Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced the release of a Request for Offer for the disposal of 39 M2A2 Howitzers.
The Howitzers will be offered exclusively to RSL organisations, Vietnam Veterans Associations and historical organisations around the country.
“The M2A2 Howitzer provided outstanding service to Australia and making them available will help to preserve this important part of our military history,” Mr Clare said.
“The Howitzers were a vital part of Australia’s arsenal. They were critical in providing close artillery fire support to the Australian Army in Vietnam.”
M2A2 Howitzers have not been deployed on operations since the Vietnam War.
They are currently being withdrawn from service and will be retired by December 2012.
Approved recipients will be expected to pay for demilitarisation ($4,000) and other costs such as transport and site preparation. The total maximum cost is estimated to be approximately $16,000.
Organisations displaying the M2A2 Howitzers will be subject to the approval of the United States Government, under their International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
The Request for Offer will close on 24 October 2011.
Copies of the Request for Offer can be obtained by registering on the AUSTENDER web site located at tenders.gov.au quoting reference DMOFD/RFO118/2011 or by contacting the AUSTENDER helpdesk by phone: 1300 651 698, by email: tenders [at] finance.gov.au.
Queries in relation to the offer can be made to the Defence Disposals Agency by emailing disposals [at] defence.gov.au or phoning on 02 9393 2914.
Imagery of the M2A2 Howitzer Guns is available at: http://images.defence.gov.au/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003&search=20113130
Media contact: Korena Flanagan 02 6277 7620
