Military Power

The M110A2 is a heavy self-propelled artillery piece designed to provide general artillery support to ground troops and close general support to armored columns, and was built in the early 1960's. It is highly mobile and maneuverable, and can be airlifted in large cargo aircraft. The gun is an 8" Howitzer traversing in it's own mount at the rear of the vehicle. The large spade at the rear is required for the massive recoil. It is hydraulically raised and lowered, and keeps the vehicle in place when the gun is fired.

The M110A2 is the latest version with double muzzle brake, the earlier A1 version had a plain muzzle. It first entered service with the US Army in 1963. It has been used in the Vietnam War by the United States Army, and in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm by the United States Army, and the British Army.

With a range of 20 miles, it has pinpoint accuracy. Being mounted on a tracked chassis allows it to support infantry or armor in nearly all terrain conditions. Ammunition includes standard high explosives, bomblets and high explosive rockets.

The gun system has been retired from US Army service and the gun barrels have been used as the outer casing in the manufacture of the GBU-28 bunker buster bomb.

The heritage of the M110 goes back to the British 8 inch howitzer of World War I. A number of these were used by the American Forces and the design used as the basis for their howitzer.

Goliath wrote:
The M110A2 is the latest version with double muzzle brake, the earlier A1 version had a plain muzzle. It first entered service with the US Army in 1963.

The M110A2 was actually standardized in 1978. It differed from the M110A1 (which entered service in January 1977) by having a muzzle brake fitted so that it could fire a heavier charge than the M110A1.

(Siource: U.S Combat (Publications International Ltd, 1990)