Vietnam War howitzers still maintained by the Moroccan army

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which is responsible for supplying the US Department of Defense, launched a call for tenders in early September for 19 worm shafts. The stated final destination is Casablanca, as part of the US Foreign Military Sales program.

Behind the technical reference NSN 3040-01-149-5950 lies a part intended for the M102 105-millimeter howitzer and its M6 firing platform. The US call for tenders thus confirms the continuation of logistical support for Morocco’s fleet.

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The parts must first transit through an intermediary located in Sterling, Virginia, before being shipped to Casablanca. Bids had to be submitted by September 14, 2026. The contract amount and the name of the selected supplier were not yet known.

A gun that entered service in 1965

The age of the equipment is remarkable. The M102 entered service with the US Army in 1965 and began equipping units deployed to Vietnam as early as 1966, according to the Army Historical Foundation. Lightweight and transportable by helicopter, it was designed to replace the M101A1.

Weighing approximately 1.5 tonnes, the M102 can rotate 360 degrees thanks to its M6 platform. Its normal range is about 11.5 kilometers and can exceed 15 kilometers with certain projectiles. The United States later replaced it with the M119, but several foreign armies continue to use and maintain it.

The parts order does not make it possible to determine the number of M102s still held by the Royal Armed Forces. The 19 units mentioned correspond solely to the mechanical components sought by the DLA, and not to 19 howitzers.

The maintenance of these old guns is taking place alongside the modernization of Moroccan artillery. The United States is notably preparing the delivery of ten HIMARS rocket launchers to Morocco in 2027, systems capable of striking much farther and with greater precision.

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Morocco is therefore retaining proven equipment while gradually integrating next-generation systems. This discreet purchase of spare parts shows that, more than sixty years after entering service, the M102 remains well represented in the Royal Armed Forces’ maintenance chain.