M109 in the Swiss Armed Forces

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The M109, a widely used American howitzer, has been operated by the Swiss Armed Forces since 1971. Under Swiss operation, the M109 has received numerous modernisations, though it is gradually being phased out of service, as its service life is approaching its end. [1]

Contents

Panzerkanone 68 next to M109 M109 und Pzkanone68.JPG
Panzerkanone 68 next to M109

History

During the 1950s, the Swiss Army considered the development of a local self-propelled howitzer. The Eidgenoessische Konstruktionswerkstaette was commissioned to study this possibility.

In 1966, development began on a system based on the Panzer 61 chassis, which would use the 15.5 cm L/42 cannon, have a range of up to 30 km, and fire up to 6 rounds per minute with an automatic loading system. Four systems were manufactured before the program was suspended due to technical difficulties and financial considerations. [2] The M109 was then selected as the future self-propelled howitzer of the Swiss Army.

Orders and modernisations

Over time, a total of 581 M109 were ordered, and today, 133 M-109 KAWEST WE are in service

Batch 1

146 Pz Hb 66("15.5 cm Panzerhaubitze 66"), purchased with the armament program 1968, and introduced from 1971. This first batch is made of the first generation of M109 with a L-23 calibre cannon. [3]

Batch 2

120 Pz Hb 74("15.5 cm Panzerhaubitze 74") purchased with the armament program RP 74, and introduced from 1974 to 1978.This batch is made of the M109A1B with a L-39 calibre cannon. All were retired by 2003. [6]

Batch 3

207 Pz Hb 79("15.5 cm Panzerhaubitze 79") purchased with the armament program RP 79, introduction from 1981 to 1983. This batch is made of the M109A1B with a L-39 calibre cannon. 182 were retired by 2003. [7]

Batch 4

108 Pz Hb 88("15.5 cm Panzerhaubitze 88") purchased with the armament program RP 88, introduction from 1991 to 1992. This batch is made of the M109A1B with a L-39 calibre cannon. [10]

Status of the Swiss M109

In use in the Swiss Army as of 2023

133 Pz Hb KAWEST WE are in use, 90 used in five artillery divisions, and 43 used in basic training, [12] 62 were sold to other countries, and few variants remain in museums.

Retired

Sold to other countries

Replacement

The armament program "Artillerie Wirkplattform und Wirkmittel 2026" for the replacement of the M109 KAWEST WE is ongoing.

Two systems were shortlisted in 2022, the BAE Archer and the RCH 155 as indicated in the table below.

Potential equipmentImageOriginVehicle baseQuantityCalibreIn service from
Archer Artcher commons.JPG Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Rheinmetall HX2
(8×8)
Not public 155 mm
L/52
Around

2028
-
2030

RCH 155 KMW-RCH155-02.jpg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Boxer
(8×8)
Not public 155 mm
L/52
Around

2028
-
2030

Piranha 10x10 RCH 155.png Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Piranha IV
(10×10)

The trials are planned for 2023–2024, and the selection for the successor will take place in 2025. The new self-propelled howitzer should be financed with the Armament Program 2026. [19] The successor should be in service by the beginning of the 2030s.

References

Sources

  1. "Switzerland is Near Selecting the Next Howitzer". Turdef. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  2. "15,5 cm Art Pz Kanone 68 - Panzerkanonen - Raupenfahrzeuge". Militärfahrzeuge. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  3. "Panzerhaubitze 66 M-109 / L-2315,5 cm Pz Hb 66 - Panzerhaubitzen - Raupenfahrzeuge". Militärfahrzeuge. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  4. "Panzerhaubitze 66/74 M-109 / L-39Pz Hb 66/74 - Panzerhaubitzen - Raupenfahrzeuge | militärfahrzeuge.ch". militaerfahrzeuge.ch. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  5. "Panzerhaubitze 66/74 M-109 / L-39 SELANPz Hb 66/74 SELAN - Panzerhaubitzen - Raupenfahrzeuge | militärfahrzeuge.ch". militaerfahrzeuge.ch. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  6. 1 2 "Panzerhaubitze 74 M-109A1B/ L-39Pz Hb 74 M-109 - Panzerhaubitzen - Raupenfahrzeuge | militärfahrzeuge.ch". militaerfahrzeuge.ch. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  7. 1 2 "Panzerhaubitze 79 M-109A1B / L-39Pz Hb 79 M-109 - Panzerhaubitzen - Raupenfahrzeuge | militärfahrzeuge.ch". militaerfahrzeuge.ch. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  8. 1 2 "Botschaft über die Beschaffung von Armeematerial (Rüstungsprogramm 1995) - Page 52". 13 March 1995.
  9. 1 2 "Panzerhaubitze M-109A1B KAWEST WEPz Hb M-109 KAWEST WE - Panzerhaubitzen - Raupenfahrzeuge | militärfahrzeuge.ch". militaerfahrzeuge.ch. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  10. "Panzerhaubitze 88 M-109A1B / L-39Pz Hb 88 M-109 - Panzerhaubitzen - Raupenfahrzeuge | militärfahrzeuge.ch". militaerfahrzeuge.ch. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  11. "Panzerhaubitze 74/95, 79/95, 88/95 M-109A1B / L-47, 15,5 cm Pz Hb KAWEST L47 - Panzerhaubitzen - Raupenfahrzeuge | militärfahrzeuge.ch". militaerfahrzeuge.ch. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  12. Walter Christian Håland: 50 Jahre Panzerhaubitze M109 im Dienst Norwegens: was folgt danach? Allgemeine Schweizerische Militärzeitschrift (ASMZ) Ausgabe 183/2017. S. 24–27
  13. "English – Militär- und Festungsmuseum Full-Reuenthal" (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  14. 1 2 "Geschäft Ansehen". Federal Assembly . Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  15. "L'armée suisse a mis hors-service 220 véhicules militaires". SWI swissinfo.ch (in French). 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  16. "Geschäft Ansehen". Federal Assembly . Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  17. "Chars suisses au Maroc: le DDPS savait - Le Temps" (in French). 2005-09-03. ISSN   1423-3967 . Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  18. "Acheteurs pour des armements excédentaires". www.admin.ch. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  19. "Armée suisse". Armée suisse (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-28.

Further reading