M108 Self-Propelled Howitzer Army Asbestos Exposure

M108 Self-Propelled Howitzer Army Asbestos Exposure

The M108 was a U.S. Army 105-mm self-propelled howitzer used during the 1960s and the Vietnam era. Army historical sources state that the M108 became the standard self-propelled artillery piece for armored and mechanized divisions in 1963 and began being replaced by the 155-mm M109 only a few years later. Some field artillery units in Vietnam continued to use the M108.

Service on or around an M108 does not by itself prove asbestos exposure. Veterans researching possible exposure should identify their unit, service dates, crew or maintenance position, vehicle or equipment, component, repair task, replacement part, and records documenting material composition. Army technical manuals, maintenance records, parts documentation, procurement records, manufacturer information, and specific witness statements can help reconstruct the work performed.

M108 Self-Propelled Howitzer Army Service

Army historical publications describe the M108 as a 105-mm self-propelled weapon developed during the Army’s modernization of field artillery. It became standard equipment for armored and mechanized divisions in 1963, but conversion to the M109 began around 1965.

Army history also documents M108-equipped field artillery units in Vietnam. Service dates and unit histories are therefore important when determining whether a veteran actually operated, maintained, transported, or worked near an M108.

M108 Vehicle Systems to Investigate

Department of the Army technical manuals for the M108 document a tracked self-propelled vehicle with a hull, powerplant, drive controls, tracks, suspension, armament, electrical systems, and associated components. These manuals are useful starting points for identifying the systems a veteran worked on.

• Powerplant and engine-related systems
• Drive controls and transmission-related components
• Tracks, suspension, and final-drive systems
• Electrical systems and wiring
• Hull and crew-compartment components
• Armament and turret-related equipment

Components and Materials to Research

Possible asbestos research should be component-specific. Older military vehicles and equipment can include friction, sealing, thermal, and insulating materials, but a general component category does not establish that an M108 part contained asbestos.

Research may include brake or friction materials, gaskets, packing, heat-resistant components, insulation, electrical materials, and other parts only when technical manuals, parts catalogs, specifications, procurement records, manufacturer documents, or laboratory evidence support asbestos content for the correct component and service period.

Crew and Maintenance Activities

M108 crew members and maintenance personnel could perform inspections, preventive maintenance, component replacement, troubleshooting, cleaning, and repair. Exposure research should focus on the veteran’s actual tasks and whether those tasks disturbed a documented asbestos-containing component.

Useful details include the tools used, whether parts were removed or cleaned, visible dust or debris, ventilation, frequency and duration of the work, and whether the veteran worked directly on the component or nearby while another crew performed repairs.

M108 Technical Manuals and Parts Records

Department of the Army manuals specifically covered the M108 together with related M109-series vehicles. A surviving operator’s manual identifies the vehicle as the Howitzer, Light, Self-Propelled: 105-mm, M108, and later transportability guidance also lists the M108 by its National Stock Number.

Manuals can establish vehicle configuration and maintenance procedures. Parts catalogs, supply records, specifications, procurement files, and manufacturer records may be needed to determine the composition of individual replacement components.

Units, Locations and Service Dates

A useful M108 exposure history identifies the artillery unit, installation or deployment, dates, military occupational specialty, crew position, and maintenance organization. Army historical records can help confirm whether a unit operated M108 howitzers during the veteran’s period of service.

Unit histories should be combined with individual personnel records. Evidence that a unit possessed M108s does not automatically establish that every member worked directly on the vehicle or on a particular component.

Documenting M108 Work and Exposure

• DD214 and Official Military Personnel File records
• MOS, unit, duty-station, and assignment records
• Unit histories and equipment records
• M108 operator and maintenance technical manuals
• Illustrated parts catalogs and National Stock Number records
• Maintenance, inspection, and work-order records
• Procurement, manufacturer, and replacement-part documentation
• Specific firsthand coworker or witness statements

The strongest evidence connects the veteran to an M108, identifies the component or material, and documents the maintenance or repair activity that could have disturbed it.

VA Benefits and Exposure Evidence

Veterans investigating a possible service-related asbestos claim should preserve both military-service evidence and product or component evidence. Personnel records can help establish when and where the veteran served, while technical and maintenance records can help identify the equipment and tasks involved.

Separate VA, asbestos trust fund, or civil claims can have different evidence requirements. Vehicle service alone should not be treated as proof of asbestos exposure, disease causation, liability, or benefit eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the M108 self-propelled howitzer?

The M108 was a tracked 105-mm self-propelled artillery weapon used by the U.S. Army. Army history states that it became standard in armored and mechanized divisions in 1963 and began being replaced by the M109 around 1965.

Was the M108 used in Vietnam?

Yes. The Army’s official history of field artillery in Vietnam states that certain field force artillery units were equipped with the M108.

Does M108 service automatically prove asbestos exposure?

No. Research should identify the veteran’s actual duties and a specific component or material documented as containing asbestos during the relevant period.

What records can document M108 maintenance?

Army technical manuals, parts catalogs, unit records, maintenance documents, procurement files, manufacturer information, personnel records, and specific witness statements can help reconstruct M108 work.

Why are part numbers and technical manuals important?

They can distinguish specific vehicle components and replacement parts. That detail is important because material composition can vary by manufacturer, specification, part, and date.

Confirmed Sources

• U.S. Army Center of Military History — Field Artillery, 1954–1973
• U.S. Army Center of Military History — The Army and Flexible Response
• Department of the Army — M108/M109 Operator’s Manual Catalog Record
• Department of the Army — M108/M109/M109A1 Transportability Guidance

Review Your M108 Self-Propelled Howitzer Service

Write down your Army unit, duty station or deployment, service dates, MOS, crew position, vehicle assignment, maintenance duties, components, replacement parts, tools, nearby repair work, and coworkers you remember. Preserve personnel, unit, technical, maintenance, parts, procurement, manufacturer, and medical records and clearly distinguish documented facts from recollection.

Call 800.291.0963 for a no-obligation case evaluation and to speak with a real person 24/7, 365 days a year. Mesothelioma Help Center is not a law firm or medical provider and does not determine VA eligibility.