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The first mention of short-barreled cannons being used to shell enemies dates back to
the 15th century.
The Czechs would fire these weapons into crowds of infantry and heavy cavalry.
They called their guns “houfnice”.
The word was later translated into German as “haubitze” before the term “howitzer”
appeared during World War I to describe every artillery weapon of this type.
And so, today we’re going to take a look at some of the best modern howitzers.
The M777 is a household name these days.
It is actively being used by the Ukrainian military to liberate its territories.
The British-American M777 was created to gradually replace the M198 howitzer.
However, we should note that as of 2022, the M198 is not considered obsolete.
The M777 and M198 have the same firing range, but at just 9300 pounds, the M777 is 42% lighter.
This is thanks to the weapon’s extensive use of lightweight titanium parts, thus allowing
it to be towed by transport aircraft and other vehicles.
The M777 uses a digital fire control system.
Navigation, homing, and location are all automated under the supervision of a 5-man crew, allowing
the howitzer to be deployed in just 6 minutes.
The M777 artillery gun fires a standard high-explosive 155 mm M795 and M107.
With these standard projectiles, the howitzer has an effective range of just 13 miles.
However, the M777 can utilize a technology called a Rocket-Assisted Projectile, which
gives an extra push to the projectile, allowing it to reach farther distances.
The M777 can also work with the M982 Excalibur ammunition.
Excalibur ammunition has GPS homing.
The projectile weighs 106 lbs and has a range of approximately 25 to 35 miles, depending
on the configuration.
Its circular error probable (CEP) is about 13 feet.
Gliding stabilizers provide an increased flight range, so the projectile can glide from the
top of the ballistic arc to the target.
Excalibur munitions can be programmed to take a low or high-angled trajectory to the target.
At the moment, the M777 is one of the most cutting edge howitzers, but it does require
separate resources and effort to transport.
The Panzerhaubitze 2000.
What you see before you is an advanced German artillery system.
It has fully automatic charging and fire control systems.
This howitzer uses standard 155mm ammunition.
Its high-explosive fragmentation rounds have a max range of 19 miles, while rockets can
reach up to 25 miles.
The weapon can fire up to 9 rounds per minute.
Like other modern cannons, the howitzer is capable of using the so-called MRSI method.
That means that it can fire up to six rounds that all hit the target at the same time.
The artillery system can also launch several projectiles with different trajectories to
strike the target simultaneously.
It’s devastatingly effective.
This artillery system has a high degree of defense as well.
Its frontal armor can withstand 14.5 mm projectiles.
If necessary, additional dynamic protection can be installed.
The K9 Thunder is a South Korean self-propelled howitzer.
In the late 1980s, the Republic of Korea Armed Forces developed its requirements for a new
domestically produced 155-mm tracked howitzer.
Key operational requirements included a higher rate of fire, longer range, and better accuracy.
Development of the K9 Thunder began in 1989, and it entered service in 1999.
The K9 is welded from 20 tons of armor steel.
The hull can withstand explosive pressure and fragmentation from 155mm high-explosive
shells, 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds and anti-personnel mines.
Its power unit consists of a 1000-hp engine and a modern chassis with hydropneumatic suspension.
The 47-ton machine has a top speed of 42 mph and is capable of operating in a variety of
terrains including desert, snow, jungle, and mountains.
It can also be used as self-propelled coastal artillery against naval targets, creating
an impenetrable zone within its combat radius.
The K9 is compatible with standard NATO 155mm ammunition.
Its maximum firing range is 19 miles for a standard high-explosive fragmentation projectile
and 25 miles with a rocket-propelled projectile.
The K9 Thunder has a maximum rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute and can fire multiple
shots at the same time.
It is capable of firing three projectiles in 15 seconds, each with a different trajectory
in order to strike the target simultaneously.
This artillery system carries a total of 48 rounds for the main gun.
The K9 is equipped with an automatic fire control system with internal navigation and
automatic guidance systems.
It takes 30 seconds to fire from a stationary position, and 60 seconds while on the move.
The artillery system is supported by a dedicated K10 resupply vehicle - also based on the K9
chassis.
The reloading process is fully automated and can be carried out without exposing the crew
to enemy fire.
The Zuzana 2 is a Slovak self-propelled howitzer.
