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M106
M106A1
M106A2

Armored Self-propelled 107mm Mortar Carrier M1061-4

M106: General
Date of first acceptance 1961 Total acceptances 860
Manufacturer FMC Corp. Crew 6 men
M106: Dimensions
Combat weight 25,700lbs
11,700kg		 Height over MG 98.25"
249.6cm
Maximum overall length 194"
493cm		 Width with baseplate and bridge 119.2"
302.8cm
Tread 85.0"
216cm		 Ground clearance 16.13"
40.97cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 8.2psi
.58kg/cm²
M106: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
107mm Mortar M30 Passenger compartment 93 rounds 1,600 mils
(775 mils left and 825 mils right;
manual)		 +1,125 mils to +740 mils
(manual)
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible on cupola mount 600 rounds 360°
(manual)		 +58° to -21°
(manual)
Aiming equipment
Sightunit M34A2 or M53 for gunner
Night vision
Infrared periscope M19 for driver
M106: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled 5083/5086 H32 aluminum armor
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 1.5"
3.8cm		 45°
Lower front 1.5"
3.8cm		 30°
Upper sides 1.75"
4.45cm		 0°
Lower sides 1.25"
3.18cm		 0°
Rear 1.5"
3.8cm		 9°
Ramp 1.5"
3.8cm		 8°
Top 1.5"
3.8cm		 90°
Floor 1.125"
2.858cm		 90°
M106: Automotive
Engine Chrysler 75M; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, vee gasoline
Horsepower Gross: 215@4,000rpm Torque Gross: 332 ft-lb@2,800rpm Fuel capacity 85gal
320L
Transmission Allison TX-200-2A, 4 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Steering DS200 controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Differential band
M106: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 5 individually sprung dual/track Flat track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
10-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track On first and last road wheels/track
M106: Track
T130E1
Center guide, single pin, steel with detachable rubber pad
Width 15"
38cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track Left side: 63
Right side: 64		 Ground contact length 105"
267cm
M106: Performance
Max level road speed 38mph
61kph		 Max water speed 3.5mph
5.6kph
Max trench 66"
170cm		 Max grade 60%
Max sideslope 30% Max vertical obstacle 24"
61cm
Min turning radius 12.8'
3.90m		 Max fording depth Floats
Cruising range ~212mi, roads
~341km, roads

The M106 was based on the M113 armored personnel carrier, with the mortar installed in the passenger compartment and firing to the rear. A baseplate and bridge were stowed on the vehicle's left rear side, allowing emplacement of the mortar away from the vehicle. A large circular folding roof hatch above the mortar replaced the rectangular cargo hatch of the personnel carrier and provided clearance when firing. Limit stops prevented the turntable from rotating past 650 mils left of center and 700 mils right of center; the remaining traverse was achieved by using the traverse of the standard mortar assembly. The elevation limit on the mortar was actually 5° beyond the scope of the firing table to account for the carrier being parked on a slope of up to 5°. The 107mm mortar M30 had originally been the 4.2" mortar M30, but was redesignated when the US Army adopted the metric system.

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Armored Self-propelled 107mm Mortar Carrier M106A11-2, 5

M106A1: General
Date of first acceptance September 1964 Total acceptances 1316
Manufacturer FMC Corp. Crew 6 men
M106A1: Dimensions
Combat weight 26,147lbs
11,860kg		 Height to top of MG pintle 86.5"
220cm
Maximum overall length 194"
493cm		 Maximum overall width 112.75"
286.39cm
Tread 85.0"
216cm		 Ground clearance 16.125"
40.958cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 8.3psi
.58kg/cm²
M106A1: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
107mm Mortar M30 Passenger compartment 88 rounds 1,600 mils
(775 mils left and 825 mils right;
manual)		 +1,125 mils to +740 mils
(manual)
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible on cupola mount 600 rounds 360°
(manual)		 Manual
Aiming equipment
Sightunit M34A2 or M53 for gunner
Night vision
Infrared periscope M19 for driver
M106A1: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled 5083/5086 H32 aluminum armor
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 1.5"
3.8cm		 45°
Lower front 1.5"
3.8cm		 30°
Upper sides 1.75"
4.45cm		 0°
Lower sides 1.25"
3.18cm		 0°
Rear 1.5"
3.8cm		 9°
Ramp 1.5"
3.8cm		 8°
Top 1.5"
3.8cm		 90°
Floor 1.125"
2.858cm		 90°
M106A1: Automotive
Engine General Motors 6V53; 6 cylinder, 2 cycle, vee diesel
Horsepower Gross: 212@2,800rpm Torque Gross: 492 ft-lb@1,300rpm Fuel capacity 95gal
360L
Transmission Allison TX-100, 3 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Steering DS200 controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Differential band
M106A1: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 5 individually sprung dual/track Flat track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
10-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track On first and last road wheels/track
M106A1: Track
T130E1
Center guide, single pin, steel with detachable rubber pad
Width 15"
38cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track Left side: 63
Right side: 64		 Ground contact length 105"
267cm
M106A1: Performance
Max level road speed 40mph
64kph		 Max water speed 3.0mph
4.8kph
Max trench 66"
170cm		 Max grade 60%
Max sideslope 30% Max vertical obstacle 24"
61cm
Min turning radius 12.8'
3.90m		 Max fording depth Floats
Cruising range ~300mi, roads
~480km, roads

