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Special Report

The US Army’s Longest-Range Artillery Weapons

Photo of Melissa Bauernfeind
By Melissa Bauernfeind Published
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The US Army’s Longest-Range Artillery Weapons

© Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

The United States military is the most powerful in the world. According to GlobalFirepower, in a ranking of 145 countries by military capabilities, the U.S. came out on top (followed by Russia and China respectively.)  The size of their fleets, from air and ground to water, places them at the forefront but what keeps them leading the globe is their technology. One of the world’s most technologically advanced armed forces, illustrated by its cutting-edge artillery systems, America’s artillery weapons exhibit a broad range of capabilities, with some capable of reaching targets over vast distances.

24/7 Wall St. referenced GlobalSecurity.org’s online database of weapons systems to determine the U.S. Army’s longest-range artillery weapons. GlobalSecurity.org is a source of information in the fields of defense, space, intelligence, WMD, and homeland security. Mobile and towed artillery used on the battlefield were focused on for this list, which includes all ground artillery weapons in use by the U.S. military ranked by their range, from shortest to longest range. All other information came from GlobalSecurity.org or, when unavailable, from third-party military sites.

One of the most agile and effective artillery pieces the U.S. military has been using in recent years is the 155mm 39 caliber towed gun known as the M777, of which there are more than 1200 in service, according to BAE Systems figures. This 155mm howitzer has been used extensively by ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and boasts an impressive range of up to 40 kilometers (nearly 25 miles). It is also highly mobile, making it a favorite among troops who need to quickly move and set up their firing positions. (These are the prototype guns rejected by the US military.)

Another long-range artillery weapon used extensively in recent years is the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. This system, which can fire a variety of missile types up to 300 kilometers (about 185 miles) away, has been used in recent conflicts in the Middle East. It is capable of delivering a devastating amount of firepower to enemy positions.

Some of Ukraine’s allies have provided it with MLRS systems to aid it in its fight against Russia. The U.S. also sent Ukraine quite a few M124 HIMARs rocket systems – another system on this list. (These are all the sniper rifles used by the U.S. Military.)

Click here to see the U.S. military’s longest-range artillery

24. M224 60-mm

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 3.5 kilometers
  • Fastest rate of fire: 30 rounds per minute for 4 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 20 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 3

23. M29 81-mm

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 4.79 kilometers
  • Fastest rate of fire: 25 rounds per minute for 2 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 8 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 5

22. M252 81-mm

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 5.8 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 30 rounds per minute for 2 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 15 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 5

21. LAV-M

Lindseyfr / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 5.8 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 30 rounds per minute for 2 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 15 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 5

20. M30 107-mm

US Army / Public Domain
  • Max range 7.2 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 18 rounds per minute for 1 minute
  • Sustained rate of fire: 3 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 5

19. M125

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 7.2 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 16 rounds per minute for 1 minute
  • Sustained rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 6

18. M1064

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 7.2 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 16 rounds per minute for 1 minute
  • Sustained rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 6

17. M120 120-mm

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 7.2 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 16 rounds per minute for 1 minute
  • Sustained rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 5

16. EFSS

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 7.2 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 16 rounds per minute for 1 minute
  • Sustained rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 5

15. LAV-EFSS

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 7.2 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 16 rounds per minute for 1 minute
  • Sustained rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 5

14. EFOGM

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 15 kilometers
  • Fastest rate of fire: 9 minute reload (8-24 rockets)
  • Sustained rate of fire: Not applicable
  • Crew size: 2

13. Hawkeye MWS

Public Domain / US Army
  • Max range 19.5 kilometers
  • Fastest rate of fire: 8 rounds per minute for 3 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 3 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 4

12. M109

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 23 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute for 3 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 1 round per minute
  • Crew size: 6

11. M992 FAASV

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 23 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute for 3 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 1 round per minute
  • Crew size: 0

10. M109A6 Paladin

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 30 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute for 3 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 1 round per minute
  • Crew size: 4

9. M109A7 Paladin

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 30 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute for 3 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 1 round per minute
  • Crew size: 4

8. M198

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 30 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 4 rounds per minute for 3 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 2 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 9

7. FCS NLOS

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 30 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 10 rounds per minute
  • Sustained rate of fire: 10 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 2

6. M2001 Crusader

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 40 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 10-12 rounds per minute for 3-5 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 6 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 3

5. M777 LW155

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 40 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 5-8 rounds per minute for 2 minutes
  • Sustained rate of fire: 2 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 5

4. M1299 ERCA

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 70 kilometers
  • Fastest rate of fire: 3 rounds per minute
  • Sustained rate of fire: 3 rounds per minute
  • Crew size: 4

3. M270 MLRS

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 300 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 9-minute reload (12 rockets)
  • Sustained rate of fire: Not applicable
  • Crew size: 3

2. M993 MLRS

Courtesy of Lockheed Martin via Army.mil
  • Max range 300 kilometers (tied)
  • Fastest rate of fire: 9-minute reload (12 rockets)
  • Sustained rate of fire: Not applicable
  • Crew size: 3

1. M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Max range 499 kilometers
  • Fastest rate of fire: 5-minute reload (2-6 rockets)
  • Sustained rate of fire: Not applicable
  • Crew size: 3
Photo of Melissa Bauernfeind
About the Author Melissa Bauernfeind →

Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.

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