The Type 19 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer (19式装輪自走155mmりゅう弾砲, Hitokyuu-shiki-sourin-jisou-155mm-ryuudan-hou) is a Japanese wheeled self-propelled gun. The vehicle is designed to replace Japan's inventory of FH70 towed howitzers.
| Type 19 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer | |
|---|---|
Type 19 prototype | |
| Type | Self-propelled howitzer |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | Since 2023 |
| Used by | Japan |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Japan Steel Works Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Designed | 2011 to 2016 |
| Manufacturer | Japan Steel Works Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Developed from | Type 99 (cannon) |
| Unit cost | See Operators |
| Produced | Since 2018 |
| No. built | 5 prototypes |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 25.0 t (55,100 lb) |
| Length | 11.21 m (36.8 ft) |
| Width | 2.50 m (8.2 ft) |
| Height | 3.40 m (11.2 ft) |
| Crew | 5 (1 driver, 1 gunner, 1 commander, 2 loaders) |
| Caliber | 155 mm (NATO) |
| Breech | Interrupted screw |
| Rate of fire | 6 rounds per minute |
Main armament | 155 mm/52-calibre |
Secondary armament | None |
| Engine | MAN D2066 LF34 440 hp (330 kW) |
| Power/weight | 17.6 hp/t (13.1 kW/t) |
| Transmission | ZF 12 AS 23010D AS-Tronic (AMT) (12 F / 2 R) MAN G172 transfer case (high / low range) with engageable front axles |
Operational range | 800 km (500 mi) |
Development
In 2011, the Japanese Ministry of Defence (MOD) evaluated a proposal to develop a vehicle capable of networking with other systems and performing shoot-and-scoot tactics to replace the FH70. The MOD's evaluation finished in 2012 and requested 6.4 billion yen be invested into the development of the vehicle in the FY 2013 defence budget; with development and testing occurring between 2013 and 2016. Research and development of the 155 mm wheeled howitzer was granted in the FY 2013 defence budget, although the budget was lowered to 1.4 billion yen.
It is designed to be transported by the Kawasaki C-2 transport aircraft.
On 31 May 2018, the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) received 5 prototypes from Japan Steel Works for testing and evaluation.
Seven wheeled howitzers were procured for training purpose in the FY 2019 defence budget for a total of 5.1 billion yen.
The artillery was officially unveiled in the 2019 East Fuji Manoeuvre Area.
Design
Vehicle
The Type 19 is based on a RMMV 44M 8×8 military truck (part of the HX2 series).
The cabin welcomes three persons from the crew. It is air-conditioned. The two other crew members are at the middle of the truck, one on either side of the gun, in a small compartment designed for their transport.
Cannon
The cannon is based on the Type 99 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. As the cannon is externally mounted, it was modified to remove the smoke extractor of the propellant gasses (present on the Type 99).
It is equipped with an automatic loader for the shells. The propellant modules are loaded manually.
The elevation and traverse angles have not been revealed publicly.
Systems
The Type 19 is an advanced artillery system equipped with a firing command and control system which receives targeting information from artillery observers, and automates the gun pointing and the shooting solutions. It is equipped with both a GPS and INS (Safran Sigma 30) systems.
It keeps optical sights in case of a system failure.
Munitions
Among the ammunition used on the Type 19, there are:
- HE shell:
- Range: ≤ 30 km (19 mi)
- Type 93 Base bleed shell:
- Range: ≤ 40 km (25 mi)
- Vulcano GLR:
- Range: ≤ 70 km (43 mi)
- Guidance: autonomous IMU + GPS
- Drone for targeting equipment
Operators
Current operators
- Japan (58 ordered as of 2025)
This is the list of orders with each fiscal year:
| Fiscal year | Budget (¥ billion) | Quantity | Notes |
| Total planned | — | 227 | |
| 2026 | — | — | |
| 2025 | ¥ 14.0 | 14 | |
| 2024 | ¥ 14.9 | 16 | |
| 2023 | — | — | |
| 2022 | ¥ 4.4 | 7 | |
| 2021 | ¥ 4.5 | 7 | |
| 2020 | ¥ 4.5 | 7 | |
| 2019 | ¥ 8.1 | 7 | |
| Total | ¥ 50.4 | 58 | – |
See also
- Archer – (Sweden)
- ATMOS 2000 – (Israel)
- A-222 Bereg – (Russia)
- 2S22 Bohdana – (Ukraine)
- CAESAR – (France)
- 152 mm SpGH DANA – (Czechoslovakia)
- G6 howitzer – (South Africa)
- AHS Kryl – (Poland)
- Nora B-52 – (Serbia)
- PCL-09 – (China)
- PCL-161 – (China)
- PCL-181 – (China)
- PLL-09 – (China)
- 155 mm SpGH Zuzana – (Slovakia)
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