M198 howitzer

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The M198 howitzer is a medium-sized, towed artillery piece. It can be dropped by parachute or transported by a CH-47 Chinook. 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 US Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force organizations.

The M198 has been replaced by the BAE Systems Land Systems M777 ultra lightweight howitzer, with deliveries commencing. The M198 is also used by the Australian Army.

[edit] General characteristics

Length:
- In tow: 12.3 m (40 ft 6 in)
- Firing: 11 m (36 ft 2 in)
Width in tow: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Height in tow: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Weight: 7,154 kg (15,772 lb)
Bore diameter: 155 mm
Maximum effective range:
- conventional ammunition: 22,400 m (14 miles)
- rocket-assisted projectile: 30,000 m (18.6 miles)
Rate of Fire:
- Maximum: 4 round/min
- Sustained: 2 round/min
Crew: 9 enlisted
Unit Replacement Cost: US$527,337

[edit] Capable munitions

High Explosive (HE) (M-107 Normal Cavity): Explosive Composition B material packed into a thick shell which causes a large blast and sends razor sharp fragments at extreme velocities (5000-6000 meters per second). The kill zone is approximately a radius of 50 meters and casualty radius is 100 meters. The Marine Corps also uses the M795 High Explosive round.

R.A.P: A rocket assisted HE round that adds to the max range of the normal HE. There is a cap at the base of this round, you can unscrew, and upon the howitzer's firing, the blast ignites a delay element. The round flies for several seconds before the rocket ignites for exteneded range. This round travels the farthest of out of all Artillery Rounds.

Smoke: A base ejecting projectile used to cover troop and vehicle movements

White Phosphorous (WP): A base ejecting projectile which can come in two versions: Felt-wedge and standard. White phosphorous smoke is used to start fires, burn a target, or to create smoke.

Illumination: Illumination projectiles are a base ejecting round which pop out a bright flare approximately 600 meters above the ground and illuminate an area of approximately 1000 meters. Illumination rounds are often used in conjunction with HE rounds. Illumination rounds can also be used during the daytime to mark targets for aircraft. The M485 Illumination round burns for 120 seconds.

DPICM:Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition a A base ejecting projectile which drops 88 bomblets above a target. Each bomblet has a shaped-charge munition capable of penetrating 2 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, and is also extremely useful against entrenched infantry in positions with overhead cover. Some bomblets fail to detonate and the undetonated bomblets are very dangerous to civilians (like a land mine) so they cannot be used in urbanized areas.

ADAMS: An artillery round that releases antipersonnel mines. These mines eject tripwires to act as booby traps and when triggered are launched upward before exploding. Designed to self destruct after a pre-determined period of time.

RAAMS: An artillery round that releases anti armor mines. Usually used along with ADAM 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.

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.