WASHINGTON — The 155 mm howitzer round is one of the most askedfor weapons munitions of the war in Ukraine. Already the U.S. hasactually delivered more than 1.5 million rounds to Ukraine, however Kyiv is still lookingfor more.
A appearance at why this specific munition is so frequently utilized, and why it’s been so vital to the war in Ukraine.
WHAT IS THE 155 MM?
Essentially, the 155 mm round is a really huge bullet, made up of 4 parts: the detonating fuse, projectile, propellant and guide.
Each round is about 2 feet (60 centimeters) long, weighs about 100 pounds (45 kgs), and is 155 mm, or 6.1 inches, in size. They are utilized in howitzer systems, which are hauled big weapons that are recognized by the variety of the angle of fire that their barrels can be set to.
The 155 mm shells can be setup in lotsof methods: They can be jam-packed with extremely dynamite product, usage accuracy assisted systems, pierce armor or produce high fragmentation.
Past variations have consistedof smoke rounds to unknown troop motion and lighting rounds to expose an opponent’s position.
“The 155 mm round and the comparable Soviet-era 152 mm rounds are so popular since they supply a great balance inbetween variety and warhead size,” stated Ryan Brobst, a researchstudy expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. “If you have too little a shell, it won’t do enough damage and go as far. If you have a bigger shell, you can’t always fire it as far. This is the most typical middle ground, and that’s why it’s so extensively utilized.”
155 MM HISTORY
The French veryfirst industrialized the 155 mm round to respond to World War I’s comprehensive trench warfare, and early variations consistedof gas shells, Keri Pleasant, historian for the Army’s Joint Munitions Command, stated in a declaration to The Associated Press.
As World War I continued, the 155 mm weapon endedupbeing the most typical weapons piece utilized by the Allies, Pleasant stated, and the U.S. Army lateron embraced it