M3 howitzer vs SPG-9: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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M3 howitzer — licensed reference photograph

AArtillery

M3 howitzer

Light Howitzer

Credit

Max Smith · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified

BArtillery

SPG-9

Recoilless gun Anti-tank gun

Credit

Polanksy kolbe · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

M3 howitzerLength

3.94 m

Length source ↗

SPG-9Length

2.11 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

M3 howitzerlarger figure on 3 of 4

Length+87%
Height+59%
Mass+2279%

SPG-9larger figure on 1 of 4

Muzzle velocity+10%

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

20 of 65 rows sourced on both sides

3.94m

2.11m

Length+87%

All recorded figures & sources

3.94 m

Length

Single source

12 ft 11 in (3.94 m)^[source]

2.11 m

Length

Single source

Configuration

Details

M3 howitzer and SPG-9 configuration
Specification	M3 howitzer	SPG-9
Type	Light Howitzer^[source]	Recoilless gun Anti-tank gun^[source]
Place of origin	United States^[source]	Soviet Union^[source]
In service	1943–present^[source]	1962–present^[source]
Used by	United States^[source]	—
Wars

Designed	1941^[source]	—

Produced	1943–1945^[source]	—

No. built	2,580^[source]	—

Shell	105 × 372 mm R^[source]	—

Shell weight	36 lb 10 oz – 43 lb 3 oz (16.6–19.6 kg)^[source]	—

Breech	Horizontal-block^[source]	Interrupted screw^[source]

Recoil	Hydro-pneumatic , constant^[source]	None^[source]

Carriage	Split trail^[source]	Tripod^[source]

Elevation	−9° to 30°^[source]	+7°/−3°^[source]

Traverse	45°^[source]	30° total^[source]

Source measurement	The 105 mm Howitzer M3 was a U.S. light howitzer designed for use by airborne troops. The gun utilized the barrel of the 105 mm Howitzer M2 , shortened and fitted to a slightly modified split trail carriage of the 75 mm pack howitzer .^[source]M3 howitzer · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The process of building airborne forces in 1941 led to a requirement for an air-portable 105 mm howitzer. The weapon, initially designated T7, featured a barrel from the 105mm Howitzer M2 , shortened by 27 inches (690 mm) and combined with the recoil system and carriage from the 75 mm pack howitzer . A prototype reached trials at Aberdeen Proving Ground in March 1942.^[source]M3 howitzer · Development and production; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The howitzer was designed to fire the same ammunition as the M2 howitzer, however, it was found that the shorter barrel resulted in incomplete burning of the propelling charge. The problem could be solved by use of faster-burning powder, and otherwise, the design was considered acceptable and was standardized as the 105 mm Howitzer M3 on Carriage M3 . The carriage was soon succeeded by the M3A1, which had trails made from thicker steel plate. Even stronger tubular trails were designed, but never reached production.^[source]M3 howitzer · Development and production; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Even though the M3 was not mentioned in the February 1944 T/O&E, shortly before the Normandy airdrops some airborne divisions received a 105 mm glider field artillery battalion equipped with them as a supplement to their existing three 75 mm howitzer battalions (designated the M1A1 during World War II). 1/4 ton jeeps were used as prime movers . Later increased to four battalions, one, between 1943 and 1945, was converted to 105mm M3. The weapon was finally authorized as an option by the December 1944 TO&E, and by 1945 was employed by all airborne divisions in the European Theater .^[source]M3 howitzer · Service; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The initial production of the M3 was adequate to equip the cannon companies of the three hundred infantry regiments that had been forecast in the initial war plans. The M3 was the primary weapon of these companies, and appeared in the table of organization and equipment (T/O&E) from early 1944 (six, in three platoons of two) Often the cannon companies were integrated into the division artillery. The infantry used 1½ ton cargo trucks as the prime mover. In an assessment written after the war "The cannon company of 1943-45 failed to live up to the expectations of the force designers of 1942. The main problem was the substitution of towed low-velocity howitzers for the self-propelled versions as originally intended. This howitzer, the M3, had a shorter barrel than the regular 105-mm howitzer M2, possessed no ballistic shield, and had an effective range of only 7,250 yards (6.63 km) as compared to 12,500 yards (11.4 km) for the M2."^[source]M3 howitzer · Service; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage T10 - variant with elevation increased to 65 degrees.^[source]M3 howitzer · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage M3 - based on M3A1 carriage for the 75 mm field howitzer.^[source]M3 howitzer · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage M3A1 - had stronger trails, made from 1 ⁄ 8 inch (3.2 mm) plate instead of 3 ⁄ 32 inch (2.4 mm).^[source]M3 howitzer · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T38 - based on the M3 halftrack , never built.^[source]M3 howitzer · Self-propelled mounts; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T82 (M3 in mount M3A1) - based on the Light Tank M5A1 chassis. Two pilots were built. The project was cancelled in June 1945 due to lack of requirement.^[source]M3 howitzer · Self-propelled mounts; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The gun fired semi-fixed ammunition, similar to the ammunition of the M2 ; it used the same projectiles and the same 105 mm Cartridge Case M14, but with different propelling charge. The latter used faster burning powder to avoid incomplete burning; it consisted of a base charge and four increments, forming five charges from 1 (the smallest) to 5 (the largest). In an emergency, gunners were authorized to fire M1 HE rounds prepared for the Howitzer M2, but only with charges from 1 to 3. M1 HE rounds for the M3 could be fired from an M2 with any charge.^[source]M3 howitzer · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	The SPG-9 Kop'yo ( Russian : СПГ-9 Копьё , transliterated: Stankovyi Protivotankovyi Granatomet "Kop'yo" - Easel Anti-tank Grenade Launcher "Spear") is a tripod-mounted man-portable, 73mm caliber recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union . It fires fin-stabilized, rocket-assisted high explosive (HE) and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge projectiles similar to those fired by the 73mm 2A28 Grom low pressure gun of the BMP-1 armored vehicle. It was accepted into service in 1962, replacing the B-10 recoilless rifle .^[source]SPG-9 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The projectile is launched from the gun by a small charge, which gives it an initial velocity of between 250–400 metres per second (820–1,310 ft/s). The launch charge also imparts spin to the projectile by a series of offset holes. Once the projectile has traveled approximately 20 metres (66 ft) from the launcher, a rocket motor in its base ignites. For the PG-9 projectile, this takes it to a velocity of 700 metres per second (2,300 ft/s) before the motor burns out.^[source]SPG-9 · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The SPG-9 is heavy, ~60 kilograms (130 lb), and normally transported by vehicle, and carried into position by its two person crew. It can be deployed in about a minute. The weapon is in service with a large number of armed forces, and a variety of ammunition is produced; however, they are mostly copies of the original Soviet PG-9 HEAT and OG-9 fragmentation high explosive (Frag-HE) rounds.^[source]SPG-9 · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

