▁The ▁batt alion ▁was ▁based ▁in ▁B ess emer , ▁Alabama ▁and ▁its ▁primary ▁weapon ▁system ▁was ▁the ▁M 1 9 8 ▁How itzer ▁with ▁a ▁maximum ▁effective ▁range ▁of ▁ 3 0 ▁kilom eters . ▁ ▁They ▁were ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 4 th ▁Marine ▁Regiment ▁and ▁the ▁ 4 th ▁Marine ▁Division . ▁ ▁Mission ▁Prov ide ▁art illery ▁support ▁to ▁a ▁man eu ver ▁element ▁or ▁rein for cing ▁fires ▁to ▁another ▁art illery ▁organization . ▁ ▁Sub ordinate ▁units ▁ ▁History ▁▁ 4 th ▁Battalion , ▁ 1 4 th ▁Mar ines ▁started ▁as ▁a ▁direct ▁support ▁art illery ▁Battalion ▁util izing ▁the ▁M 1 0 9 A 3 ▁( SP ) ▁Self ▁Pro pel led ▁How itzer , ▁then ▁transferred ▁all ▁( 1 8 ) ▁M 1 0 9 A 3 ▁SP ' s ▁to ▁the ▁Army ▁and ▁converted ▁to ▁the ▁M 1 9 8 ▁Tow ▁How itzer . ▁▁ 4 th ▁Battalion , ▁ 1 4 th ▁Mar ines , ▁ 4 th ▁Marine ▁Division ▁was ▁the ▁last ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁unit ▁to ▁use ▁the ▁M 1 0 9 A 3 ▁SP ▁How itz ers . ▁ ▁Head quarters ▁battery ▁and ▁Lima ▁battery , ▁both ▁based ▁in ▁B ess emer , ▁AL , ▁were ▁recently ▁dis band ed . ▁Con current ▁with ▁this ▁was ▁the ▁formation ▁of ▁the ▁ 4 th ▁Anti - T error ism ▁Battalion , ▁an ▁inf antry ▁unit , ▁head qu arter ed ▁in ▁B ess emer . ▁K ilo ▁B atter y