Catalogue information
154 BTVA 't Harde Founding: 1954 Cancellation: 1964-03-01 Restoration: 1987-07-01 Reissue: 2002 Artillery: 155mm howitzer M114, 155mm howitzer FH70 The 154th Field Artillery Division was established in 1954 as a mobilizable division and was equipped with the towed 155 mm howitzer M114. Without being on standby, the division was dissolved in 1964. On July 1, 1987 the mobilizable 54th Field Artillery Division, which was equipped with the towed 155 mm howitzer M114 and was assigned to the 101st Infantry Brigade, was renumbered to the 154th Field Artillery Division and assigned to the Army Corps Artillery. The M114 howitzers were already quite obsolete at that time and it was decided to modify them by installing a longer firing tube (39 times the caliber instead of 23), improving the braking and advance equipment and strengthening the gun carriage. The modified howitzer M114 was given the type designation M114 / 39. A gestation period of 23 km was possible. To keep personnel trained on these guns, the C Battery of the 154th Field Artillery Division was deployed in 1988. In peacetime the battery was commanded by the 107th Field Artillery Division. Soon the howitzer M114 / 39 turned out to be inadequate; it could not withstand the heavier loads. In order to avoid risks in peacetime, the old M114 / 23 (still with short barrel) was removed from the stable at the end of 1994 for the ready batteries. The M114 / 39 cannons retained their wartime destination. On September 2, 1991, the 154th Field Artillery Division was expanded. The mobilizable second cannon battery and staff service battery were put on standby, in addition to the already ready battery. In accordance with the parts replenishment system, the third battery remained mobile label. The ready existence of the department would not last long, because in 1994 the department was made mobilizable again. However, as before, one battery remained ready. Because the M114 / 23 did not suffice in practice and the training was to be guaranteed, it was decided in 1995 to replace the M114 / 23 guns for peacetime by the German howitzer FH70. The M114 / 39 was still available for wartime. In 2001, the plans to fully phase out the drawn guns were given further substance by the Royal Netherlands Army: on May 1, 2001, the division was made fully mobilizable again.
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