TM-9-2350-311-10
HOWITZER, MEDIUM, SELF-PROPELLED, 155MM; M109A2, M109A3, M109A4 AND M109A5
TECHNICAL MANUAL; OPERATOR’S MANUAL
NOVEMBER 1994
TM-9-2350-311-10 - Page 602 of 775
TM 9--2350--311--10
5--66
Change 5
5--8
LOADING AND FIRING
The chief-of-section must ensure that the following duties and actions are accomplished by the crew on each and
every round loaded and fired from the cannon tube.
WARNING
•
Observe all precautions in AR 385--63, FM 6--40, and FM 6--50, particularly limitations
regarding overhead fire in training and combat to prevent injury to personnel.
•
Do not load or fire artillery ammunition without the authorized fuze to prevent death or
injury to personnel. Firing of such rounds without fuzes or with an unauthorized fuze
could result in inbore prematures and other hazardous conditions.
•
Do not load or fire round if the fuze is not fully seated to prevent death or injury to
personnel.
•
Firing the M557, M572, and M564 fuzes during heavy precipitation (heavy rainfall, sleet,
snow, or hail) may result in occasional downrange prematures causing injury to
personnel. The amount of precipitation necessary to cause functioning is comparable to
the heavy downpour which occurs during a summer thunderstorm.
•
Do not fire M110 series WP projectiles which are known to have been stored in other
than the base down position. Firing of such projectiles could contribute to inbore
prematures or close-in premature malfunctions resulting in death or injury to personnel.
•
Do not fire proximity-fuzed ammunition at targets closer than 765.53 yards (750 m) to
friendly troops to prevent injury to personnel.
•
Firing the M100 series, M485, or M804/M804A1 projectiles at charge 2 may
occasionally result in stickers causing death or injury to personnel.
•
Do not fire the M483A1, M692, M731, M718, M718A1, M741, M741A1, M825, M687, or
M864 projectiles below charge 3. Firing below charge 3 may result in stickers causing
death or injury to personnel.
•
MK399 MOD 1 fuzes in the delay mode perform more effectively if the angle of attack
(angle between the round and the perpendicular of the target) is less than 45 degrees.
Angles of attack higher than 45 degrees will result in decreased effectiveness and
increase the likelihood of unexploded ordinance in the battlefield.
•
If a projectile fired with MK399 MOD 1 fuze impacts a substantial object, a higher order
detonation may occur even if the object is within the 400 caliber minimum firing
distance, which could result in damage to the weapon and/or death or serious injury to
unprotected crew members.
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