The M102A1 howitzer was the main light towed howitzer of the US military (mainly Army, USMC kept the M101A1 as their light howitzer) post Vietnam up through the early '90s when it was replaced by the M119 105mm howitzer. It was a little different and had an added triangle piece just in front of the recoil cylinder on top of the barrel. It is an additional recoil part that reduced recoil further. This piece is also in the AFV Club kit and it can be built either as a Vietnam M102 howitzer or a later M102A1.

You can see the added part well in the below Desert Storm pic.


It was used by all US Army light units. Like stated in your earlier post, the M35 was originally the prime mover for it until the HMMWV was fielded in the early '80s. At that time, the HMMWV became its prime mover. They were organized in 8 gun batteries with two 4 gun platoons. Usually, the battery stayed together and moved from firing point to firing point as a unit in convoy. They could also be moved by air for a raid forward of the US line of troops.

A few examples.

Granada, 82d ABN, '83. These are still M102s w/out the added recoil part. In the mid-late '80s, the M102A1 was fielded.





82d ABN training, '89. These are all M102A1s with the added recoil part.





Operation Desert Storm, '91

Great info as always Mike. Thanks for the assist. M102's were pretty much gone by the time I came on active duty in '94. There were a couple M102s as salute guns at Ft Hood and Ft Stewart. We trained with M119s at OBC.

I seem to remember that they were towed by M561 Gama Goats.

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Great info as always Mike. Thanks for the assist. M102's were pretty much gone by the time I came on active duty in '94. There were a couple M102s as salute guns at Ft Hood and Ft Stewart. We trained with M119s at OBC.

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Mike I think that means you're "senior" redleg LOL

The M102 were also used by Light Infantry Divisions like the 25th ID. and the 29th Inf Bde in Hawaii. I seem to remember that they were towed by M561 Gama Goats.

Grant