The M106A1 was an M106 driven by the powerplant from the M113A1 APC, and the carrier vehicle also formed the basis of the M125A1 81mm self-propelled mortar. Ammunition stowage was modified to 88 rounds: 63 stowed on the right side in horizontal racks and 25 in vertical racks on the left side in front of the fuel compartment. A fuze rack on the fuel compartment wall stowed 72 fuzes, and a canister in each of the forward two right forward mortar ammunition stowage bins held eight additional fuzes.

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Armored Self-propelled 107mm Mortar Carrier M106A21

M106A2: General
Manufacturer FMC Corp. Crew 6 men
M106A2: Dimensions
Combat weight 26,910lbs
12,210kg		 Height over MG 99.25"
252.1cm
Length 194"
493cm		 Width 112.75"
286.39cm
Tread 85.0"
216cm		 Ground clearance 17.1"
43.4cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 8.5psi
.60kg/cm²
M106A2: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
107mm Mortar M30 Passenger compartment 88 rounds 90°
(manual)		 +85° to +45°
(manual)
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible on cupola mount 600 rounds 360°
(manual)		 Manual
Night vision
Infrared periscope M19 for driver
M106A2: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled 5083/5086 H32 aluminum armor
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 1.5"
3.8cm		 45°
Lower front 1.5"
3.8cm		 30°
Upper sides 1.75"
4.45cm		 0°
Lower sides 1.25"
3.18cm		 0°
Rear 1.5"
3.8cm		 9°
Ramp 1.5"
3.8cm		 8°
Top 1.5"
3.8cm		 90°
Floor 1.125"
2.858cm		 90°
M106A2: Automotive
Engine General Motors 6V53; 6 cylinder, 2 cycle, vee diesel
Horsepower Gross: 212@2,800rpm Torque Gross: 492 ft-lb@1,300rpm Fuel capacity 95gal
360L
Transmission Allison TX-100, 3 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Steering DS200 controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Differential band
M106A2: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 5 individually sprung dual/track Flat track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
10-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track On first, second, and last road wheels/track
M106A2: Track
T130E1
Center guide, single pin, steel with detachable rubber pad
Width 15"
38cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track Left side: 63
Right side: 64		 Ground contact length 105"
267cm
T150
Center guide, double pin, steel with chevron rubber pad
Width 14.81"
37.62cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track Left side: 63
Right side: 64		 Ground contact length 105"
267cm
M106A2: Performance
Max level road speed 40mph
64kph		 Max water speed 3.6mph
5.8kph
Max trench 66"
170cm		 Max grade 60%
Max sideslope 30% Max vertical obstacle 24"
61cm
Min turning diameter 26'
7.9m		 Max fording depth Floats
Cruising range ~300mi, roads
~480km, roads

M106A2 incorporated the improved suspension and engine cooling of the M113A2.

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Bradley: A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1999. Reprinted with permission from Bradley, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1999, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
  2. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
  3. TM 9-2300-224-10 Operator's Manual Carrier, Full Tracked, Armored: M113 2350-629-1294 (formerly 2320-629-1294); Carrier, Command Post, Light, Tracked: M577 2350-856-6624 (formerly 2320-856-6624); Carrier, Mortar, 107-mm, Self-propelled: M106 2350-987-8900; Carrier, Flame Thrower, Self-propelled: M132 2350-987-8900; Recovery Vehicle, Full Tracked, Light Armored: XM806 2350-808-6119. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 15 June 1973.
  4. Federation of American Scientists. "M1064A3 Self-propelled 120mm Mortar / M106 Self-propelled 107mm Mortar." DOD 101. 22 Feb 2000. 19 May 2001 <http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m1064.htm>. DOD 101
  5. TM 9-2300-257-10 Operator's Manual Carrier, Personnel, Full Tracked, Armored, M113A1 2350-968-6321; Carrier, Command Post, Light, Tracked, M577A1 2350-056-6808; Carrier, Mortar, 107-mm, Self-propelled, M106A1 2350-076-9002; Carrier, Mortar, 81-mm, Self-propelled, M125A1 2350-071-0732; Carrier, Flame Thrower, Self-propelled, M132A1 2350-056-6809; Recovery Vehicle, Full Tracked, Light Armored: XM806E1 2350-808-6104. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 18 December 1973.
Last updated 27 Jyu 2024.
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© Copyright 2001-24 Chris Conners