Hi guys,

Does the US army uses a training vehicle for the M109 as can be seen in some countries ?
I mean the one without the turret but instead of that a smaller turret with windows.

Gé

Never seen one in the US Army.

If Gino hasn't seen one, who has !!!! LOL !!!.
That man must have seen it all !!

Gino, TIA !!!!

Gé

There are Driver Training Vehicles based on The Leopard & Challenger, to train drivers...

Artillery training is to train the Crew!
The US Army uses the Fire Support Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (FSCATT) in two versions for initial and sustainment training of the M109A6 and M109A5. The system uses an actual surplus turret and a simulated ammunition system

The M109 Chassis was the basis for the The M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle (FAASV)
Kinetic, Afv Club & Riich ave announced a kit, & Gino did a very nice conversion

Hi Jon,

Yes, i have seen Gino's M992. I myself built one some years ago ( see my pictures )
But i was wondering about that M109, since I have one in surplus in my stash.
Thinking about how to use it, to convert it into something else than an m109 used by the US Army.

Thanks anyway !

Gé

EDIT:
According to Google: There is this Greek example, and Jordanian example

Hi Jon,

I only built US Army since years.
Otherwise i will never get rid of my stash !!! LOL

Gé

What about a VISMOD Shilka ?





H.P.

Hi Frenchy,

Good idea !!...
Just scrath that radar and find some 30 mm barrels !!!

Gé

Shilka uses 23 mm barrels. And replacement barrels are available from RB Model.
http://www.rbmodel.com/picture.php?dir=35B29

H.H,
23mm---30 mm, who will see the difference in 1/35 ??
LOL !!!

But thanks anyway !

Gé

This looks like something that is used at the NTC in California, of the OPFOR training. I have seen some other American vehicles turned in to "Russian".

Question is, is that based on an M109 hull or an M108??

Here's a larger version of the first "Shilka" picture I've posted :

http://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/files/BEMIL085/upload/2006/09/m109_zsu23_4_001.jpg

More views :



Full size



H.P.

I learned to drive on the m108. Same hull as the m109 of course. Even then, the m108 was on the way out. I learned to shoot on the m109. Even though I shot both SPG's.

There was nothing to learn on. Ideally the m108 without a turret would have been near perfect. That way the drill Sargent would be standing right over the driver. The next issue with training on the 109 is the shooting drill. You simply can't do a dummy round with hydraulic loader. On a towed gun it's easy. No fun punching a round out of the barrel, but you need to learn how.
gary

Bought myself an Italeri M-108 on the Internet and some RB-models 23mm barrels to convert it to the Vismod model as shown.
Just have to scratchbuild the radar.

Thanks for all the input.

Gé

Keep us up to date on this build, I will be following it.

I know they did have a crew station simulator, one for the gun crews to practice procedures in... They had two of them in a garage at the base I am stationed at... sadly, they took them out and got rid of them about 5 years ago when the M-109s were sent away and self propelled heavy artillery in the MA National Guard to my knowlege is now a thing of the past