M106

Overview

M106 mortar carrier

US Army M106 mortar carrier shown with roof hatches open. Note the bipod and baseplate carried on the side of the vehicle.
Source: US Army - © Public domain

Origin

United States

Type

Self-propelled mortar

Entered service

1961

Status

Limited service

Development

Late 1950's

Developer

United States - FMC Corporation

Production

1960 - 1970's?

Producer

United States - FMC Corporation

Number produced

862 M106
1.409 M106A1
350 M106A2

Designations

Carrier, Mortar, 107 mm, Self-propelled, M106

Notable users

United States
Taiwan

Variants

M106 mortar carrier

US soldier seen loading a shell into the 107mm M30 mortar within a M106 mortar carrier during a live fire exercise in 1989.
Source: US Army - © Public domain

List of M106 variants

M106

First operational variant of the M106. Based on the original M113 chassis with Chrysler 75M petrol engine. Total of 860 vehicles produced. All variants of the M106 look very similar from the outside.

M106A1

Second production model, which is based on the M113A1 chassis with 6V53 diesel engine. Firepower and utility is practically similar to the M106, although five less shells are carried. About 1.400 were produced.

M106A2

The M106A2 features the improved suspension and engine cooling as used on the M113A2. Also the maximum elevation of the mount was increased, allowing the full range of the M30 mortar to be achieved while the vehicle is level. A total of 350 were in M106A2 standard. Unknown if these were produced new from factory or converted from M106A1.

Details

Facts M106 M106A1 M106A2

General

Origin

United States

Type

Self-propelled mortar

Crew

Dimensions

Weight

11.7 t combat load

Length

4.93 m

Width

2.69 m hull

2.87 m with stowage, including base plate

Height

2.50 m over MG

Main armament

Type

107mm M30 mortar

Mount

Turntable mount in rear compartment, firing through roof hatches

Ammunition

93 shells

Elevation

+42° to +63°, manual

Traverse

43° left to 46° right, manual

Secondary armament

Type

12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun

Mount

Pintle mount

Ammunition

600 rounds, 100 ready to fire

Traverse

Manual traverse and elevation

Stabilizer

Chassis

Chassis type

Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels

Layout

Drive sprocket front, idler rear

Tread

2.16 m

Track width

0.38 m

Length on ground

2.67 m

Ground pressure

0.58 kg/cm²

Suspension

Torsion bar

Automotive

Engine model

Chrysler 75M

Engine type

8-cylinder petrol

Power output

215 hp at 4.000 rpm

Transmission

TX-200-2A, 4 forward, 1 reverse

Fuel

320 L

Mobility

Speed

61 km/h on road

6 km/h afloat

Range

340 km on road

Turn radius

3.9 m

Power to weight ratio

18.4 hp/t

Obstacle crossing

Ground clearance

0.41 m

Wall

0.6 m

Trench

1.7 m

Gradient

60 %

Slope

30 %

Fording

Amphibious

Protection

Armor type

Aluminum

Armor thickness

38 - 45 mm

NBC system

Yes

Smoke system

Equipment

Night vision

Yes, M19 infrared periscope for driver

General

Origin

United States

Type

Self-propelled mortar

Crew

Dimensions

Weight

11.9 t combat load

Length

4.93 m

Width

2.69 m hull

2.87 m with stowage, including base plate

Height

2.50 m over MG

Main armament

Type

107mm M30 mortar

Mount

Turntable mount in rear compartment, firing through roof hatches

Ammunition

88 shells

Elevation

+42° to +63°, manual

Traverse

43° left to 46° right, manual

Secondary armament

Type

12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun

Mount

Pintle mount

Ammunition

600 rounds, 100 ready to fire

Traverse

Manual traverse and elevation

Stabilizer

Chassis

Chassis type

Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels

Layout

Drive sprocket front, idler rear

Tread

2.16 m

Track width

0.38 m

Length on ground

2.67 m

Ground pressure

0.58 kg/cm²

Suspension

Torsion bar

Automotive

Engine model

Detroit Diesel 6V-53

Engine type

6-cylinder diesel

Power output

212 hp at 2.800 rpm

Transmission

TX-100-1, 3 forward, 1 reverse

Fuel

360 L

Mobility

Speed

64 km/h on road

6 km/h afloat

Range

480 km on road

Turn radius

7.9 m

Power to weight ratio

19.4 hp/t

Obstacle crossing

Ground clearance

0.41 m

Wall

0.6 m

Trench

1.7 m

Gradient

60 %

Slope

30 %

Fording

Amphibious

Protection

Armor type

Aluminum

Armor thickness

38 - 45 mm

NBC system

Yes

Smoke system

Equipment

Night vision

Yes, M19 infrared periscope for driver

General

Origin

United States

Type

Self-propelled mortar

Crew

Dimensions

Weight

12.2 t combat load

Length

4.93 m

Width

2.69 m hull

2.87 m with stowage, including base plate

Height

2.50 m over MG

Main armament

Type

107mm M30 mortar

Mount

Turntable mount in rear compartment, firing through roof hatches

Ammunition

88 shells

Elevation

+42° to +85°, manual

Traverse

43° left to 46° right, manual

Secondary armament

Type

12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun

Mount

Pintle mount

Ammunition

600 rounds, 100 ready to fire

Traverse

Manual traverse and elevation

Stabilizer

Chassis

Chassis type

Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels

Layout

Drive sprocket front, idler rear

Tread

2.16 m

Track width

0.38 m

Length on ground

2.67 m

Ground pressure

0.60 kg/cm²

Suspension

Torsion bar

Automotive

Engine model

Detroit Diesel 6V-53

Engine type

6-cylinder diesel

Power output

212 hp at 2.800 rpm

Transmission

TX-100-1, 3 forward, 1 reverse

Fuel

360 L

Mobility

Speed

64 km/h on road

6 km/h afloat

Range

480 km on road

Turn radius

7.9 m

Power to weight ratio

17.4 hp/t

Obstacle crossing

Ground clearance

0.41 m

Wall

0.6 m

Trench

1.7 m

Gradient

60 %

Slope

30 %

Fording

Amphibious

Protection

Armor type

Aluminum

Armor thickness

38 - 45 mm

NBC system

Yes

Smoke system

Equipment

Night vision

Yes, M19 infrared periscope for driver

Subcomponents

107mm M30 mortar

The 107mm, or 4.2 inch, M30 rifled mortar is the main armament of the M106. It is mounted on a turntable, but a separate base plate allows it to be used outside the vehicle.

When installed on the turntable mount it cannot reach its maximum elevation and range. This was corrected on the M106A2 model. A field expedient solution was to park the M106 at an angle to allow for maximum elevation.

M113 armored personnel carrier

The M106 is based on the chassis and hull of the M113 tracked armored personnel carrier. This allows for parts commonality and reduced production cost. The M106A1 and M106A2 variants feature the same upgrades as found on the M113A1 and M113A2 respectively.

Browning M2HB

For self-defense a 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun is mounted on the roof. This uses a similar ring mount as on the M113. The main difference is that less ammunition for the M2HB is carried on the M106.