Credit
Leger Film- en Fotodienst (LFFD) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗
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At a glance
M109 howitzerlarger figure on 0 of 1
PCL-181larger figure on 1 of 1
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Length
Single sourcelength with gun forward of
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | M109 howitzer | PCL-181 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Self-propelled artillery[source] | Self-propelled howitzer[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | China[source] |
| In service | M109: 1963–present M109A1: 1973–present M109A2: 1979–present M109A6: 1994–present M109A7: 2015–present[source] | 2019–present[source] |
| Used by | See Operators[source] | See § Operators |
M109A1/A2/A3/A4/A5/A6/A7: hull length of
Single sourceM109: hull length of and length with gun forward of
Single sourceM109: hull length of 20.3 ft and length with gun forward of 30 ft M109A1/A2/A3/A4/A5/A6/A7: hull length of 20.3 ft, length with gun forward of 32 ft[source]
SH-15
Single source6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) (SH-15)[source]
) and combat weight of
Single sourceand combat weight of
Single sourceM109A1/A2/A3/A4/A5: empty weight of and combat weight of
Single sourceM109A6: non-combat weight of
Single source) M109A7: non- combat weight of
Single sourceMass · source measurement 4
Single sourceMass · source measurement 6
Single sourceMass · source measurement 8
Single sourceM109A1/A2/A3/A4/A5: empty weight of 52,000 lbs (23.6 metric tons) and combat weight of 55,000 lbs (24.95 metric tons) M109A6: non-combat weight of 56,400 lbs (25.6 metric tons) and combat weight of 62,000 lbs to 63,615 lbs (28.1 metric tons to 28.9 metric tons) M109A7: non- combat weight of 74,000 to 78,000 lbs (33.6 metric tons to 35.4 metric tons) and combat weight of 84,000 lbs (38 metric tons)[source]
32 Tons[source]M109A6 Paladin · combat loaded
Mass
Single source25 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons)[source]
Effective; Excalibur
Single sourceEffective; M109A1–A4
Single sourceEffective; M109A1–A4 M107, HE
Single sourceEffective; M109A1–A4 (M549A1, RAP/HE) M109A5–A7: HE
Single sourceEffective; RAP
Single sourceM109A6 Paladin · cruising range · Range
Single sourceOperational; M109A7
Single sourceOperational; Operational range
Single sourceM109A1–A4: 18.1 km (11.2 mi) (M107, HE) 23.5 km (14.6 mi) (M549A1, RAP/HE) M109A5–A7: HE: 21 km (13 mi) RAP : 30 km (19 mi) Excalibur : 40 km (25 mi)[source]
216 mi (350 km) M109A7: 186 mi (300 km)[source]
214 miles[source]M109A6 Paladin · cruising range
22/30 (km)[source]M109A6 Paladin · High Explosive / Rocket Assisted Projectile
Effective; conventional projectile
Single sourceMaximum; rocket-assisted projectile
Single source@ 2.300 rpm M109A5–A6: Detroit Diesel 8V71T 8-cylinder water-cooled supercharged diesel engine
Single sourceM109A7
Single sourceM109: Detroit Diesel 8V71T 8-cylinder water-cooled turbocharged diesel engine @ 2,300 rpm M109A1–A4: Detroit Diesel 8V71T 8-cylinder water-cooled supercharged diesel engine
Single sourceV903
Single sourceM109: Detroit Diesel 8V71T 8-cylinder water-cooled turbocharged diesel engine 390 hp @ 2,300 rpm M109A1–A4: Detroit Diesel 8V71T 8-cylinder water-cooled supercharged diesel engine 405 hp @ 2.300 rpm M109A5–A6: Detroit Diesel 8V71T 8-cylinder water-cooled supercharged diesel engine 440 hp M109A7: V903 675 hp[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Wars | Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Yom Kippur War Western Sahara War Iran–Iraq War 1982 Lebanon war South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000) Persian Gulf War Iraq War Gaza War 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict War in Iraq (2013-2017) Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) , Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Syrian Civil War Russian invasion of Ukraine Gaza war 2025 Cambodian–Thai clashes[source] | 2025 India–Pakistan conflict[source] |
|---|
| Designed | 1952–1962[source] | — |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Cadillac General Motors Chrysler BMY Harsco , formerly Bowen & McLaughlin York (1974–1994) United Defense (1994–2005) BAE Systems Inc. (2005–present) Samsung (1985–2015) Hanwha (2015–present)[source] | Norinco[source] |
|---|
| Shell | separate loading, bagged charge[source] | — |
|---|
| Breech | interrupted screw[source] | Semi-automatic vertical wedge type breech block[source] |
|---|
| Traverse | 360°[source] | 360°[source] |
|---|
| Armor | Aluminum alloy[source] | — |
|---|
| Main armament | M109: M126 155 mm 23 caliber, 28 rounds M109A1–A4: Watervliet Arsenal M185 155 mm 39 caliber, 28 rounds (A1) or 36 rounds (A2–A4) M109A5–A7: M284 155 mm 39 caliber[source] | PLL-01 155 mm howitzer gun[source] |
|---|
| Secondary armament | .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun[source] | — |
|---|
| Transmission | Allison Transmission XTG-411-2A, 4 forward, 2 reverse M109A6: Allison Transmission XTG-411-4 M109A7: HMPT-800[source] | — |
|---|
| Suspension | torsion bar[source] | hydropneumatic suspension[source] |
|---|
| Ground clearance | M109A7: longitudinal slope: 60 % lateral slope: 40 % trench: 72 in (1.8 m) fording: 42 in (1.07 m)[source] | — |
|---|
| Barrel length | 23 caliber[source]M109 original; M126 155 mm cannon | 52 caliber[source]PCL-181; main howitzer barrel |
|---|
| Designer | — | Nanjing University of Science and Technology[source] |
|---|
| Barrels | — | 52 caliber[source] |
|---|
| Elevation | — | Around 20° to 70° (except for front due to cab)[source] |
|---|
| Engine | — | diesel[source] |
|---|
| Drive | — | 6×6[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
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