Paladin Artillery Direct Fire. Soldiers of the 4-27 Field Artillery Battalion are practicing real world tactics as part of a Network Integration Evaluation at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. During the evaluation the Soldiers test their skills with the Paladin, a self-propelled artillery piece. The crew uses direct fire for self defense, normally when the enemy is withing a half mile. Includes sound bites from Pfc. James Fillmore from Morrisville, Mo. and 2nd Lt/ Chance Panter from Marietta, Ga. Available in high definition. Produced by Staff Sgt. Bernardo Fuller. Video by Katie Cain, courtesy DVIDS / DOD. ASA(ALT) System of Systems Integration Directorate Public Affairs. Date: 11.08.2011.

The M109 is a U.S. self-propelled 155 mm howitzer which was first introduced in the early 1960s. The M109 was upgraded a number of times to the current M109A6 Paladin. The M109 family is the most common Western indirect-fire support weapon of maneuver brigades of armored and mechanized infantry divisions. The M109A6 Paladin has a crew of four: the commander, driver, gunner and ammunition loader.