The M106 mortar carrier (full designation: Carrier, Mortar, 107 mm, Self-propelled) was a tracked, self-propelled mortar carrier in service with the United States Army. It was designed to provide indirect fire support to primarily infantry, units, but could also provide support to any unit under attack within range. It was replaced with the M1064 mortar carrier.
History
The M106 is a variation of the M113 armored personnel carrier that carried a 107 mm M30 mortar. It was introduced in 1964, alongside the similar M125 81 mm mortar carrier, and deployed in Vietnam. Three variants existed: the M106, the M106A1 and the M106A2. 862 M106 (including 841 for US forces), 1,409 M106A1 (including 990 for US forces) and 350 M106A2 (including 53 for the US forces) were produced.
After intensive trials in 1988, the US Army chose to replace it with the 120 mm Soltam K6. Some of the M106 carriers were upgraded to the M1064A3 configuration by replacing the 107 mm mortar by a 120 mm mortar.
Operators
- Argentina: 25 M106A2
- Egypt: 65 M106A1 and 35 M106A2
- Greece
- Peru: 24 M106A1
- Libya
- Morocco: 32-36 M106A2
- Norway: 24
- Portugal: 18
- Taiwan: 90 M106A2
- Ukraine: 10 M106A2
- Vietnam: Captured from Vietnam War
Former operators
- Khmer Republic (Cambodia): 17 M106A1 with a 107 mm mortar.
- North Vietnam:Captured from Vietnam War.
- Switzerland: M106 with a 120 mm mortar, known as 12 cm Mw Pz 64 (Minenwerferpanzer 64) and 12 cm Mw Pz 64/91. 132 bought, retired from service in 2009.
- United States
- Italy: M106 with a 120 mm mortar
See also
- M1064 mortar carrier
- Variants of the M113 armored personnel carrier
- List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
References
Bibliography
External links
Media related to M106 mortar carriers at Wikimedia Commons
