2003 Iraq War

M109A6 Paladin in the 2003 Iraq War

U.S. Army M109A6 Paladins fired artillery support missions in Iraq, including Camp Taji combat-support fires in 2007 and Mosul-area illumination missions in 2008.

Weapon profileM109A6 Paladin
SideUnited States and coalition forcesRoleFire SupportArea Denial
M109A6 Paladin, 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer, Artillery - 2003 Iraq War
Image source: M109A6 Paladin Blast in 2007

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
U.S. Army M109A6 Paladins fired combat-support missions from Camp Taji during Operation Iraqi Freedom Rotation 06-08.

Sources: Stryker Brigade Shows Appreciation for Dragon Fires, Ironhorse Brigade Reflects on Progress

Howitzer Battery, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment used M109A6 Paladins at Badoush Prison outside Mosul for ground-force support and illumination missions in 2008.

Sources: King of Battle Still Reigns in Modern Warfare, Paladin Howitzers Fire Rounds in Support of Ground Troops

A U.S. Army historical study of 2003-2005 combat action recorded a 155 mm round fired from an M109A6 Paladin during fighting near the Green Mosque.

Sources: Between the Rivers

Later U.S. Army reporting from Taji described M109A6 Paladins conducting an emergency fire mission in the Iraq War theater.

Sources: Dragons Display Artillery Abilities

Timeline

M109A6 Paladin In 2003 Iraq War

  1. M109A6 Paladin fire mission documented in Army history

    A U.S. Army Combat Studies Institute history of 2003-2005 combat action in Iraq described a 155 mm round fired from an M109A6 Paladin during fighting near the Green Mosque and FOB Brassfield-Mora.

    Sources: Between the Rivers

  2. Camp Taji Paladin batteries recognized for combat support

    U.S. Army reporting said Batteries A and B, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment had fired nearly 6,300 rounds from M109A6 Paladin howitzers during Operation Iraqi Freedom Rotation 06-08, including more than 2,000 rounds in combat missions.

    Sources: Stryker Brigade Shows Appreciation for Dragon Fires

  3. M109A6 Paladin fires near Mosul

    DVIDS imagery documented an M109A6 Paladin from Howitzer Battery, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment firing illumination rounds from Badoush Prison outside Mosul in support of ground forces.

    Sources: Paladin Howitzers Fire Rounds in Support of Ground Troops

  4. DVIDS reports nightly Paladin missions at Badoush Prison

    DVIDS reporting described several M109A6 Paladins positioned at Badoush Prison to support ground troop movement in the Mosul area with an average of three fire missions a night, mostly illumination rounds.

    Sources: King of Battle Still Reigns in Modern Warfare

  5. Taji Paladin crew conducts emergency fire mission

    U.S. Army reporting described Battery B, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment moving M109A6 Paladins through Taji and firing 33 rounds during an emergency fire mission.

    Sources: Dragons Display Artillery Abilities

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

U.S. Army and DVIDS records directly document M109A6 Paladin use by U.S. forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom. At Camp Taji, Batteries A and B, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment fired thousands of rounds from M109A6 Paladin howitzers during Operation Iraqi Freedom Rotation 06-08, with more than 2,000 rounds described as combat missions supporting the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

In northern Iraq, DVIDS documented Howitzer Battery, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment operating M109A6 Paladins at Badoush Prison outside Mosul in March and April 2008. The unit used the howitzers for nightly fire missions, mostly illumination rounds, in support of ground troops around Mosul.

Sources: Stryker Brigade Shows Appreciation for Dragon Fires, King of Battle Still Reigns in Modern Warfare, Paladin Howitzers Fire Rounds in Support of Ground Troops

Timeline

The available public record places M109A6 Paladin use across the occupation and counterinsurgency phase of the 2003 Iraq War rather than only in the initial March-April 2003 invasion. An Army historical study of 2003-2005 combat action describes a 155 mm round fired from an M109A6 Paladin during fighting around the Green Mosque near FOB Brassfield-Mora, while later Army and DVIDS reporting documents repeated Paladin fire missions from Camp Taji and Mosul.

By November 2007, the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment had fired more than 6,000 Paladin rounds during its Iraq rotation. In March and April 2008, Howitzer Battery, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was documented conducting Paladin fire missions from Badoush Prison, including illumination support for ground troops.

Sources: Between the Rivers, Ironhorse Brigade Reflects on Progress, Stryker Brigade Shows Appreciation for Dragon Fires, King of Battle Still Reigns in Modern Warfare

Role in Iraq

The M109A6 Paladin appeared in Iraq as U.S. self-propelled 155 mm artillery for indirect fire support, counterfire, suppressive fires, pre-planned targets, and illumination. Camp Taji reporting tied the system to support for U.S. Stryker forces operating near Taji and Tarmiyah, while Mosul reporting described Paladins positioned at Badoush Prison to support ground movement and troops in contact.

The sources also show how the Paladin's role changed with the conflict environment. Army reporting from Taji in 2009 said artillery cannons in Iraq were often used as fixed pieces from stationary fire bases, but it also described Battery B, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment executing an on-the-move emergency fire mission with M109A6 Paladins in the Taji area.

Sources: Ironhorse Brigade Reflects on Progress, Stryker Brigade Shows Appreciation for Dragon Fires, King of Battle Still Reigns in Modern Warfare, Dragons Display Artillery Abilities

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Sources