M101A1 American 105mm Towed Howitzer

M101A1 – upgraded version, introduced in 1964. It has a modified carriage with a different shield. The M101A1 105mm Light Howitzer, Towed is a general purpose, light field artillery weapon consisting of a cannon, 105mm howitzer (M2A2); recoil mechanism, M2 series; and carriage, 105mm Howitzer, M2A2. It can be used for direct or indirect fire. The cannon consists of a tube assembly, a breech ring, and a locking ring. The cannon is mounted on the recoil sleigh assembly. The firing mechanism is a continuous pull (self cocking) type activated by pulling a lanyard. The cannon is single-loaded, air-cooled, and uses semi-fixed ammunition. The carriage is of the single axle and split trail type. The trails are divided at emplacement but are drawn together and locked during travel. A drawbar is provided for securing a prime mover. The carriage consists of an equilibrator, shield, elevating mechanism, cradle, gear, elevating arcs, traversing mechanism, top carriage, wheels, and trails. The recoil mechanism is a constant hydropneumatic type shock absorber that decreases the energy of the recoil gradually and so avoids violent movement of the cannon or carriage. It is installed in the cradle of the carriage.