Self-Propelled Howitzer M110 

M110 was developed in the 1950s, based on the earlier M115/M1 towed 8-inch howitzer. It entered service with the US Army in 1963 and was used in the Vietnam War. It could fire three rounds every two minutes (one round every two minutes for sustained periods) with a range of 25km with standard projectiles (30km with rocket-assisted projectiles). Of the 13-man gun detachment only the driver benefitted from any kind of protection, sitting at the front of the vehicle next to the engine. 

The improved M110A1 was introduced in 1977, with a new range of ammunition and a longer barrel. The M110A2 added a double baffle muzzle brake to lessen the recoil but still required a large dozer-blade at the rear which was driven into the ground to secure the vehicle. Among a range of ammunition types, the M1110A2 could fire a nuclear shell.

M110 has seen service with twenty different armies and remains in service today with half of them. It was deployed by both the US and UK during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as part of the first Gulf War of 1990-1991.

This particular M110 served with 39 Regiment Royal Artillery during the 1980s. The vehicle has been kept in running order and the museum team has recently displayed it at public events.