105mm M101 TOWED

The M101 Howitzer is a 105mm towed field howitzer developed and used by the United States Army during World War II and the Korean War. It was widely exported and remained in service with many countries for decades due to its robust design and effectiveness.

Designed in the interwar period to replace World War I-era light artillery, the weapon was developed to provide infantry divisions with a more powerful, longer-range high-explosive capability. It officially entered production in 1941 as the M2A1, quickly becoming the standard light field howitzer for the U.S. military. Beyond its extensive mid-century deployments, the howitzer played a crucial fire-support role during the Vietnam War, where it was frequently airlifted by helicopters to remote firebases. While phased out of front-line U.S. combat service by the late 20th century, the M101 remains in active use with several foreign militaries and is still employed domestically for avalanche control and ceremonial salutes.