In August 2012 photographs emerged online showing US made M109 SPGs (Self Propelled Gun) in Libya.
Although absent in the majority of references regarding M109 operators a couple of sources have claimed a small number (12-18) of M109s were delivered to Libya. The pictures confirm those claims, representing the first pictorial evidence of Libyan M109s in the public domain, as far as the author is aware.
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Source:
SSC Tripoli
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The three photographs used in this article are
all taken from the Facebook profile of the SSC (Supreme Security Committee) Tripoli [1]. They are reportedly
taken around Tarhuna near Tripoli and related to the capture of a large number of
artillery of various types from
pro-Gaddafi militia [2].
The photographs show two M109 examples both
representing the initial M109 base variant, identifiable by the original
shorter 22-calibre barrel. This variant
first entered US service in 1963. Later M109A1-A6 and international versions
featured longer barrels along with a host of other improvements.
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The
same M109, photographed from a slightly elevated angle. Note the Italian made
Palmaria SPG immediately behind. Source: SSC Tripoli
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No further details regarding M109s in Libyan Service, including any potential use in the 2011 Civil War, are currently available. The serviceability of these two examples it also unclear with no
indication that these vehicles have been moved whilst under the control of the
militia. The condition of any other
surviving M109s in Libya also remain unknown.
Despite their apparent age and probable scarcity of spares during the
Gaddafi era the operational readiness of these vehicles prior to the Civil War
should not be discounted, given evidence of other Libyan equipment performing
under similar circumstances [3].
The logic of retaining and maintaining this
relatively outdated type in such apparently small numbers is questionable,
particularly given that Libya's procurement of more modern SPGs in significant numbers [4].
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Three Palmaria (foreground) and a second
M109 (background). Source: SSC Tripoli
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Close
up of the second M109. The different
position of the commander’s cupola and closed hatch along with the different
shadows suggest this is a different M109 as the photographs are believed to
have been taken on the same occasion. Original
Source: SSC Tripoli, edited by the Author.
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The M109 has been widely exported since
it’s introduction almost half a century ago.
However only those early export customers are believed to have received
this initial base variant with the majority of those later upgrading their examples
to M109A1 standard or above. This suggests that the availability of this
version for export from a third party was soon limited.
It is therefore the inference of the author
that the USA was the direct supplier, exporting them to Libya between
1963-68. This is based upon the low
probability of a third party supplier and known [5] and suspected [6] export of
arms by the USA to Libya prior to the Gaddafi era.
[4] 130 x 2S1 GVOZDIKA 122mm (1980-82), 168 x 2S3 Akatsiya 152mm (1980-82), 20-80 x DANA 152mm (1983-84)& 210 x Palmaria 155mm (1982-1985). SIPRI Arms Transfer Database http://www.sipri.org (accessed 07/09/2011)
