CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind., - The Indiana National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 150th Field Artillery Regiment fired the final rounds using the M-198 155-millimeter towed howitzer here Sept. 18.
The last round fired from the M-198 brought closure to an era that spans 18 years for the battalion.
Indiana’s field artillery community participated in the ceremonious event with a direct fire of the M-198.
The 38th Infantry Division commanding general, Maj. Gen. Tod Carmony, was in attendance along with many field artillery senior leaders. This firing brought members of the battalion, current and retired, from all over Indiana and surrounding states to mark the historic event.
“This is an opportunity to bring them out and be part of the turning to the next page of this book,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Thibodeau, commander of the 2-150th. “Instead of looking toward the future all the time, it is nice to stop occasionally and look at how did we get here and recognize some people that were instrumental in developing this organization.”
In a rare direct fire mode, attendees were able to see firsthand the power of the M-198 as the cannon fired 155 mm rounds, destroying the intended target a few thousand meters down range.
With the final rounds, attendees and senior leaders were given the opportunity to be a part of the firing team by pulling a 25-foot ceremonial lanyard to initiate the firing of the cannon.
“The direct fire is one of the only times that you get to see us shoot the howitzer and see the rounds impact,” said Thibodeau.
In the early 1990s, the 2-150th received the M-198 which replaced the M-114 Towed Howitzer that had been used since the 1940s. With the changing times and needs of field artillery the M-198 was a welcome change for the battalion.
“The M-114 was an excellent weapon that had been around since World War II,” said Master Sgt. Therron Thomas, operations noncommissioned officer for Indiana Joint Forces Headquarters. “When we saw these (M-198) come in, all the specifications said they were going to be a more accurate and timely weapon. They proved to be. I was excited about it.”
The M-198 is constructed of aluminum and steel used mainly for indirect fire. It is transportable by wheeled vehicles, helicopters and transport aircraft. The M-198 provided increased range, reliability, and maintainability than its previous predecessors. The howitzer was used throughout the Cold War and in current operations.
The battalion’s retirement of the M-198 does not mark the end of the 155 mm howitzer, but makes way for a new system, the M-777 155-millimeter lightweight howitzer. The new howitzer is intended to provide even better capabilities on the battle fields of tomorrow while still delivering the lethal punch of its 100 pounds of explosives and steel.
“We are kind of sad to see this particular piece go, but we are also stoked to get the new one that we are replacing it with,” said Spc. Tyler Flynn, a gun crew member. “Artillery has changed over the years.”
With the new M-777 the battalion will be one of only a handful of National Guard units with the most modern and relevant towed-artillery system in the nation.
“We are looking forward to the future and the opportunity,” said Thibodeau. “We are proud to continue our legacy of tube-towed howitzers.”