Merit 61602 US M198 155mm Howitzer

The M198 is a modern American 155 mm towed field howitzer. Its first prototypes were made in 1968, and serial production began in 1978 and lasted until 1992, ending with the production of over 1,600 examples of this weapon. Rock Island Arsenal was responsible for their production. The initial velocity of the high-impact shell fired from this gun is up to 684 m / s, and the maximum range of the gun is about 22,000 meters when firing traditional ammunition. The maximum rate of fire is 4 shots per minute.

The M198 was put into service to supplement and later replace the M114 howitzer of the same caliber used since World War II. Compared to its predecessor, the M198 has a much better range and requires less maintenance. Despite its greater weight, the M198 can also be transported by the CH-47 Chinnok helicopter. It is also adapted to parachute landing. The M198 howitzer is suitable for firing a wide range of missiles: from high-explosive ammunition, through high-explosive and cluster ammunition, to precision ammunition (the M712 Copperhead missile). Nuclear missiles (W48) also remained in service until 1992. The M198s were used in combat during Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991. They are currently being replaced by the US military by M777 howitzers. The operators of the M198 howitzers, apart from the USA, were several countries, including: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Pakistan and Australia. The M198 is still in service in the latter country's army.