M777 Howitzer Video - SYRIA - A U.S. Marine from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fires an M777 howitzer during a firing mission in northern Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, March 24, 2017. The unit provided 24/7 support in all weather conditions to allow troop movement. , denying terrain and suppressing enemy forces. More than 60 regional and international nations have joined forces to defeat ISIS and restore stability and security. CJTF-OIR is a global coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. (Note: these are similar weapons to those sent to Ukraine).
A video released in mid-May shows a US-built 155mm howitzer delivered to Ukraine roaring. The weapons arrived just in time as fierce fighting broke out against the invading Russian army in eastern Ukraine.
M777 Howitzer Video
Ukraine's Defense Ministry posted its thanks on Facebook for the "highly accurate and highly effective weapon" along with an image of the howitzers in action in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.
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Another post features two photos taken by the crew of a Ukrainian M777A2 whose nearby terrain was monitored for operational security. There is a 21-second gap between the first shot and the impact sound, suggesting that the shot traveled some distance. The second half of the video shows how the Russian-made 2S3 Acacia armored self-propelled howitzer is destroyed, causing a tremendous explosion and blast wave due to the explosion of the shell. #Ukraine: The M777A2 155mm howitzer, donated by Western countries, is increasingly being used by Ukrainian forces on the front line. As reported, this time we destroyed a Russian 2S3 Akatsiya 152mm self-propelled howitzer near #Harkiv Oblast Izium. https://t.co/P74mYytpB6 pic.twitter.com/8xpfabadnS — 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapon Tracker (@UAWeapons) May 11, 2022
Some Ukrainian sources claim that the M777 was also used to destroy a Russian bridge crossing the Siverskyi Donetsk River between May 8 and May 13. At least 70 Russian armored and support vehicles and several bridges were destroyed by Ukrainian artillery and aircraft during the fighting.
Washington delivered 90 towed M777A2 howitzers from Marine Corps stocks (enough for five battalions), trucks to tow them, and 184,000 rounds of 155mm shells. According to journalist Dan Lamouthe, all but one have made it to Ukraine, most of them already on the front lines. Australia and Canada provided six and four additional M777 systems, respectively.
By May 13, 370 Ukrainian soldiers had been trained to operate the M777 at the US Army's Grafenwoehr training range in Germany. Another 50 experts are either in training or have completed a two-week weapons maintenance course. Ukrainian 92
Ukraine Destroys 3 Russian Rocket Launchers Using M777 Howitzers
The Air Mobility Brigade, which operates in northeastern Ukraine, is believed to be the first recipient of the howitzer. Howitzer M-777 in action. It is part of America's latest $800 million care package for the Ukrainian armed forces. All but one of the 90 howitzers sent by the US are now in Ukraine, and many are now deployed on the front lines. @GeneralStaffUA pic.twitter.com/B012LeV8uT — US Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) May 15, 2022
The image shows the Ukrainian military using Ukraine's own Kraz 4x4 trucks for artillery tractor missions, in addition to towing vehicles provided by the United States.
While the M777 may resemble a towed M1 howitzer used by the US Army during World War II, it is actually relatively modern.
At the end of the Cold War, the US Army planned to replace the howitzers during final towing with the M109 Paladin armored self-propelled artillery system. Self-propelled guns are more likely to survive ambushes and counterattacks. You can also move faster after shooting to avoid reprisals.
M777 Howitzers From The Usa Are Already Working In Ukraine At Russians
However, the weight and logistical burden imposed by the M109 made it difficult to deploy overseas, and making it self-propelled was overkill when fighting an adversary with limited retaliatory capabilities. In the 1990s, the Army and Marines took control of the British company Vickers/BAE's ultralight field howitzer project.
Modified with several American-made parts, the M777 weighs only 4.65 tons thanks to the extensive use of titanium. The Titan was light enough to be towed by a medium tactical truck or Humvee, and the barrel also acted as a tow bar. Two M777s can be carried on a C-130 Freighter and one attached to a Blackhawk Medium Utility helicopter.
