View source for M198 howitzer

{{Short description|American 155 mm towed howitzer}}
<!-- {{Redirect|M198}} incorrect for now, but to be restored if move discussion on dab results in restoration of redirect-->
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = M198
| image              = U.S. Marines in the Persian Gulf War (1991) 001.jpg
| origin             = [[United States]]
| type               = Towed [[howitzer]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = 
| is_bladed          = 
| is_explosive       = 
| is_artillery       = yes
| is_vehicle         = 
| is_missile         = 
| is_UK              = <!-- Service history -->
| service            = 1979–present
| used_by            = See [[#Operators|Operators]]
| wars               = [[Lebanese Civil War]]<br />[[Gulf War]]<br />[[Somali Civil War]]<br />[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]<br />[[Iraq War]]<br />[[War in Iraq (2013-2017)]]<br />[[Syrian Civil War]]
<!-- Production history -->| designer           = 
| design_date        = 1968–1977
| manufacturer       = [[Rock Island Arsenal]] (US)
| unit_cost          = US$ 527,337
| production_date    = 1978–1992
| number             = 1,600+
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| spec_label         = 
| weight             = 7,154 kg (15,772 lb)
| length             = Combat: 11 m (36 ft 2 in)<br />Travel: 12.3 m (40 ft 6 in)
| part_length        = 6.09 m (19.98 ft) L/39<ref>Hogg, Ian. Twentieth-Century Artillery. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2000. {{ISBN|0-7607-1994-2}} Pg.67</ref>
| width              = Travel: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
| height             = Travel: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
| diameter           = 
| crew               = 9 enlisted men
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->| cartridge          = Separate loading charge and projectile<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Jane's pocket book of towed artillery|last=Foss|first=Christopher|date=1977|publisher=Collier|page=129|isbn=0020806000|location=New York|oclc=911907988}}</ref>
| caliber            = [[155 mm]] (6.1 inch)
| action             = 
| rate               = Maximum: 4 rpm<br />Sustained: 2 rpm
| velocity           = {{convert|684|m/s|abbr=on}}
| range              = 
| max_range          = Conventional: 22.4km (14 mi), [[Rocket Assisted Projectile|RAP]]: 30km (18.6 mi), RAP and L/52 barrel: 40km (25 mi)
| feed               = 
| sights             = <!-- Artillery specifications -->
| breech             = [[Interrupted screw]]<ref name=":0" />
| recoil             = [[Hydraulic recoil mechanism|Hydro-pneumatic]]<ref name=":0" />
| carriage           = [[Gun carriage#Modern gun carriages|Split trail]]<ref name=":0" />
| elevation          = −5° to +72°
| traverse           = 45°
}}

The '''M198''' is a medium-sized, towed [[155 mm]] [[artillery]] piece, developed for service with the [[United States Army]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]. It was commissioned to be a replacement for the World War II-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.

The M198 was replaced in US and Australian service by the [[M777 howitzer]].

==Description==
{{more citations needed|section|date=September 2017}}
The M198 155&nbsp;mm [[howitzer]] weighs less than {{convert|16000|lb|kg}}, allowing it to be dropped by [[parachute]] or transported by a [[CH-53E Super Stallion]] or [[CH-47 Chinook]]. The M198 is towed by a {{convert|5|ST|t LT|abbr=on|adj=on}} truck that is used to carry the nine person crew with supplies and ammunition; it 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 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 separate-loading (non-fixed or semi-fixed) ammunition and can be loaded with a variety of propellants and projectiles. The effective range is {{convert|18.1|km|abbr=on}} when firing standard projectiles, which increases to {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} when firing [[rocket-assisted projectile]]s and guided ammunition. With the 52-caliber modification, the range can surpass {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}}. The weapon system requires a crew of nine, and is capable of firing at a maximum rate of four rounds per minute, two sustained.

The M198 was deployed in separate [[corps]]- and [[Military organization#Hierarchy of modern armies|army]]-level field artillery units, as well as in artillery [[battalion]]s of [[light infantry|light]] and [[airborne forces|airborne]] divisions. It provided field artillery fire support for all [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force]] organizations until the adoption of the M777 howitzer.

==Ammunition types==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}}
[[File: Royal Thai Army firing M198 howitzer.jpg|thumb|Royal Thai Army firing M198 howitzer]]

;High explosive (HE)
:([[M107 (projectile)|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 ({{convert|5,000-6,000|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}). The kill zone has an approximate radius of {{convert|50|m|abbr=on}}, and the [[casualty radius]] is {{convert|100|m|abbr=on}}. The Marine Corps and US Army also uses the [[M795 projectile|M795]] High Explosive round.

;Rocket-assisted projectile (RAP)
: A high-explosive rocket-assisted (HERA) [[M549]] round with a greater range than the normal HE. The maximum range is {{convert|30.1|km|abbr=on}}.

;White phosphorus
: A base-ejecting projectile which can come in two versions: felt-wedge and standard. [[White phosphorus (weapon)|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 {{convert|600|m|abbr=on}} above the ground and illuminate an area of approximately 1 grid square ({{convert|1|sqkm|abbr=on}}). 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 that drops 88 [[cluster bomb|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 [[armoured warfare|armored vehicles]], even [[tank]]s (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 predetermined period.

;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 predetermined period.

;[[M712 Copperhead|Copperhead]]
: An artillery launched guided high-explosive munition used for very precise targeting of high-value targets such as tanks and bunkers. No longer produced or used by the US military, it required the target to be designated with a laser designator system.

;[[Sense and Destroy ARMor]] (SADARM)
: An experimental munition 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.

