US M1 ammunition used with an M101A1 105-mm towed howitzer by 31 (B) Battery at Waiouru, 1978.
The two rounds on the left have brass cartridge cases and appear to be base ejection smoke; the others are HE (high explosive) with cartridge cases of steel, spiral wrapped.
Both varieties are similar to those used by 161 Battery RNZA in South Vietnam.
The small box to the right of the ammunition probably contained fuzes.
The piece is being laid in high angle (above 45° elevation), a feat which identifies it as a howitzer.
Note the towing eye on the right trail and the handspike on the left; these were used to traverse the piece roughly by heaving the trails laterally.
Photo courtesy Mac McDonald Click on image to return to previous page
|