M106 mortar carrier

M106 mortar carrier
Two M106s during the Vietnam War
General properties
crew	6 (commander, driver, ammunition and loaders)
length	4.93 m
width	2.86 m
height	2.52 m
Dimensions	12.21 tons (combat weight)
Armor and armament
Armor	38 mm frontal armor
Main armament	1 × 107 mm mortar
Secondary armament	1 × 12.7 mm machine gun M2HB; Smoke throwing system
agility
drive	General Motors 6V53, 6-cylinder, two-stroke diesel engine 212 HP (158 kW)
suspension	Torsion bar
Top speed	64 km / h
Power / weight
Range	approx. 480 km (road)

The M106 mortar carrier is in the 1960s in the United States developed armored mortar based on a modified M113 chassis. The system was developed by the US group FMC Corporation .

development

The M106 tank mortar, which was introduced into the US Army in 1961, was based on the M113 armored personnel carrier. The mortar was built into the interior and fired backwards. The base plate and the earth spur were stowed on the left side of the vehicle and allowed the crew to set up and use the mortar outside of the M113. To fire from the M113, the centrally split roof hatch was folded down on both sides. The 304 kg 107 mm M30 mortar can fire spin stabilized grenades. The US armed forces used a 12.7 mm machine gun of the M2HB type as secondary armament . The first combat use of an M106 took place in the Vietnam War .

variants

• M106A1: The changes in the first revised version mainly related to the modernized base vehicle M113A1. The M106A1 was first adopted into the US Army in September 1964. A total of 1316 were built.
• M106A2: Based on the M113A2.
• M1064: Based on the M106A2 with a 120 mm mortar and external fuel tanks.
• M1064A3: Improved M1064, equipped with the RISE powerpack.
• M125: The M125A1 was based on the M113A1 and shared the same technical characteristics as the M106A1 armored mortar, as the 81mm mortar and the 107mm mortar were interchangeable. The M125A2 was based on the M113A2. The original variant, M125, based on the M113, was not produced in series.

Users

Dutch M106A1

•  Argentina : 38 units (used) received in 2000.
•  Egypt : approx. 100 M106A1 / A2 in the years 1979/1982 and 1996/1997, partly used, preserved.
•  Germany : unknown numbers obtained in the 1960s and 1970s.
•  Greece : 114 units (partly used) received between 2000 and 2002.
•  Israel : approx. 200 units received used.
•  Italy : unknown number purchased.
•  Jordan : 50 units (used) received in 1999/2000.
•  Lebanon : Five units supplied by the USA in 1997/1998. It was a used M106.
•  Morocco : 36 units (used) received in 2000.
•  Netherlands : 53 units received in 1965/1966.
• Northern Yemen : Received 12 from the US in 1979.
•  Norway : 28 units bought from the USA in 1966/1967.
•  Peru : 24 units bought from the USA from 1974 to 1976.
•  Portugal : 10 + 8 used units received.
•  Saudi Arabia : unknown number bought by the US in the 1980s.
•  Switzerland : unknown number bought from the USA in the 1960s and 1970s.
•  Taiwan : 90 units received in 1984/1986.
•  Thailand : 12 M106 / A3s used in 1995/1997.

See also

• M113 anti-tank mortar 120 mm

Web links

Commons : M106 mortar carriers  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• FAS.org - M106 mortar carriers (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Armored Self-propelled 107mm Mortar Carrier M106A2 (English)
2. ↑ Document of the US Armed Forces (PDF file, English)
3. ↑ ^{a b} Armored Self-propelled 120mm Mortar Carrier M1064 (English)
4. ↑ Armored Self-propelled 81mm Mortar Carrier M125A2 (English)
5. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r} SIPRI - Trade Registers USA (English)