American M114 Howitzers from WWII Era Appear on Ukraine’s Frontlines for the First Time

Ukrainian forces have begun fielding American M114A1 155mm howitzers, marking the first confirmed use of these artillery systems in Ukraine’s defense efforts.

According to Militarnyi on April 23, citing footage published by Ukrainian serviceman Dmitry MacKenzie, the howitzers were recently spotted in active use.

The M114 howitzers, originally developed by the United States in 1941, have seen service in multiple historical conflicts, including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Iran-Iraq War.

Though long considered outdated by modern military standards, the system remains functional and capable of supporting indirect fire missions.

According to previous announcements, Ukraine received the howitzers as part of military assistance packages from Portugal and Greece. In 2022, Portugal delivered five units along with armored vehicles, although they had not been seen in use until now.

In a 2024 statement, the Greek Ministry of Defense noted that a second batch of M114A1 howitzers was likely included in its aid to Ukraine. During negotiations with Czech officials, Greece publicly committed to supplying approximately 70 of these artillery pieces from its existing military stockpiles.

The M114 has a barrel length of 23 calibers and a maximum range of 14,600 meters. While this range is limited compared to modern 155mm systems, it is comparable to that of more mobile 105mm artillery units.

Though classified as surplus and no longer considered operationally relevant by donor nations, the reintroduction of these howitzers underscores the continued international effort to equip Ukraine with a broad range of available military assets.

Earlier, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces began using the advanced American ENVG-B night vision system, according to Defense Express. Developed by L3Harris, the goggles combine thermal imaging and augmented reality features, allowing soldiers to detect targets in complete darkness and engage them without exposing themselves to enemy fire.

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