ifting ▁the ▁how itzer ▁during ▁loading , ▁un loading , ▁and ▁emp la cing ▁the ▁how itzer . ▁ ▁The ▁firing ▁platform ▁attach es ▁to ▁the ▁how itzer ▁lower ▁carriage ▁by ▁using ▁a ▁socket ▁and ▁a ▁lock ing ▁handle . ▁The ▁eight ▁holes ▁are ▁for ▁the ▁st akes ▁needed ▁to ▁st ake ▁the ▁how itzer ▁in ▁position . ▁Platform ▁st akes ▁are ▁issued ▁in ▁three ▁sizes . ▁There ▁are ▁four ▁ ▁st akes ▁issued ▁for ▁use ▁in ▁fro zen ▁or ▁rock y ▁terrain , ▁and ▁are ▁normally ▁issued ▁only ▁where ▁needed , ▁such ▁as ▁extremely ▁cold ▁areas . ▁There ▁are ▁eight ▁ ▁st akes ▁issued , ▁and ▁are ▁used ▁for ▁hard ▁pack ed ▁ground . ▁Four ▁ ▁st akes ▁are ▁issued ▁for ▁use ▁in ▁soft ▁ground . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁production ▁versions ▁were ▁displayed ▁with ▁a ▁m uzz le ▁bra ke , ▁most ▁likely ▁to ▁allow ▁long ▁range ▁ 1 0 5   mm ▁r ounds ▁to ▁be ▁fired , ▁but ▁was ▁dis cont in ued ▁before ▁ship ment ▁to ▁Vietnam . ▁ ▁Current ▁usage ▁▁ ▁While ▁the ▁M 1 0 2 ▁is ▁no ▁longer ▁in ▁active ▁use ▁by ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army , ▁having ▁been ▁replaced ▁by ▁the ▁M 1 1 9 , ▁it ▁is ▁ ▁still ▁in ▁use ▁by ▁the ▁National ▁Guard . ▁The ▁M 1 0 2 ▁was ▁last ▁deployed ▁to ▁combat ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁by ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Battalion , ▁ 2 0 6 th ▁Field ▁Art illery , ▁Ark ansas ▁Army ▁National ▁Guard .