The D-105 howitzer is a lightweight towed weapon, which has a very low silhouette when in the firing position. It fires a 33 lb (15 kg) projectile of semi-fixed ammunition and at charge 7 it will fire up to 11.5 km (7.1 mi). It has a muzzle velocity of 494 m/s (1,620 ft/s). The maximum rate of fire is 10 rounds per minute for the first 3 minutes, with a sustained rate of 3 rounds per minute.

A roller tire attached to the trail assembly of the D-105 permits the weapon to be rotated 6,400 mils (360 degrees) around a firing platform, which provides the pivot for the weapon. It can be elevated from −89 mils (−5 degrees) to a maximum of 1,333 mils (75 degrees). The panoramic telescope has a four-power, fixed focus optical system, with a 178 mils (10 degrees) field of view. It contains dry nitrogen gas to retard fogging and condensation. The parallax shield used during boresighting protects the lens.

The trails are made of aluminum alloy. They are a single box trail in a wishbone shape, and serve three purposes: mobility; stability; and stowage of section equipment. The lunette is the towing pintle that allows the weapon to be connected to the vehicle. When towing, if the vehicle has a fixed or seized tow pintle, remove the lock plate located under the lunette. The drawbar has two positions: lowered for travel and raised for firing. There are two lifting brackets to connect slings to when the howitzer is being lifted by helicopter. A third bracket is located on the front yoke. The carriage handles are used by crew members for lifting and shifting the howitzer during loading, unloading, and emplacing the howitzer.

The firing platform attaches to the howitzer lower carriage by using a socket and a locking handle. The eight holes are for the stakes needed to stake the howitzer in position. Platform stakes are issued in three sizes. There are four 15 in (38 cm) stakes issued for use in frozen or rocky terrain, and they are normally issued only where needed, such as in extremely cold areas. There are eight 24 in (61 cm) stakes issued, and these are used for hard packed ground. Four 38 in (0.97 m) stakes are issued for use in soft ground.

The first production versions were displayed with a muzzle brake, most likely to allow long range 105 mm rounds to be fired, but this was discontinued.