m101 (3+)

The M101 is a 105 mm towed howitzer that served as the standard light field artillery piece for the United States Army and Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War. It was widely exported and remains in service with many countries worldwide due to its robust design and reliability.

Developed during the interwar period to replace World War I-era French 75mm guns with a harder-hitting caliber, the howitzer entered mass production in 1941 as the M2A1. Beyond its early mid-century deployments, the weapon saw extensive action during the Vietnam War, where its relatively light weight allowed it to be easily airlifted by helicopters to remote fire support bases. Although phased out of front-line U.S. service in the late 20th century, many international operators modernized the platform with longer 33-caliber barrels to extend its range. Today, modernized variants continue to serve in secondary roles, training, and avalanche control, cementing its legacy as one of the most successful artillery designs of the 20th century.