The 105 mm Howitzer M3 was a U.S. light howitzer designed for use by airborne troops. The gun utilized the barrel of the 105 mm Howitzer M2 , shortened and fitted to a slightly modified split trail carriage of the 75 mm pack howitzer .^[source]M3 howitzer · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The process of building airborne forces in 1941 led to a requirement for an air-portable 105 mm howitzer. The weapon, initially designated T7, featured a barrel from the 105mm Howitzer M2 , shortened by 27 inches (690 mm) and combined with the recoil system and carriage from the 75 mm pack howitzer . A prototype reached trials at Aberdeen Proving Ground in March 1942.^[source]M3 howitzer · Development and production; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The howitzer was designed to fire the same ammunition as the M2 howitzer, however, it was found that the shorter barrel resulted in incomplete burning of the propelling charge. The problem could be solved by use of faster-burning powder, and otherwise, the design was considered acceptable and was standardized as the 105 mm Howitzer M3 on Carriage M3 . The carriage was soon succeeded by the M3A1, which had trails made from thicker steel plate. Even stronger tubular trails were designed, but never reached production.^[source]M3 howitzer · Development and production; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Even though the M3 was not mentioned in the February 1944 T/O&E, shortly before the Normandy airdrops some airborne divisions received a 105 mm glider field artillery battalion equipped with them as a supplement to their existing three 75 mm howitzer battalions (designated the M1A1 during World War II). 1/4 ton jeeps were used as prime movers . Later increased to four battalions, one, between 1943 and 1945, was converted to 105mm M3. The weapon was finally authorized as an option by the December 1944 TO&E, and by 1945 was employed by all airborne divisions in the European Theater .^[source]M3 howitzer · Service; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The initial production of the M3 was adequate to equip the cannon companies of the three hundred infantry regiments that had been forecast in the initial war plans. The M3 was the primary weapon of these companies, and appeared in the table of organization and equipment (T/O&E) from early 1944 (six, in three platoons of two) Often the cannon companies were integrated into the division artillery. The infantry used 1½ ton cargo trucks as the prime mover. In an assessment written after the war "The cannon company of 1943-45 failed to live up to the expectations of the force designers of 1942. The main problem was the substitution of towed low-velocity howitzers for the self-propelled versions as originally intended. This howitzer, the M3, had a shorter barrel than the regular 105-mm howitzer M2, possessed no ballistic shield, and had an effective range of only 7,250 yards (6.63 km) as compared to 12,500 yards (11.4 km) for the M2."^[source]M3 howitzer · Service; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

