M198 howitzer

M198
Type	Towed howitzer
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1979–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Lebanese Civil War Gulf War Somali Civil War War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War
Production history
Designed	1968–1977
Manufacturer	Rock Island Arsenal (US)
Unit cost	US$ 527,337
Produced	1978–1992
No. built	1,600+
Specifications
Mass	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 m (19.98 ft) L/39[1]
Width	Travel: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Height	Travel: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Crew	9 enlisted men
Shell	Separate loading charge and projectile[2]
Caliber	155 mm (6.1 inch)
Breech	Interrupted screw[2]
Recoil	Hydro-pneumatic[2]
Carriage	Split trail[2]
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), RAP and L/52 barrel: 40km (25 mi)

The M198 is a medium-sized, towed 155 mm artillery piece, developed for service with the United States Army and 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.