No, we don't have automatic loaders on the M109A3...
The one we used here is a upgraded version, with an inertial/gyro navigation/positioning system.
It's a rather old howitzer, and we're in a process these days changing out the M109 with new and modern howitzers.
We are leaning more and more towards the German Panzerhaubitze 2000.
Great thing!
Read more about it here:
http://www.army-technology.com/proje...000/index.html
and btw: going to have some more fun with the howitzer this week. Going away to Hjerkinn today(monday) again, I'll probably be away for 2-3 days..