M198 howitzer

M198 Howitzer
A 155 mm M198 howitzer firing
Type	Towed howitzer
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1979 to present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Gulf War
Production history
Designed	1968–1977
Manufacturer	Rock Island Arsenal (US)
Unit cost	US$ 527,337
Produced	1978–1992
Number built	1,600+
Specifications
Weight	7,154 kg (15,772 lb)
Length	Combat: 11 m (36 ft 2 in) Travel: 12.3 m (40 ft 6 in)
Barrel length	6.09 (19.98 ft)
Width	Travel: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Height	Travel: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Crew	9 enlisted men
Caliber	155 mm (6.1 in)
Elevation	-5° to +72°
Traverse	45°
Rate of fire	Maximum: 4 rpm Sustained: 2 rpm
Muzzle velocity	684 m/s (2,240 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	Conventional: 22.4km (14 mi) RAP: 30km (18.6 mi)

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

The M198 is being replaced in US and Australian service by the M777 howitzer.

The M198 155 mm howitzer weighs less than 16,000 pounds (7,300 kg), 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 tail first. The gun tube can be rotated over the howitzer's trail legs to reduce its length, though this requires removal of the muzzle brake, or left in the firing position for faster deployment. When firing, the weapon is lowered onto its baseplate rather than being anchored to the ground, allowing for rapid emplacement. The breech 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 is 18,100 meters when firing standard projectiles, which increases to 30,000 meters when firing rocket-assisted projectiles and guided ammunition. With the 52-caliber modification the range can surpass 40,000 meters. The weapon system requires a crew of 9 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.