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M109
Photo: Staff Sgt. Richard Wrigley · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
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M109

Self-Propelled Artillery · United States · 1963
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M109

M109
M109 Photo: Staff Sgt. Richard Wrigley · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Range
55
Firepower
60
Rate of Fire
58
Mobility
50
Accuracy
52
Shoot-and-Scoot
45
Protection
40
Automation
48
Technology
55
Cost-Effectiveness
70
Origin United States
ManufacturerBAE Systems
CategorySelf-Propelled Artillery
EraCold War
In service1963
Operators46 countries
Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
53
Self-Propelled Artillery MASS Rating
15/31
Cold War
71/188
All-Time
Self-Propelled Artillery · 10 axes scored
Range
55
Firepower
60
Rate of Fire
58
Mobility
50
Accuracy
52
Shoot-and-Scoot
45
Protection
40
Automation
48
Technology
55
Cost-Effectiveness
70
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the self-propelled artillery category.
01 / Overview
M109
Prime contractor
Production
1963–
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY · COLD WAR
15
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
78
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
53
self-propelled artillery category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the self-propelled artillery category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
  • Service Entry Year1963
  • Combat Weight24,950 kg
  • Travel Weight23,600 kg
  • Crew6
  • Carriage TypeSelf-Propelled
  • In ServiceYes
◈Ordnance8MOD.8
▣Performance9MOD.9
  • Minimum Range4.5 km
  • Maximum Range (standard)18.1 km
  • Maximum Range (rocket-assisted)23.5 km
  • Maximum Range (guided)40 km
  • Muzzle Velocity684 m/s
  • Rate of Fire (burst)4
  • Rate of Fire (sustained)1
  • Elevation-5 to +75 degrees
  • Traverse360°
◇Ammunition9MOD.9
▤Mobility9MOD.9
⬢Ammunition Handling3MOD.3
  • Ready Rounds36
  • Total Rounds Carried36
  • Resupply VehicleM992 FAASV
▲Dimensions3MOD.3
  • Length9.1 m
  • Width3.1 m
  • Height3.25 m
◎Production3MOD.3
  • Total Production3,000
  • Production Start1,962 year
  • Unit Cost4,000,000 USD
◈Self-Propelled Chassis6MOD.6
  • Engine Power405 hp
  • TransmissionAllison Transmission XTG-411-2A, 4 forward, 2 reverse<hr />M109A6: Allison Transmission XTG-411-4<hr />M109A7: HMPT-800
  • Suspensiontorsion bar
  • Hull ArmourAluminum alloy
  • Secondary Armament.50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun
  • NBC ProtectionYes
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1945First deployment: Cold War
  2. 1963Production started
  3. 2004Sale: Chile (24 units)
63
years in service
36
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 10 countries retired it.
05 / Operators
M109SALES2records
YearBuyerQuantityAmountPresent Value (2025)
2004Chile24——
—Norway22——
ⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE17terms
Automated laying is a fire‑control capability that uses sensors and a computer to automatically set a towed artillery or mortar’s elevation and azimuth to the calculated firing solution.
A device on the gun barrel that uses high-pressure gas to expel propellant fumes before the breech opens, preventing them from entering the crew compartment.
Cluster/DPICM refers to artillery ammunition that disperses submunitions for anti-personnel and anti-vehicle effects.
A digital fire-control system employs computational algorithms to calculate and adjust artillery fire parameters, enhancing accuracy and efficiency in towed systems.
High Explosive (HE) round: an artillery or mortar projectile containing explosive filler designed to inflict damage through blast and fragmentation effects.
Recoil system using a combination of liquid and compressed gas to absorb and return energy from firing.
Inertial navigation is a self-contained system that determines a vehicle’s position, orientation, and velocity by integrating data from accelerometers and gyroscopes, without external signals.
A breech mechanism in artillery where the screw threads are interrupted to allow quick opening and closing of the breech.
Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact: artillery tactic where multiple rounds from the same or different howitzers land on target within seconds.
A device attached to a firearm's muzzle to redirect propellant gases, reducing recoil and muzzle rise during firing.
Nuclear, Biological, Chemical protection for crew and occupants.
Artillery or mortar munition equipped with guidance systems to alter its trajectory after firing for increased accuracy.
An armored crew compartment on towed artillery or mortar systems designed to protect operators from small arms fire, shrapnel, and blast effects during operation.
Artillery system with integrated propulsion, enabling movement under its own power rather than being towed.
Artillery tactic where a firing unit rapidly deploys, fires, and relocates to avoid counter-battery fire.
Smoke grenades are pyrotechnic devices deployed by infantry fighting vehicles to create a visual screen, obscuring movement or positions from enemy observation or targeting.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Self-Propelled Artillery entry →