;[[W48|XM454 AFAP (artillery fired atomic projectile)]] (W48)
: The XM454 AFAP (W48) nuclear artillery shell had a 155mm caliber and an explosive yield of only {{convert|72|tTNT|GJ}}. All units were retired from service in 1992.<ref name=W48History>{{cite report |date=January 1968 |title=History of the Mk48 Shell (U) SC-M-57-680 |url=https://osf.io/wsdxr/ |publisher=Sandia National Labs}}</ref><ref name=NukeArc>{{cite web |url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Allbombs.html |title=Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons |website=nuclearweaponarchive.org |access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>

==Replacement==
[[BAE Systems]] won the contract to replace the M198 in the US Army and Marine Corps with its [[M777]] 155&nbsp;mm/39 cal towed howitzer, which weighs less than {{convert|4200|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name="BAEweight">{{citation|title=U.S. Upgrades and Orders More Lightweight BAE Systems Howitzers|url=http://www.baesystems.com/article/BAES_028164/us-upgrades-and-orders-more-lightweight-bae-systems-howitzers|publisher=BAE Systems|access-date=2015-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710110759/http://www.baesystems.com/article/BAES_028164/us-upgrades-and-orders-more-lightweight-bae-systems-howitzers|archive-date=2015-07-10|url-status=live}}</ref>  It was introduced in 2005.

==Operators==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}}
[[File:M198 operators.png|thumb|400px|Map with M198 operators in blue and former operators in red]]
[[Image:8-12 Med Regt (USMC).jpg|thumb|Australian M198s firing during an exercise]]

===Current operators===
* {{Flag|Bahrain}}: 28 in service with the [[Royal Bahraini Army]]{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=346}}
* {{Flag|Ecuador}}: 10{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=431}}
* {{SLV}}: 12{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=433}}
* {{Flag|Honduras}}: 4{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=438}}
* {{Flag|Iraq}}: 60{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=358}}
**{{Flag|Kurdistan}}{{sfn|Military Balance|2016|page=491}}
* {{Flag|Lebanon}}: 218{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=368}}
* {{Flag|Morocco}}: 35 units.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inss.org.il/upload/(FILE)1188812948.pdf |title=Morocco |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120142629/http://www.inss.org.il/upload/(FILE)1188812948.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 November 2008 |website=www.inss.org.il |date=20 November 2008}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Pakistan}}: 148{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=302}}
* {{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}: 60 in service with the [[Saudi Arabian Army]] and 58 in service with the [[Saudi Arabian National Guard]]{{sfn|IISS|2024|pages=382,384}}
* {{Flag|Tunisia}}: 55{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=389}}
* {{Flag|Thailand}}: 118 units in service with [[Royal Thai Army]]{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=319}}
===Former operators===
* {{Flag|Australia}}: 36
* {{Flaglist|ISIS}}: 52 captured.<ref>{{cite web |title=ISIS Militants Captured 52 American-Made Artillery Weapons That Cost $500,000 Each |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/isis-has-52-american-weapons-that-can-hit-baghdad-2014-7 |website=Business Insider |access-date=2018-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103200918/https://www.businessinsider.com/isis-has-52-american-weapons-that-can-hit-baghdad-2014-7 |archive-date=2019-01-03 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/15/isil-captured-52-us-made-howitzers-artillery-weapo/ |title=ISIL captured 52 U.S.-made howitzers; artillery weapons cost 500K each |website=[[The Washington Times]] |access-date=2019-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105044800/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/15/isil-captured-52-us-made-howitzers-artillery-weapo/ |archive-date=2019-01-05 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some were taken back while other were destroyed by air strikes.{{cn|date=July 2022}}
* {{Flag|Somalia}}: 18 used during the [[Siad Barre]] era{{sfn|IISS|1989|page=113}}
* {{Flag|United States}}: 358

==See also==
* [[List of artillery]]
* [[List of crew served weapons of the US Armed Forces]]
* {{annotated link|2A36 Giatsint-B}}
* {{annotated link|152 mm howitzer 2A65 Msta-B}}
* {{annotated link|Soltam M-71}}
* {{annotated link|KH179}}
* {{annotated link|M795}}
* {{annotated link|M864}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last1=Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The military balance, 1989-1990 |date=1989 |publisher=Brassey's |location=London |isbn=978-0080375694 |author1-link=Institute for Strategic Studies |ref={{SfnRef|IISS|1989}}}}
* {{cite book |title=The Military Balance 2016 |date=February 2016 |volume=116 |isbn=978-1-85743-835-2 |publisher=Routledge |ref={{harvid|Military Balance|2016}} |author=International Institute for Strategic Studies |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies}}
*{{cite report |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2024 |date=12 February 2024 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781040051153 |edition=1st |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |ref={{SfnRef|IISS|2024}}}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|M198 howitzer}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100608150730/http://www.history.army.mil/books/www/259b.htm Weapon Profile] as part of ''The Whirlwind War The United States Army in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM'' a publication of the [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
* [https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m198.htm www.fas.org – M198 Towed Howitzer]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080605002819/http://tech.military.com/equipment/view/146534/m198-155mm-towed-howitzer.html www.military.com – M198 155&nbsp;mm Towed Howitzer]
* [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/imgsrv/download/pdf?id=umn.31951d03556683q;orient=0;size=100;seq=1103;attachment=0 Development prototype XM198 (U.S. Army photo)]

[[Category:155 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Cold War artillery of the United States]]
[[Category:Field artillery]]
[[Category:Artillery of the United States]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps equipment]]
[[Category:Howitzers]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s]]