T10 - variant with elevation increased to 65 degrees.^[source]M3 howitzer · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

M3 - based on M3A1 carriage for the 75 mm field howitzer.^[source]M3 howitzer · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

M3A1 - had stronger trails, made from 1 ⁄ 8 inch (3.2 mm) plate instead of 3 ⁄ 32 inch (2.4 mm).^[source]M3 howitzer · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T38 - based on the M3 halftrack , never built.^[source]M3 howitzer · Self-propelled mounts; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T82 (M3 in mount M3A1) - based on the Light Tank M5A1 chassis. Two pilots were built. The project was cancelled in June 1945 due to lack of requirement.^[source]M3 howitzer · Self-propelled mounts; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The gun fired semi-fixed ammunition, similar to the ammunition of the M2 ; it used the same projectiles and the same 105 mm Cartridge Case M14, but with different propelling charge. The latter used faster burning powder to avoid incomplete burning; it consisted of a base charge and four increments, forming five charges from 1 (the smallest) to 5 (the largest). In an emergency, gunners were authorized to fire M1 HE rounds prepared for the Howitzer M2, but only with charges from 1 to 3. M1 HE rounds for the M3 could be fired from an M2 with any charge.^[source]M3 howitzer · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The SPG-9 Kop'yo ( Russian : СПГ-9 Копьё , transliterated: Stankovyi Protivotankovyi Granatomet "Kop'yo" - Easel Anti-tank Grenade Launcher "Spear") is a tripod-mounted man-portable, 73mm caliber recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union . It fires fin-stabilized, rocket-assisted high explosive (HE) and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge projectiles similar to those fired by the 73mm 2A28 Grom low pressure gun of the BMP-1 armored vehicle. It was accepted into service in 1962, replacing the B-10 recoilless rifle .^[source]SPG-9 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The projectile is launched from the gun by a small charge, which gives it an initial velocity of between 250–400 metres per second (820–1,310 ft/s). The launch charge also imparts spin to the projectile by a series of offset holes. Once the projectile has traveled approximately 20 metres (66 ft) from the launcher, a rocket motor in its base ignites. For the PG-9 projectile, this takes it to a velocity of 700 metres per second (2,300 ft/s) before the motor burns out.^[source]SPG-9 · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The SPG-9 is heavy, ~60 kilograms (130 lb), and normally transported by vehicle, and carried into position by its two person crew. It can be deployed in about a minute. The weapon is in service with a large number of armed forces, and a variety of ammunition is produced; however, they are mostly copies of the original Soviet PG-9 HEAT and OG-9 fragmentation high explosive (Frag-HE) rounds.^[source]SPG-9 · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Country of origin	United States^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 6, row 7, cell 4; revision 1372378584; retrieved 2026-10-02 United States^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 14, cell 3; revision 1376110979; retrieved 2026-10-01	—

Country of origin

United States^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 6, row 7, cell 4; revision 1372378584; retrieved 2026-10-02

United States^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 14, cell 3; revision 1376110979; retrieved 2026-10-01

—

Feed system	—	Manually breech-loaded^[source]

Sights	—	PGO-9 optical 4× sight or PGN-9 IR and passive night sight^[source]

Role	—	tripod-mounted man-portable, 73mm caliber recoilless gun^[source]

Reported operators	Reported operator · Argentina Reported operator · Brazil Reported operator · Dominican Republic Reported operator · France Reported operator · Mexico Reported operator · Philippines Reported operator · Republic of Korea Reported operator · South Vietnam Reported operator · United Kingdom Reported operator · United States	Reported operator · Afghanistan Reported operator · Bulgaria Reported operator · Central African Republic Reported operator · Cambodia Reported operator · Democratic Republic of the Congo Reported operator · Egypt Reported operator · Georgia Reported operator · East Germany Reported operator · Iran Reported operator · Iraq Reported operator · Kyrgyzstan Reported operator · Libya Reported operator · Mali Reported operator · Moldova Reported operator · Poland Reported operator · Romania Reported operator · Russia Reported operator · Rwanda Reported operator · Sudan Reported operator · South Sudan Reported operator · Ba'athist Syria Reported operator · Syria Reported operator · Ukraine Reported operator · Vietnam Reported operator · Turkmenistan