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M107 SPA

1962 COLD WAR SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY VIETNAM WAR

History

In addition to the legendary M110 self-propelled howitzer, the M107 was also developed. Both vehicles use the same five-wheel chassis and common component layout.

The difference lies in the choice of weapon - the M107 is equipped with a long-barreled 175mm howitzer, and the M110 is equipped with a short-barreled 203mm howitzer. The vehicles share the Detroit Diesel Model 8V71T 8-cylinder turbo diesel, and all aspects of its running gear are identical. The engine drives the drive sprocket at the front of the vehicle, which itself is mounted on the front (front right) to allow for the gun and appropriate mounting hardware to be mounted on the rear. The power unit is mated to an Allison XTG041102A cross-drive drivetrain and torsion bar suspension. Like the M110, the M107 required a standard crew of 5, with the artillery section operating in the open air section of the upper fuselage.

The driver is located on the left front of the hull.

The M107 joins the M110 as a completely new self-propelled artillery development, designed to replace older, obsolete and retired vehicles of similar mission ranges. The U.S. Army specified requirements for replacement, and further air transportation had to be carried out by the various Army transport aircraft in use at the time.

Pacific Car and Foundry is back with two SPA designs - the M107 and M110 - in the form of pilot vehicles. By using the same chassis, the vehicle can be interchanged with parts, which makes logical sense. Availability of repairs and spare parts will also be supported.

Pacific Car delivered the first M107s in 1962. The 31-ton system is armed with the M113 175mm gun. Mounting hardware allows an elevation range of +65 to -5 degrees, from the traverse of the rotating platform to 30 degrees left and right of center. Due to the long barrel, the maximum range is 25 miles.

While a crew of five is standard, eight auxiliary crew members follow in an M548 carrier vehicle with 175mm ammunition. When the M107 was ready to fire, a shovel was lowered at the rear of the fuselage to support the system against the effects of recoil.

Dimensions include length 21' 2", height 11' 5" and width 10' 4". Road speeds hit 50 mph on the road, and the vehicle has a range of up to 450 miles on internal fuel.

The M107 was introduced in time for combat with the US military during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Long barrels work well when trying to attack enemy troops from a distance without gaining a visual line of sight. The barrel caused excessive overhang in the front body of the vehicle, which proved to be a problem in transport. For convenience, the gun is pulled back a bit to reduce overhang, but it's still a problem. Regardless, its capabilities allow the M107 to fire a 175-pound projectile into a target area miles away, providing a great range for any commander who needs to overwhelm or disrupt enemy forces within range.

Compared to the M110, which was in production and in service at the same time, the M107 outperformed it, but lacked 203mm of firepower and overall accuracy. The M110 eventually replaced the M107 in the US Army and USMC in the late 1970s.

Many serviceable M107s were simply converted to M110s rather than scrapped due to the same car components between the two designs.

FMC Corporation and Bowen-McLaughlin-York made additional M107s. Operators outside the US become West Germany, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, Spain, UK and North Vietnam/Vietnam. The NVA captured existing examples in its conquest of the South. These are still kept in reserve by modern armies.

The Israelis used the M107 (as "Romanchi") against Egyptian and Syrian armies in the Yom Kippur War (1973). The Greek form was converted to the M110A2 standard, as was the Spanish Army version.