Projectile, 155 mm: HE, M107

handling; the plug can be replaced before firing by a wide range of standard and commercial fuzes. The 155 mm HE M107 filling may be either 6.62 kg of cast TNT or 6.985 kg of Composition B; 155 mm HE M107 projectiles manufactured in the USA since 1977 have been filled only with TNT. A TNT-filled 155 mm HE M107 will produce approximately 1,950 fragments on detonation. In 1944, a deep drilled cavity was introduced below the fuze well to accommodate the then new VT (proximity) fuzes. This cavity is now normally occupied by a supplementary charge containing 136 g of TNT contained in an aluminium liner; this charge has to be removed when deep intrusion or proximity fuzes are employed. There are four 113 g potassium sulphate flash reducer increments located in side pockets. The M119A2 is 660 mm long. The M119A2 is produced by Eurometaal NV as the No 13. The Propelling Charges M203 and M203A1 (Charge 8S) were developed primarily for use in the 155 mm M199 Cannon used with the M198 Towed Howitzer and the M284 cannon used with the M109A5 and M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers. They can be used with other similar long-barrelled pieces such as the CN79 Cannon used on the South Korean 155 mm KH179 Towed Howitzer. The M203/M203A1 is a single red bag charge encased in a tight-fitting lacing jacket for strength. The bag has an igniter sewn to the base, a central core igniter extending through the centre of the charge and a flash reducer in front of the charge. The M203A1 differs from the M203 by producing cooler burning to increase barrel life, together with a reduction in blast and muzzle flash. The M119 series and M203 propellant charges should be fired using the Primer M82 only.