Its prototype was first presented in 2008.
In 2018, the Slovak Ministry of Defense ordered 25 of these artillery systems.
Unlike many self-propelled howitzers, the Zuzana 2 is based on an armored 8x8 wheeled
chassis, which is cheaper to manufacture and maintain than a tracked chassis.
This artillery system is armed with a 155 mm L52 cannon.
The howitzer is compatible with all standard NATO 155mm ammunition.
Its rocket munitions have a max range of 25 miles.
The Zuzana 2 artillery system can fire 6 rounds in the first minute or 16 rounds in 3 minutes.
It is also capable of firing multiple shots at the same time.
The weapon also features automatic aiming.
Firing data is calculated by its on-board computer, which then aims the gun at the target
automatically.
The Zuzana 2’s armor provides protection against small arms fire and artillery shell
fragmentation.
Its front arc can withstand 14.5 mm armor-piercing projectiles.
The vehicle is equipped with defense against weapons of mass destruction and an automatic
fire extinguishing system.
There is also a 12.7-mm machine gun on the roof for further self-defense.
The 155mm Archer is designed to engage both stationary and mobile targets on land as well
as at sea.
Its ability to meet the needs of ground forces makes it one of the best howitzers in the
world.
This artillery system is mounted on the chassis of a commercially available 6x6 Volvo A30D
articulated hauler.
It is equipped with a fully automated 155 mm L52 cannon and a remotely controlled weapon
station.
The main gun provides an intense rate of fire of 21 rounds in 3.5 minutes and can fire all
types of 155mm projectiles, including advanced sensor-fuze and precision munitions.
The Archer system has a modern fire control system capable of accurately tracking and
striking an enemy object up to 31 miles away.
The system can fire a volley and leave the scene in just 40 seconds.
The Archer's cockpit is designed to protect its crew from artillery fragments and mines,
as well as nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.
The highly mobile vehicle can achieve speeds of 44 mph and has a range of 310 miles.
The G6 Rhino is a veteran of our videos, but despite its older design, it is still a very
successful artillery system.
The first prototype was built in 1981, and the weapon saw action in Angola before it
was even put into mass production.
The G6 Rhino has been designed to meet the requirements of the South African National
Defense Force.
The G6 uses a specially designed, heavily armored wheeled chassis.
Its front arc provides protection against 20mm bullets.
It also has a circular radius of protection against small arms fire and artillery shell
fragments.
This vehicle is well-protected from high-explosive rounds.
The artillery system is equipped with a 155 mm L45 howitzer cannon based on the G5 field
gun.
The howitzer is compatible with all 155 mm NATO ammunition.
Its max firing range varies between 19 and 25 miles, depending on the projectile.
At the same time, the howitzer is also capable of firing recently developed long-range projectiles,
giving it a maximum strike range of 31 miles.
The G6 artillery system can fire 4 rounds per minute and carry a total of 47 rounds.
Its crew consists of 5 personnel, all working under full armor protection.
The G6 Rhino may not be the most advanced equipment in terms of technology, but it outperforms
most other wheeled self-propelled howitzers in terms of range, firepower, and protection.
The NORA B-52 is a Serbian self-propelled howitzer designed to replace the Serbian Army’s
out-dated equipment.
The NORA B-52 is equipped with a 155 mm L52 howitzer gun.
It uses all standard NATO 155mm ammunition and features an automatic loader capable of
firing 6 rounds per minute.
The vehicle can carry 36 shells in total, with the autoloader capable of holding 12
rounds at a time.
The howitzer has a maximum strike range of 12.5 miles with conventional projectiles and
25 miles with rockets.
Early versions of the NORA B-52 were installed on Serbian FAP 2832 trucks.
However, later improved models were mounted on the chassis of 8x8 Russian KamAZ trucks.
There is also an armored version of this artillery system that protects the crew from small arms
fire and artillery shell fragments.
It can also defend against weapons of mass destruction.
The vehicle is capable of withstanding explosions equal to 14 pounds of TNT.
Even in our world of advanced modern technologies, howitzers haven’t lost their relevance.
They are constantly being upgraded and still play an active role in modern warfare.
That's all for today.
We hope you enjoyed the video.
Which howitzer did you like the most and which one do you think provides the greatest military
advantage?
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