M101 howitzer

M101 105mm Light Howitzer, Towed
United States Marines fire a M101A1 during a ceremony in 2005
Type	Howitzer
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1941–present
Wars	List of Conflicts World War II Chinese Civil War Korean War First Indochina War Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Football War Insurgency in the Philippines Rhodesian Bush War Iran–Iraq War Lebanese Civil War Nicaraguan Revolution Salvadoran Civil War Yugoslav Wars Battle of Marawi Russo-Ukrainian War Yemeni Civil War
Production history
Manufacturer	Rock Island Arsenal Kia Machine Tool
Produced	1941–1953
No. built	10,200
Specifications
Mass	4,980 lb (2,260 kg)
Length	19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Barrel length	7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) L/22
Width	7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Shell	105×372 mm R
Caliber	105 mm (4.1 in)
Breech	Horizontal-block
Recoil	Hydro-pneumatic, constant, 42 in (110 cm)
Carriage	split trail
Elevation	−5° (−89 mils) to 65° (1,156 mils)
Traverse	±23° (±409 mils)
Muzzle velocity	1,550 ft/s (472 m/s)
Maximum firing range	7.00 mi (11,270 m)

The M101A1 (previously designated M2A1) howitzer is an artillery piece developed and used by the United States. It was the standard U.S. light field howitzer in World War II and saw action in both the European and Pacific theaters and during the Korean War. Entering production in 1941, it quickly gained a reputation for accuracy and a powerful punch. The M101A1 fires 105 mm high explosive (HE) semi-fixed ammunition and has a range of 12,330 yards (11,270 m), making it suitable for supporting infantry.