The M198 is a 155 mm, towed, medium‑caliber field artillery piece developed in the United States during the late 1970s. It entered United States Army service in 1979 and has been widely exported to allied nations. The weapon is designed to provide mobile, indirect fire support for maneuver forces and is capable of firing a variety of standard NATO ammunition types.
Development and Production
- Origin: United States
- Design agency: U.S. Army Ordnance Corps, with manufacturing contracts awarded to Hughes Aircraft Company (later Hughes Aerospace) and later to the General Dynamics Land Systems division.
- Design period: 1970s; prototype trials conducted in the early 1970s.
- First production: 1975; full‑rate production continued into the 1990s.
The M198 was intended to replace the aging M114 155 mm howitzer, offering increased range, weight reduction, and ease of deployment. The design emphasized a balance between firepower and tactical mobility, allowing the system to be air‑lifted by C‑130 Hercules and CH‑47 Chinook aircraft and towed by a range of vehicles, including the M998 HMMWV and the M1081 trailer.
Technical Specifications (typical configuration)
- Caliber: 155 mm (6.1 in)
- Barrel length: L/39 (approximately 6.07 m)
- Weight (in firing position): ≈ 7,150 kg (15,750 lb)
- Maximum range: 22.4 km (with standard M107 high‑explosive projectile); up to 30 km with rocket‑assisted projectiles (e.g., M549)
- Elevation: −5° to +71.5°
- Traverse: 360° (full circle) via a split‑trail carriage
- Rate of fire: 2–4 rounds per minute sustained; up to 5 rounds per minute for short periods
- Ammunition types: High‑explosive (M107), high‑explosive anti‑tank (M795), smoke, illumination, precision‑guided (M712 Copperhead) and rocket‑assisted (M549) rounds
Operational Use
The M198 has been deployed in numerous conflicts, including the Gulf War (1990‑1991), the Kosovo War (1999), the Iraq War (2003‑2011), and the Afghanistan campaign (2001‑2021). It serves in both artillery battalions of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps; the Marine Corps designates it as the M198 155 mm Towed Howitzer. The system is also employed by the armed forces of countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom (as the L118 Light Gun, a derivative), Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and others, often under license or through U.S. foreign military sales.
Variants and Successors
- M198A2: A limited upgrade program in the 1990s introduced improved fire-control equipment and minor component refinements.
- M119: A lightweight 105 mm towed howitzer based on the same carriage concept, intended for rapid deployment forces.
- M777: A more recent 155 mm towed howitzer that employs a high‑strength aluminum alloy carriage, offering a substantially lower weight (≈ 4,200 kg) while maintaining comparable firepower; it has begun to replace the M198 in U.S. service.
Logistics and Support
The M198 is supported by a dedicated suite of support vehicles, including the M777A1 Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle (FAASV) for ammunition transport, and the M1097 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) for spare parts and maintenance. The artillery fire-control system integrates with the U.S. Army’s Digital Topographic Support System (DTSS) and the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) network for targeting and coordination.
Current Status
As of the mid‑2020s, the U.S. Army and Marine Corps have largely transitioned to the M777 155 mm howitzer for new procurements, but a substantial number of M198 units remain in service with reserve components, training establishments, and allied nations. The system continues to be maintained under existing contracts and remains a viable platform for conventional indirect‑fire missions.