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M198 howitzer

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M198 howitzer
A 155 mm M198 howitzer firing.
TypeTowed howitzer
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1979 to Present
Used byU.S. Army
USMC
Australian Army
Royal Thai Army
Lebanese Armed Forces
Military of Honduras
Iraqi Army
Production history
Designed1968–1977
ManufacturerRock Island Arsenal (US)
Unit costUS$527,337
Produced1978–1992
No. built1600+
Specifications
Mass7,154 kg (15,772 lb)
LengthCombat: 11 m (36 ft 2 in)
Travel: 12.3 m (40 ft 6 in)
WidthTravel: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
HeightTravel: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Crew9 enlisted men
Caliber155 mm (6.1 in)
Rate of fireMaximium: 4 rpm
Sustained: 2 rpm
Maximum firing rangeConventional: 22.4km (14 mi)
RAP: 30km (18.6 mi)

The M198 howitzer is a medium-sized, towed artillery piece, developed for service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. It was commissioned to be a lightweight replacement for the WWII era M114 155mm howitzer. It was designed and prototyped at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1969 with firing tests beginning in 1970. It went into full time production at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1978. The M198 Howitzer went into service in 1979 and since then 1,600 units have been produced and put into operation.

The M198 155mm howitzer weighs under 16,000 pounds allowing it to be dropped by parachute or transported by a CH-53E Super Stallion or CH-47 Chinook. The M198 is a towed howitzer that is transported trail first, with the cannon resting above the weapon's wheels. When firing, the weapon is lowered onto its baseplate rather than being anchored to the ground allowing for rapid emplacement. The breach is operated manually via a screw type mechanism that rests low in an ergonomic position. The M198 fires non-fixed ammunition and can be loaded with a variety of propellants and projectiles. The effective range 18,100 meters when firing standard projectiles and it increases to 30,000 meters when firing rocket assisted projectiles. With the 52-caliber modification the range can surpass 40,000 meters. The weapon system requires a crew of 11 and is capable of firing at a maximum rate of four rounds per minute, two sustained. The M198 is deployed in separate corps- and army-level field artillery units, as well as in artillery battalions of light and airborne divisions. It also provides field artillery fire support for all Marine Air-Ground Task Force organizations. The M198 is being replaced by the BAE Systems Global Combat Systems M777 ultra lightweight howitzer, with deliveries underway. The M198 is also used by the Australian Army [1] and the Pakistan Army.[2]

Capable munitions

An M198 firing, at Camp Fallujah, Iraq in 2004
An M198 during the Gulf War
High Explosive (HE)
(M-107 NC/DC): Explosive Composition B material packed into a thick,internally-scored shell which causes a large blast and sends razor-sharp fragments at extreme velocities (5,000–6,000 meters per second). The kill zone is approximately a radius of 50 meters and casualty radius is 100 meters. The Marine Corps and US Army also uses the M795 High Explosive round.
Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP)
A rocket-assisted HE (also known as H.E.R.A.) round that adds to the maximum range of the normal HE. For the 155 mm RAP round, max range is 30.1 kilometres (18.7 mi).
White Phosphorus (WP)
A base-ejecting projectile which can come in two versions: felt-wedge and standard. White phosphorus smoke is used to start fires, burn a target, or to create smoke which is useful in concealing the movements of friendly units.
Illumination
Illumination projectiles are base-ejecting rounds which deploy a bright parachute flare ideally 600 meters above the ground and illuminates an area of approximately 1 grid square (1,000,000 square meters). Illumination rounds are often used in conjunction with HE rounds, to illuminate the target area so that HE rounds can be fired more effectively. Illumination rounds can also be used during the daytime to mark targets for aircraft. The M485 Illumination round burns for 120 seconds.
Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM)
A base-ejecting projectile which drops 88 bomblets above a target. Each bomblet has a shaped-charge munition capable of penetrating two inches of solid steel as well as a fragmentation casing which is effective against infantry in the open. The DPICM round is effective against armored vehicles, even tanks (since the deck armor is usually the thinnest on the vehicle), and is also extremely useful against entrenched infantry in positions with overhead cover.
Area Denial Artillery Munition System (ADAMS)
An artillery round that releases anti-personnel mines. These mines eject tripwires to act as booby traps, and when triggered are launched upward before exploding. They are designed to self-destruct after a pre-determined period of time.
Remote Anti Armor Mine System (RAAMS)
An artillery round that releases anti-armor mines, usually used along with ADAMS rounds to prevent the antitank mines from being removed. Designed to self-destruct after a pre-determined period of time.
Copperhead
An artillery launched guided high explosive munition which is used for very precise targeting of high value targets such as tanks and fortifications. It requires the target be designated with a laser designator system. This round is currently no longer produced or used by the US military.
Sense and Destroy ARMor (SADARM)
An experimental munition which is fired in the general direction of an enemy vehicle. The shell activates at a certain point in time ejecting a parachute and then guides itself to the nearest vehicle.

Replacement

BAE Systems has won the contract to replace the M-198 in the US Army and Marine Corps with its M777 155 mm/39 cal towed howitzer, which weighs less than 11,000 lb/4,220 kg.

Operators

M198 Howitzers firing during an exercise

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to M198 howitzer.

References

  1. ^ "M198 155mm". Australian Government Department of Defence. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  2. ^ "M198 – 155 mm Howitzer". Islamic Republic of Pakistan, PakDef Military Consortium. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
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