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Indirect Fires Modernization Project - C3/M777 Replacement

Interesting, did not know the Brits got 17km out of their M118 with supercharge and 24km with rocket assisted.

I know that I hold the unpopular opinion that we would do well to equip the majority of Reserve artillery units with either modernized M118 or M119 guns. Plus we could make the components and ammunition here for ourselves and Ukraine. Not to mention anyone else looking for light artillery.
 
Got me wondering again about the whole 120mm mortar issue.

The French find it necessary to mount their 120s on wheels.
Manpack is a stretch.
The shell weight is heavier than the 105.
The range is shorter than the 105.
And there is that whole blast brain damage thingy.

The L119 is heavier than the 120mm but if both need a motor to drag them so what?
Both are compatible with light vehicles and helicopters (uncrewed UH60s with clamshell doors?)
Draggable.
Dig inable.
Growth potential.

It seems the Brits had an interesting matched set of rounds and tubes that outranged the Yanks but were crowded out of the market by the sheer number of Yankee rounds in inventory. Ukraine seems to have solved that problem by clearing the inventory.

I think that leaves the Ukrainians and the Brits with the option of making the Brit gun, and the Brit ammo, in Ukraine and taking advantage of the longer ranges.

Also, I think that RAP round may present some interesting growth potential. Ukrainians + developments in rocketry + drone guidance technologies = longer ranged precision kills?
 
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And if that, then what about this?

defenceweb.co.za

Denel Land Systems' LEO leaps forward - defenceWeb

The development the 105mm LAV III Light Self-Propelled Howitzer (LSPH) has taken another leap forward with the certification of the system as safe for manned
defenceweb.co.za defenceweb.co.za

As a battle group weapon for LAV battalions instead of the AMOS/NEMO type solutions.
Leaving the 155s for Brigade and Division.

L119s for light battle groups and limit mortars to the well proven 81mm.
 
Still looks like a chicken coop, but I prefer tracks than the wheels for it. I wonder if ammo storage quantity changes?
 
Retired AF Guy said:
Interestingly, KNDS has now come out with a tracked version of their wheeled RCH 155 and was apparently shown this years AUSA 2025.

Germany Created a New Tracked Version of the RCH 155 to Replace the M109A7 in the US Army - Militarnyi

So the South Koreans come out with a wheeled version of their tracked K9 155mm SP gun and the Germans come out with a tracked version of their wheeled RCH 155 SP gun!

Go figure!!
Click to expand...

And many armies are buying both tracks and wheels.

Managing two different battlespaces? High density threat and low density threat?
 
Colin Parkinson said:
Interesting, did not know the Brits got 17km out of their M118 with supercharge and 24km with rocket assisted.

I know that I hold the unpopular opinion that we would do well to equip the majority of Reserve artillery units with either modernized M118 or M119 guns. Plus we could make the components and ammunition here for ourselves and Ukraine. Not to mention anyone else looking for light artillery.
Click to expand...

Don't forget you also have to find lots of LAA/CUAS batteries as well.

Or do you want to leave that up to the infantry and cavalry?
 
Retired AF Guy said:
Interestingly, KNDS has now come out with a tracked version of their wheeled RCH 155 and was apparently shown this years AUSA 2025.

Germany Created a New Tracked Version of the RCH 155 to Replace the M109A7 in the US Army - Militarnyi

So the South Koreans come out with a wheeled version of their tracked K9 155mm SP gun and the Germans come out with a tracked version of their wheeled RCH 155 SP gun!

Go figure!!
Click to expand...
I like it more than the earlier MLRS chassis version. I'm a but confused with the term "lightweight" being applied to a 45 ton chassis that carries a 17 ton module. Hopefully they mean the whole thing to be 45 tons - but the M109 comes in at 34 tons and the J2 at 50ish and the PzH 2000 at 55 tons. Found the manufacturer's brochure which has it <45 t.
Colin Parkinson said:
Still looks like a chicken coop, but I prefer tracks than the wheels for it. I wonder if ammo storage quantity changes?
Click to expand...
Probably identical turret so same load. Also the KNDS video shows a containerized ammo resupply vehicle marginally better than the one for the Archer but still rubbish.

Are the Americans and S Koreans the only ones who understand armoured ammo limber concepts?

🍻
 
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