin needs only one cannoneer and two ammunition handlers for a total crew of six. Ship Date: 2008.
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