M110A2 - Belgium's nuclear-armed artillery

[Thomas_Belgium]

Would you like to see this in-game?

• Yes
• No

Where would you like to see this vehicle?

• (independent) BeNeLux tree
• France: BeNeLux subtree
• other
• no/negative

The Belgian Army fielded the M110 heavy self-propelled howitzer from the 1960s through the end of the Cold War. Initially delivered in the base M110 form, the vehicles were later modernised to the M110A2 standard, which gave Belgium a powerful long-range artillery system within NATO’s Central Front. These guns were assigned to the 20th Artillery Battalion/Regiment and were stationed in Germany alongside Belgian I Corps forces. A few examples remain today in museums such as Gunfire Brasschaat.

TL;DR: Belgian-operated M110 upgraded to M110A2 standard with 203 mm gun, used by 20th Artillery Regiment in Germany.

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History

History

The M110 self-propelled howitzer was designed by the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s to provide NATO with a mobile heavy artillery system capable of firing powerful 8-inch (203 mm) shells at long ranges. The chassis was based on a modified M107/M578 family tracked platform, and the weapon was the 203 mm M115/M201 howitzer. The vehicle saw wide adoption in NATO and U.S. service from the Vietnam War through the Gulf War.

Belgium adopted the M110 in the late 1960s to replace its older heavy towed artillery pieces. These howitzers were primarily assigned to the 20th Artillery Battalion (later Regiment), which was stationed with the Belgian I Corps in West Germany as part of NATO’s forward defence. The unit was tasked with providing long-range, corps-level artillery support, including counter-battery fire and deep interdiction.

Originally delivered as M110, the Belgian vehicles were subsequently upgraded during the 1970s–1980s to the M110A2 standard, which was the most advanced version of the system. This upgrade included a longer M201 203 mm gun barrel, a distinctive double-baffle muzzle brake, and strengthened recoil mechanisms. The A2 variant offered improved range (up to ~30 km with rocket-assisted projectiles) and better survivability for sustained firing.

Belgian artillery doctrine mirrored NATO concepts of the time, focusing on delivering heavy fire support in case of a Warsaw Pact breakthrough on the North German Plain. The 20th Regiment often trained in joint exercises with other NATO artillery units, practicing counter-battery and interdiction fire. While never used in combat by Belgium, the M110A2 formed a key part of the Belgian Army’s Cold War deterrent.

With the end of the Cold War and restructuring of Belgian land forces in the 1990s, the heavy M110A2s were gradually phased out. Lighter, more mobile systems were deemed more suitable for Belgium’s post-Cold War missions. Today, surviving Belgian M110A2s can be seen in museums such as the Gunfire Museum at Brasschaat, serving as a reminder of Belgium’s NATO artillery contribution.

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Specifications

Characteristic	M110A2 (Belgian service)
Crew	5 on vehicle (+ additional ammo crew in support vehicles)
Weight	~28.3–30.5 tonnes
Dimensions (L/W/H)	10.8 m / 3.1 m / 3.1 m
Engine	Detroit Diesel 8V71T, 405 hp
Speed (road)	55 km/h
Operational range	~520 km
Primary Armament	1 × 203 mm M201 howitzer
Muzzle velocity	~594 m/s (HE), ~850 m/s (RAP)
Max firing range	16–25 km (HE), ~30 km (RAP)
Rate of fire	2–4 rds/min (short bursts), ~1 rd/2 min sustained
Secondary armament	None (crew carried personal weapons)
Ammunition types	HE, HESH, ICM (cluster), RAP

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Place in War Thunder

The Belgian M110A2 would add a heavy-caliber artillery piece to the BeNeLux tree, filling a role as a high-damage, long-reload fire support vehicle.

• Gameplay role: Extremely destructive HE shells with massive splash radius, ideal for area denial and anti-heavy tank roles. Reload time would balance its raw firepower. RAP ammunition could allow very long-range indirect fire (if Gaijin expands artillery mechanics).
• Strengths: Enormous firepower, good mobility for size.
• Weaknesses: Long reload, no secondary MG, thin armor (vulnerable to MGs, autocannons, aircraft).

Placement options:

• Independent BeNeLux tree (ideal Belgian representation).
• France with BeNeLux subtree (current approach).

This would provide Belgium with a signature Cold War artillery vehicle and add variety to War Thunder’s SPG lineup.

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Pictures

Museum examples

Belgian M110A2 preserved at the Gunfire Museum in Brasschaat.

Side view of Belgian M110 at Brasschaat.

