2003 Iraq War

M109 in the 2003 Iraq War

U.S. Army M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers fired artillery support missions in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, including documented fire missions from Camp Taji and Badoush Prison near Mosul.

Weapon profileM109
SideUnited States and coalition forcesRoleFire Support
M109, 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer family, Artillery - 2003 Iraq War
Image source: Armed Forces of Ukraine train with U.S. and Norway M109 howitzer

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
U.S. Army M109A6 Paladins fired in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sources: General Fires Big Gun, Badoush Paladin Fire Mission

Howitzer Battery, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment used Paladins from Badoush Prison outside Mosul to support ground troop movement.

Sources: Redleg Soldiers Conduct Fire Missions in Iraq, Badoush Paladin Fire Mission, Badoush Paladin Positioning

The Badoush missions were mostly illumination fire, with the unit describing indirect-fire support for troops in contact.

Sources: Redleg Soldiers Conduct Fire Missions in Iraq, Badoush Paladin Fire Mission

A Camp Taji Paladin battery from 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment was reported to have fired more than 3,500 rounds during Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation 06-08.

Sources: General Fires Big Gun

Timeline

M109 In 2003 Iraq War

  1. Camp Taji Paladin battery documented firing

    DVIDS documented a U.S. Army M109A6 Paladin at Camp Taji and reported that the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment Paladin battery had fired more than 3,500 rounds in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom combat operations during rotation 06-08.

    Sources: General Fires Big Gun

  2. Badoush Prison Paladins fired near Mosul

    DVIDS imagery showed an M109A6 Paladin firing 155 mm illumination rounds from Badoush Prison outside Mosul in support of ground forces.

    Sources: Badoush Paladin Fire Mission

  3. DVIDS report described nightly fire missions

    A DVIDS report identified Howitzer Battery, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment as one of the field artillery units executing Paladin fire missions in Iraq, averaging about three fire missions a night from Badoush Prison.

    Sources: Redleg Soldiers Conduct Fire Missions in Iraq

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

U.S. Army M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers were documented firing in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. DVIDS recorded a Camp Taji Paladin battery from 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment firing in 2007 and reported that the battery had fired more than 3,500 rounds in support of combat operations during the 2006-2008 rotation.

DVIDS also documented Howitzer Battery, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment operating M109A6 Paladins at Badoush Prison outside Mosul in March 2008. The unit used the Paladins to support ground troop movement in the Mosul area and fired mostly illumination missions from the combat outpost.

Sources: General Fires Big Gun, Redleg Soldiers Conduct Fire Missions in Iraq, Badoush Paladin Fire Mission

Timeline

On July 31, 2007, a DVIDS image caption from Camp Taji described an M109A6 Paladin howitzer being prepared for firing and tied the weapon to the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment Paladin battery. The caption stated that the battery had already fired more than 3,500 rounds in support of combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation 06-08.

On March 29, 2008, DVIDS imagery from Badoush Prison outside Mosul showed an M109A6 Paladin firing 155 mm illumination rounds in support of ground forces. A companion DVIDS report published on April 5, 2008 identified the unit as Howitzer Battery, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and described average nightly fire missions from the site.

Sources: General Fires Big Gun, Badoush Paladin Fire Mission, Redleg Soldiers Conduct Fire Missions in Iraq

Narrative

The documented M109 use in this conflict was U.S. Army fire support. At Badoush Prison, the Paladins were positioned to support ground troop movement around Mosul and were described as mostly firing illumination rounds, while the unit also identified high explosive and guided rounds as available support options for troops in contact.

The available direct sources separate deployment from use: they do not merely list M109A6 Paladins as present in Iraq, but document specific batteries firing or preparing to fire during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The strongest records identify the user as U.S. Army field artillery units, the locations as Camp Taji and Badoush Prison outside Mosul, and the supported mission as combat or ground-force support.

Sources: Redleg Soldiers Conduct Fire Missions in Iraq, General Fires Big Gun, Badoush Paladin Fire Mission, Badoush Paladin Positioning

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Sources