Type 19 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Type 19 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer
Type 19 prototype
TypeSelf-propelled howitzer
Place of originJapan
Service history
In serviceSince 2023
Used byJapan
Production history
DesignerJapan Steel Works
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Designed2011 to 2016
ManufacturerJapan Steel Works
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Developed fromType 99 (cannon)
Unit costSee Operators
ProducedSince 2018
No. built5 prototypes
Specifications
Mass25.0 t (55,100 lb)
Length11.21 m (36.8 ft)
Width2.50 m (8.2 ft)
Height3.40 m (11.2 ft)
Crew5 (1 driver, 1 gunner, 1 commander, 2 loaders)
Caliber155 mm (NATO)
BreechInterrupted screw
Rate of fire6 rounds per minute
Main
armament
155 mm/52-calibre
Secondary
armament
None
EngineMAN D2066 LF34
440 hp (330 kW)
Power/weight17.6 hp/t (13.1 kW/t)
TransmissionZF 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)

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.

Development

[edit]

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

Seven wheeled howitzers were procured for training purpose in the FY 2019 defence budget for a total of 5.1 billion yen.[5]

The artillery was officially unveiled in the 2019 East Fuji Manoeuvre Area.[6]

Design

[edit]

Vehicle

[edit]

The Type 19 is based on a RMMV 44M 8×8 military truck (part of the HX2 series).[7]

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.[7][8]

Cannon

[edit]

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).[7][9]

It is equipped with an automatic loader for the shells. The propellant modules are loaded manually.[7]

The elevation and traverse angles have not been revealed publicly. [7]

Systems

[edit]

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.[10][8]

It keeps optical sights in case of a system failure.[11]

Munitions

[edit]

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)[12]
  • Vulcano GLR [it]:[13][14][15]
    • Range: ≤ 70 km (43 mi)
    • Guidance: autonomous IMU + GPS
    • Drone for targeting equipment

Operators

[edit]

Current operators

[edit]
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 [16]
2026 — — [17]
2025 ¥ 14.0 14 [18]
2024 ¥ 14.9 16 [19]
2023 — — [20]
2022 ¥ 4.4 7 [21]
2021 ¥ 4.5 7 [22]
2020 ¥ 4.5 7 [23]
2019 ¥ 8.1 7 [24]
Total ¥ 50.4 58 –
  Targeted number of vehicles
  Budget request

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2011 prior business evaluation evaluation list Development of fire fighting vehicle (Full Text)" (PDF). Ministry of Defense (Japan). 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  2. ^ "2012 Preliminary Business Evaluation Evaluation List Development of fire fighting vehicle (Full Text)" (PDF). Ministry of Defense (Japan). 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Defense Programs and Budget of Japan Overview of FY2013 Budget" (PDF). Ministry of Defense (Japan). January 2013. pp. 10 & 27. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Japan to Procure Additional Type 10 Main Battle Tanks and Type 19 Self-propelled Howitzers - MilitaryLeak.COM". 2023-10-19. Archived from the original on 21 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  5. ^ "Defense Programs and Budget of Japan Overview of FY2019 Budget" (PDF). Ministry of Defense (Japan). December 2018. p. 14. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Japanese army unveils its new Type 19 155mm 8x8 wheeled self-propelled howitzer". Army Recognition. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e "19式装輪自走155mm榴弾砲". combat1.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  8. ^ a b "新型「19式装輪自走155mmりゅう弾砲」を徹底解剖！トラックと一体化し高速道路も走行可能 - MAMOR-WEB". 2025-07-05. Archived from the original on 2025-08-13. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  9. ^ "装輪１５５ｍｍりゅう弾砲（試作品）". Ministry of Defense (Japan). Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  10. ^ "2012 Preliminary Business Evaluation Evaluation List Development of fire fighting vehicle (Reference)" (PDF). Ministry of Defense (Japan). 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  11. ^ "自衛隊の最新榴弾砲！19式装輪155mm自走砲が秘める性能". 海洋国防アカデミー (in Japanese). 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  12. ^ "Type 19". Weaponsystems.net. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  13. ^ "DSEI Japan 2023: Leonardo to Supply JGSDF with Precision-Guided Vulcano 155 mm munitions". 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  14. ^ Cavanna, Giacomo (2025-05-25). "Prove per il 155 VULCANO di Leonardo sul Type 19 giapponese in Galles". Ares Osservatorio Difesa (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  15. ^ "VULCANO 155" (PDF).
  16. ^ "Meet Japan's Latest Howitzer – Type 19 155mm Wheeled SPH". Random Japan Academy. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  17. ^ "FY2026 budget request defence Japan" (PDF). 29 August 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Page 26 - Defence budget Japan 2025" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Overview of the FY2024 Budget (Page 23)" (PDF).
  20. ^ "Overview of the FY2023 Budget" (PDF).
  21. ^ "Overview of FY2022 Budget (Page 49)" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Overview of the FY2021 Budget (Page 49)" (PDF).
  23. ^ "Overview of FY2020 Budget (Page 21 + 49)" (PDF).
  24. ^ "Overview of FY2019 Budget (Page 51)" (PDF).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Type 19 155 mm self-propelled howitzer (JGSDF).