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The Base M110 in Belgian service

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Sources

Sources

M110A2 SP Howitzer Operators Manual TM9-2350-304-10 1990

Forecast International. (1997). Archived report: M110 203 mm self-propelled howitzer. Forecast International. https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_old_pdf.cfm?ARC_ID=1149

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). M110 howitzer. In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M110_howitzer

Military Factory. (n.d.). M110 SPA 203mm Self-Propelled Artillery. Military Factory. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=59

NATO Order-of-Battle (1989). Belgian Army – 20th Artillery Battalion: 11 M110A2. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://www.scribd.com/doc/135966291/NATO-Order-of-battle-1989

Wikimedia Commons. (2017). M110 SP houwitzer 203mm Belgische leger, Gunfire museum Brasschaat [Photographs]. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M110_SP_Houwitzer_203mm_Belgische_leger,_Gunfire_museum_Brasschaat_foto_3.jpg

[JamesPond1200-psn]

That’s a BIG BOY! +1

[CharAznable3]

Panther tank won’t know what him em.

[EpicChicken22]

absulute cinema. +1

[WaffleStomp0768-live]

@Thomas_Belgium

if Gaijin expands artillery mechanics

Gaijin should absolutely expand artillery mechanics, and I don’t think it would be that difficult. Allow artillery to spawn at the helicopter spawn or even their own spawn, and create the indirect system using something like Arma Reforgers mortar system, and maybe even allow players to follow the shell to its target (like in naval or like dropping bombs) for proper readjustment.

[s_p_l_e_n_d_i_d]

+1, This will most likely get added like the M55 and M44 to everyone that operated it amongst the tech trees, hope we get some parity with other big HE lobbers for the USSR, China, Sweden and Israel.

[RenderTenderUwU]

Died in the 1940s, born in the 1980s
Welcome back Chi-Ha LG
+1

[Caernarvon02]

ive heard enough. Put it at ww2 BR

[RenderTenderUwU]

would honestly be more balanced than most of the spgs at that br because you can mg the crew

[WaffleStomp0768-live]

Something I don’t see mentioned is the M110 only holds 2 rounds of ammunition, it would have a M548 cargo carrier with it to haul the rest of its ammo (I think it carried 30 rounds or something like that?). On another M110 suggestion, I said that they should introduce multi vehicle systems for artillery pieces like this (in place of the ammo box).

Something I’m curious about though is this says that HESH was available to it? Any sources for this?

[CharAznable3]

People don’t like the random death thing so unlikely. I like the drone control maybe a fire control system can be set up like what’s being developed

[CharAznable3]

Was there ever a ammo wagon built seems easy.

[WaffleStomp0768-live]

Yes that’s true, something else I also neglected to think about was how to actually kill these artillery pieces if they are separated from the play area.

@CharAznable3

Was there ever an ammo wagon built seems easy.

I’m not entirely sure I understand what you’re saying, but the M548 ammo carrier was real, and held 24 rounds of ammunition for the M110.

[CharAznable3]

M548 ammo Carrier has an engine I mean like a trailer you pull it with you like the few other trailer vehicles.

Talking about trailers there are a few semi truck SAMs out there

[WaffleStomp0768-live]

Ah, I see what you mean. It is a separate vehicle, as seen here:

Spoiler

The pintle is for a .50 cal. Has a 6V53T Detroit Diesel engine, and a top speed of about 38mph.

[CharAznable3]

Ya I was hoping for a trailer attached to the M110A1 but we have ammo boxes plus Gaijin could find or make up some modifications where ammo is stored in strange places.

[Thomas_Belgium]

@WaffleStomp0768-live

Something I’m curious about though is this says that HESH was available to it? Any sources for this?

I found some sources a couple months back talking about 203 mm HESH, but here are the main rounds used:

High Explosive (M106 conventional
and M404 and 509/509A1 submunition dispensing),
M426 chemical, M422 and M753 nuclear, M650 rocket
assisted projectile.

[WaffleStomp0768-live]

I was thinking with the addition of multi vehicle systems in the form of SAM systems, we could just get the same mechanic but with howitzers, would be a bit more realistic than just a generic ammo box on the ground.

[WaffleStomp0768-live]

Gotcha, I was just really curious about the HESH round. 203mm HESH sounds like an absolute blast (no pun intended).

[CharAznable3]

I know that artillery vehicles with that system would be complex you need to go hunt targets. SAMs don’t go places unless your really desperate in game so it works well enough.

Trailers on tracked vehicles is not the greatest thing to do but there are many times where a tank is pulling one. This one likely could too and a ammo trailer is a good less complicated middle ground.