Credit
Staff Sgt. Vance · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
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At a glance
M198 howitzerlarger figure on 2 of 3
Mauser BK-27larger figure on 1 of 3
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Combat
Single sourceTravel
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | M198 howitzer | Mauser BK-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Towed howitzer[source] | Revolver cannon[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | Germany[source] |
| In service | 1979–present[source] | — |
| Used by | See Operators[source] | See operators[source] |
| Wars | Lebanese Civil War Gulf War Somali Civil War War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War 2025 Cambodia‒Thailand conflict 2026 Afghanistan-Pakistan war |
Combat: 11 m (36 ft 2 in) Travel: 12.3 m (40 ft 6 in)[source]
Length
Single source2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)[source]
Travel
Single sourceTravel: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)[source]
Travel
Single sourceTravel: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)[source]
enlisted men
Single source9 enlisted men[source]
Maximum; Conventional
Single sourceMaximum; RAP
Single sourceMaximum; RAP and L/52 barrel
Single sourceConventional: 22.4km (14 mi), RAP : 30km (18.6 mi), RAP and L/52 barrel: 40km (25 mi)[source]
Maximum; Air targets
Single sourceMaximum; High speed naval targets
Single sourceMaximum
Single sourceSustained
Single sourceMaximum: 4 rpm Sustained: 2 rpm[source]
+/−
Single source), selectable
Single sourceBars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| — |
| Designed | 1968–1977[source] | 1976[source] |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Rock Island Arsenal (US)[source] | Mauser (now Rheinmetall)[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | US$ 527,337[source] | — |
|---|
| Produced | 1978–1992[source] | 1977–present[source] |
|---|
| No. built | 1,600+[source] | 3,100~[source] |
|---|
| Shell | Separate loading charge and projectile[source] | 27×145 mm[source] |
|---|
| Breech | Interrupted screw[source] | — |
|---|
| Recoil | Hydro-pneumatic[source] | — |
|---|
| Carriage | Split trail[source] | — |
|---|
| Elevation | −5° to +72°[source] | — |
|---|
| Traverse | 45°[source] | — |
|---|
| Designer | — | Mauser (now Rheinmetall )[source] |
|---|
| Barrels | — | Single barrel[source] |
|---|
| Action | — | five-chamber revolver[source] |
|---|
| Operation | — | revolver[source] |
|---|
| Weight (complete) | — | 100 kg (220 lb)[source] |
|---|
| Muzzle energy | — | ≈157,300 Joules[source] |
|---|
| Projectile weight | — | 260 g (9.2 oz)[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
| — |
|---|
Maximum; Surface targets
Single sourceAir targets: 2,500 meters Surface targets: 4,000 meters High speed naval targets: 2,500 meters[source]
1,000–1,700 rpm (+/− 100 rpm), selectable[source]