Indirect Fires Modernization Project - C3/M777 Replacement

[dapaterson]

Pushing a gun to shoot very long distances, when you have HIMAR seems to be a waste.

Cost per volley is a consideration.

 

[Underway]

The first thing to remember is that on a ship, the round usually comes as a complete package

Not in for the 127mm The round is semi fixed where all the components are assembled mechanically on a tray just before loading.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Has mounting the reserves C3/LG1 to a truck(probably a fair amount of engineering required to do so and by no means cheap) ever been considered as an option to create a light self propelled platform? I think there's a few examples of this in Ukraine at the moment and it could be a scrappy way to make the guns potentially more useful.

There is a kit offered by South Korea for the C2 version of the gun

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Cost per volley is a consideration.

In the case of long range fires, seems there is a less shooting and initial cost of the gun and the shorter barrel life are also factors. If you want to get guided munitions to achieve the effect with less rounds, then the cost differential seems to narrow quite a bit?

 

[Kirkhill]

In the case of long range fires, seems there is a less shooting and initial cost of the gun and the shorter barrel life are also factors. If you want to get guided munitions to achieve the effect with less rounds, then the cost differential seems to narrow quite a bit?

Doesn't it depend on the required muzzle velocity?

A traditional ballistic round requires higher pressures to achieve higher muzzle velocities to achieve longer ranges. 827 m/sec with charge 8 super.
A hyper-velocity ballistic round is going to exacerbate that problem I would think.
A ramjet round seems to require a muzzle velocity of 680 m/sec then the ramjet itself kicks in.

Suppose something like the Hero-120 could be fitted into a 155mm breech and launched with a low charge.

But

It may just be easier to do this

Shipping Container Launcher Packing 126 Kamikaze Drones Hits The Market

Packing scores of loitering munitions and one-way attack drones into a container that can go pretty much anywhere will soon be all the rage.

www.twz.com

 

[Kirkhill]

Meanwhile the Brits are putting some money down on the Boxer/RCH-155

Britain buys new mobile artillery in £52m deal

The deal with Germany covers one RCH 155 for UK trials, with two more going to Germany for joint testing.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

They are apparently buying the first two of the prospective 116.

 

[dapaterson]

In the case of long range fires, seems there is a less shooting and initial cost of the gun and the shorter barrel life are also factors. If you want to get guided munitions to achieve the effect with less rounds, then the cost differential seems to narrow quite a bit?

Artillery delivers an area effect.

 

[FJAG]

Has mounting the reserves C3/LG1 to a truck(probably a fair amount of engineering required to do so and by no means cheap) ever been considered as an option to create a light self propelled platform? I think there's a few examples of this in Ukraine at the moment and it could be a scrappy way to make the guns potentially more useful.

There are several. The S Korea model is the best. A recommendation for that type of project was very much part of the considerations of DLR2 (the artillery folks) and made its way to the desk of the VCDS in the early 2000s. It was rejected because of issues within the army unrelated to the artillery itself. Internal politics.

 

[FJAG]

Suppose something like the Hero-120 could be fitted into a 155mm breech and launched with a low charge.

But

It may just be easier to do this

That's my point exactly. A cannon launched Hero is a waste of launcher. They can be launched from a 120mm tube or container of any type. In my model army every CS regiment has an LM launcher battery - I'm actually toying with the idea of an STA battery that has a troop consisting of all of the regiment's FOOs and JTACs (basically downsizing the current OP Bty to a troop - not in numbers just in status), a troop of sensors including radars and MUAVs and their controllers, and a troop of medium-range LM launchers.

The divisional LRPR regiment has a similar STA battery with a smaller troop of FOOs and JTACs for the divisional cavalry regiment, a troop of MRRs and SUAS and their controllers, and a troop of long-range LM launchers.

In my mind I see smaller multiple LM launch vehicles than that depicted as I tend to try to avoid putting too many eggs in one basket. The size of that container may depend on what number of LMs need to be put int0 the air simultaneously to make an effective swarm.

Artillery delivers an area effect.

Yes, but these days they are also the most practical element on the battlefield to offer over the horizon precision effects. IMHO any artillery unit needs to be structured to be able to provide both (not to mention some specific EW-based non-kinetics effects.)

 

[dapaterson]

Yes, but these days they are also the most practical element on the battlefield to offer over the horizon precision effects. IMHO any artillery unit needs to be structured to be able to provide both (not to mention some specific EW-based non-kinetics effects.)

I believe we are in violent agreement. The proper tool for the engagement. Too many have forgotten about artillery as an area weapon and confuse it with a tool to only deliver precision effect.