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ORDNANCE INFORMATION SHEET
ALL UXO MAY BE HAZARDOUS IF DISTURBED
DO NOT TOUCH – TAKE A PHOTO – MARK THE LOCATION – CALL THE POLICE
PROJECTILE – 105MM
Description
The 105mm Howitzer (M2, M101) was the standard light field artillery gun for US Forces in WW2 and
was extensively used by the US in Australia and the Pacific. Variations of the 105mm Howitzer have
been developed including the M102 (mid-1960s), the UK L118/US M118 Light Gun (1970's) and the
UK L119/US M119 (c. 1989). The L118 variant was manufactured in Australia in the 1990's as the
Hamel gun and the L119 is currently used by Australian forces. M2A2/L5 Pack Howitzers were also
used by Australian forces during the Malay Emergency and the Vietnam War. The Leopard AS1 Tank
also uses a 105mm gun as its main armament.
Many variants of the 105mm projectile were produced including the following:
o High Explosive (HE) - contains a nose fuse and TNT high explosive.
o High Explosive, Anti-Tank (HEAT) – contains a base fuze and Pentolite high explosive.
o Chemical (Chem) - fitted with a fuze and burster charge; filled with a toxic agent (usually
Mustard Gas).
o Smoke (Smk) – either White Phosphorus (WP) or Hexachlorethane (HC); base ejection and
burster types used.
o Shrapnel /Canister (Shrap/Can) - consists of lead balls and a bursting/propelling charge.
o Anti-Personnel, Tracer (APERS-T) - Flechette, used during the Vietnam War. Similar to the
canister, but uses 8000 small flechettes as shrapnel.
o Illumination (Illum) – normally a base ejection projectile containing a parachute flare.
o Practice (Prac) - M3 howitzer only – 127 g of black powder and 1.37 kg of inert material.
Unexploded items of this type are most often found in/near areas used by the Army for artillery
practices - typically on the ground surface up to 1.5m deep. Dumped items may occasionally also be
found offshore.
Technical Data
Munition length : approx. 830-950 mm
Projectile length : approx. 380-420 mm
Projectile diameter : approx. 105 mm
Total weight : Projectile - approx 13.0-15.5 kg
Fuse/Burster : Frequently contain an explosive fuse & burster/base ejection charge.
Super-quick or delay fuses were used.
Filling : varied between 65-750 grams of high explosive (TNT, Dunnite, Explosive D)
depending on munition.
Identification : Normally cast iron/steel. Hazardous variants of the projectile are often
painted yellow, green, black or grey with bands of yellow, red, green or blue. Caution – this munition
has been widely used by various countries over a long period of time - other colours may have
been used or colours may have faded over time. Treat all found munitions as dangerous.
The information in this document is provided for interest only, it is not to be used or relied on for any other
purpose. Further information on UXO can be found at: http://www.defence.gov.au/uxo
© Department of Defence 2015 Rev 01. Dated Mar 2015
Images
Figure 1 - 105mm projectiles made at the St Mary's Ammunition Factory (Sydney).
LtoR: Smk (WP), Illum, Prac, Smoke (HC) and HE. Foreground – 105mm cartridge. (AWM ID P05173.002)
Figure 2 - A 105mm artillery shell being rammed into the Figure 3 - Various 105mm projectiles used during the
breech by Australian artillery gunners - Vietnam, 1967 Vietnam War. LtoR: Anti Personnel (Flechette); High
(AWM ID COL/67/1122/VN)
Explosive; Parachute Flare, Smoke (WP)
(AWM ID P01636.017)
Figure 5 - Expended 105mm Smoke showing
expended smoke pots.
Figure 4 - Unexploded 105mm HE projectile found in the
Rockhampton area, QLD.
The information in this document is provided for interest only, it is not to be used or relied on for any other
purpose. Further information on UXO can be found at: http://www.defence.gov.au/uxo
© Department of Defence 2015 Rev 01. Dated Mar 2015
