Whose Name We Share

116 M2A2 Howitzer The first of the American suite of guns the Battery would go on to operate, the M2A2 was the standard gun of the Vietnam era and has served faithfully for over 60 years. Its unmistakable visage is plastered across many news articles, stories and videos as its service continues even today as the gun of choice for salute firing. Although 103 primarily used the L5 during their rotations through South Vietnam, the M2A2 still sees extensive use in Australia. Manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal, the M2A2’s design stems from the captured 105mm German guns in the First World War, where the US Ordnance Department created the M1. This was designed to be drawn on horseback and it wouldn’t be until World War II when the M2 was created, where the main development was its adaption for mechanisation. Armed with 105mm semi-fixed rounds, the gun held a good reputation as a reliable piece, shooting up to 12km at a decent 472m/s. Unlike the L5, the M2A2 was designed to be as sturdy as possible, trading off mobility for the pure robustness needed for sustained operations. The ammunition accompanying the M2A2 became the standardised suite for many armies across the globe and featured a seven charge increment for versatility.