Looking back on the XM204 Swamp Howitzer
Mark Struve over at the U.S. Army Sustainment Command delves into the time the Army wanted a pair of 105mm and 155mm howitzers capable of being used in swampy ground that was the consistency of bubble gum. These would be CH-47 capable, with two carried per lift.
An artist’s rendering of the XM204 howitzer. The XM204 was designed to replace both the M101 and M102 howitzer. The XM204 was designed with two artillery size variants: 105- and 155-mm.
The XM204 underwent a large amount of testing. This took place on the ground and in the air. As one of the first soft-recoil systems, it was a prime candidate for airborne deployment.
Concept of a CH-47 in a gunship configuration for airborne artillery support. This drawing shows the carriage being stowed within the helicopter, allowing both XM204s on the winglets to be removed, placed on their carriages, and then ready to use on the ground.
The year was 1966, and for several years the Soldiers in Vietnam had been using the same howitzer that their fathers had used in World War II. The M101 (known in World War II as the M2) was a 105-mm howitzer that was known for its accuracy and destructive power. So, why, in the middle of a war in the jungle, was the Army changing these well-known and tried-and-true fire-breathing monsters with a lighter M102?
More here.