Cartridge, 105 mm, Illuminating, M314

The M314 is a U.S. 105 mm illuminating cartridge family for howitzers, built as a base-ejection round that releases a parachute-retarded illuminating canister. Army ammunition references list the M314 series among 105 mm illuminating cartridges, and field manuals note its use with standard 105 mm howitzers such as the M119A1.

Cartridge, 105 mm, Illuminating, M314, 105 mm howitzer-fired illuminating cartridge with parachute-retarded canister, Munitions

Image source: M314 105mm Illuminating Cartridge

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Multiple U.S. contractors
Type: 105 mm howitzer-fired illuminating cartridge with parachute-retarded canister

105 mm artillery illumination

Specifications

Caliber: 105 mm
Cartridge type: Howitzer-fired base-ejection illuminating round
Illuminating canister: Parachute-retarded
Fuze family: M501 series on M314, M314A1, and M314A2; M565, M577, or M724 on M314A3
Compatible weapon example: M119A1 105 mm lightweight towed howitzer

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Used as a 105 mm illuminating round for standard howitzers; M314-series variants use M501-series fuzes, while the M314A3 uses M565, M577, or M724 fuzes.
Used by: United States Army

105 mm Howitzer Pairing

The M314 series is an illumination cartridge intended for 105 mm howitzers.

Firing weapon

Weapon type

Firing evidence

105 mm field guns

105 mm howitzer

Army ammunition references describe the M314 series as a 105 mm illuminating cartridge, and GlobalSecurity notes that the M119A1 fires M314 illuminating ammunition as part of the standard NATO 105 mm ammunition set.

Sources: U.S. Cartridge, 105-mm, Illuminating, M314, M314A1, M314A2, & M314A3, 105mm Artillery Cartridges

Cartridge, 105 mm, Illuminating, M314 Images

Cartridge, 105 mm, Illuminating, M314, 105 mm howitzer-fired illuminating cartridge with parachute-retarded canister, Munitions - view 1 — Source: M314 105mm Illuminating Cartridge

Cartridge, 105 mm, Illuminating, M314, 105 mm howitzer-fired illuminating cartridge with parachute-retarded canister, Munitions - view 2 — Source: M314 105mm Illuminating Cartridge

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Sources

M314 105mm Illuminating CartridgePublisher: FAS | Note: Supports background, image provenance, and the basic identifying label for the M314 105 mm illuminating cartridge page. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 U.S. Cartridge, 105-mm, Illuminating, M314, M314A1, M314A2, & M314A3Publisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the M314-series designation, the howitzer-fired base-ejection cartridge description, the parachute-retarded illuminating canister, and the M501-series / M565-M724 fuze family context. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Capability Program Executive - JPEO A&A Portfolio BookPublisher: U.S. Army CPEAE | Note: Supports the M314 illuminating cartridge family designation in Army portfolio material. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 105mm Artillery CartridgesPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the M314 cartridge listing among 105 mm artillery cartridges and the M119A1 compatibility context for standard 105 mm ammunition. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 M119A1 105mm Lightweight Towed HowitzerPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the M119A1 compatibility context and the 105 mm ammunition set that includes M314 illuminating cartridges. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 M314 105mm Illuminating Cartridge imagePublisher: FAS | Note: Supports image provenance for the M314 page image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23