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Republic of China Army Deploys World’s Largest NATO-Standard Artillery For Major Exercises: 203mm M110 Guns Destroy Landing Force
Asia-Pacific , Ground
Military Watch Magazine Editorial StaffJuly-16th-2026
M110 203mm Howitzers
he Republic of China Army has deployed the world’s largest NATO standard self-propelled howitzer, the M110 203mm artillery system, as part of its Joint Defense Exercise on July 15. The operational scenario progressed to the critical “key area fire destruction” phase, during which artillery units rehearsed delivering concentrated firepower against simulated enemy forces that had established beachheads following an amphibious landing. As part of the exercise, howtizers assigned to the Army’s 21st Artillery Command deployed to dispersed firing positions established in cooperation with civilian sites, where crews practiced camouflage, security procedures, and rapid-fire missions.
Republic of China Army M110 203mm Howitzers
Developed in the United States during the Cold War, the M110 entered service with the U.S. Army in the early 1960s as a mobile heavy artillery system capable of delivering devastating fire against fortified positions, troop concentrations, command posts, and other high-value targets. Mounted on a tracked chassis, the self-propelled gun combined mobility with the firepower of a 203mm (8-inch) cannon, allowing it to keep pace with mechanised formations while rapidly relocating after firing to reduce its vulnerability to counter-battery attacks. Its 203mm M2A2 cannon is capable of firing a variety of ammunition types, including high-explosive, smoke, illumination, and specialised projectiles.
Republic of China Army M110 203mm Howitzers
Depending on the ammunition used, the M110 has a maximum range of approximately 16.8 kilometres with standard shells, while rocket-assisted projectiles can extend this to around 30 kilometres. Its enormous shell, weighing roughly 90 kilograms, delivers significantly greater destructive power than the 155mm artillery pieces that form the backbone of most NATO standard armies. One of the system’s defining characteristics is its ability to destroy hardened targets. During the Cold War, the M110 was designed to neutralise bunkers, underground command facilities, bridges, and heavily fortified defensive positions that were difficult to destroy using smaller-calibre artillery.
M110 203mm Howitzers
The Joint Defense Exercise envisions enemy forces successfully reaching the shoreline, requiring artillery units to engage landing beaches and enemy positions before they could expand inland. The M110 batteries occupied pre-designated tactical locations during the morning and remained on standby to provide fire support. The use of civilian terrain as temporary firing positions reflected the Army’s emphasis on operating from dispersed and less predictable locations, enhancing survivability against precision strikes. Once the order was issued, the crews elevated the guns, adjusted firing angles, and carried out a simulated firing sequence. After completing the mission, the howitzers were quickly concealed beneath camouflage to reduce their visibility to enemy reconnaissance assets.