M777 requires 5-8 people depending on configuration. It takes 6 minutes each to set up, fire and disarm the gun. This design has critics who claim that the lighter frame is less robust, requiring more maintenance after constant use. They also lack the power to aid in weapon movement and placement and must be manually loaded using long "staves".
In practice, however, the M777 has performed satisfactorily since its combat debut in Afghanistan in 2008. In 2012, the M777 flew the longest range firing mission in Navy history when it used an Excalibur round to hit a Taliban target 22 miles away. Under the). Marine Corps and Army M777s played a key role in blowing up ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria during the battles of Barghuz, Mosul and Raqqa.
Video Shows Donated Howitzer Now In Ukraine To 'transform' Russians
The M777 was adopted by India (which had relatively limited self-propelled guns). So are Saudi Arabia, Australia and Canada. The US is also in the process of donating M777s to the Colombian Navy for its naval infantry division.
Ukraine already deploys hundreds of towed artillery pieces, a combination of 122mm and 152mm short-range towed howitzers operated by the National Guard and Reserves. The troubled country also uses the 2A36 Giatsint-B and 2A65 Msta-B long-range field guns used by provincial artillery brigades.
On the surface, the M777 may seem welcome, but it is an incremental expansion of Ukraine's existing force, which is overshadowed by more maneuverable self-propelled alternatives.
However, the M777 has the notable advantage of being able to land accurate hits on Russian artillery beyond retaliatory range due to its 155mm ammunition. Recent images show that Ukrainian forces have received M549A1 rocket-assisted howitzers with a range of 18.7 miles and a 15-pound TNT warhead, in addition to standard M795 howitzers with a range of 13.6 miles and 23 .8 pounds of TNT.
Ukrainian M777 155mm Howitzer
In contrast, the standard 2S1 and 2S3 self-propelled systems used by Russia and Ukraine have a maximum range of 12-13 miles when using rocket-assisted projectiles. The rarer but more powerful 2S19 system closely matches the M777's 18 mile range when firing 3OF61 special ammunition.
Canada has confirmed that it has transferred to Ukraine M982 Excalibur smart munitions with a maximum range of 25 miles, which averages within a few meters of designated GPS coordinates. This is effective for precision strikes against vehicles or material assets, as well as supporting fire in close proximity to friendly units. Only Russia's rare 2S7M cannon and BM-30 heavy missile system surpass it.
Photos of Ukraine's new M777 at the site appear to have removed the digital GPS and command and control equipment used for the Excalibur rounds and are likely deemed too sensitive to capture the hazard. It also means that the US has not transferred Excalibur shells.
This could mean that only four Canadian M777s with other LINAPS fire control systems have equipment using Excalibur rounds.
Soldiers Load M777 Howitzer From Under C...
However, the US has also transferred other 155mm precision munitions, such as the laser-guided M712 Copperhead howitzers (range 9.9 miles), or Ukraine has used the M1156 precision-guided kit to convert the howitzers into smart munitions GPS guided that can be drawn. On average, on a 10 meter target.
There are long-term investments associated with the M777. This would facilitate the Ukrainian transition from the Soviet 152 mm shells to the standard NATO 155 mm shells. - Strike ammunition developed by Great Britain, France, Germany and the United States
Although Ukraine has its own production of 152 mm shells, in practice it struggled to meet the huge demand during the war, and Poland and the Czech Republic had to supply additional ammunition to prevent the Ukrainian guns from being silenced.
The 100 Ukrainian M777s can share ammunition with other 155 mm systems provided by NATO countries.
American M777 Howitzers 'wreak Havoc' On Russian Military As Ukraine Strikes Back To Save Donbas
In addition, most of the systems listed above have a longer range than the standard 2S1 and 2S3 systems used in Russian battalion tactical groups and, in some cases, the 2S19.
Kiev's intention to gradually switch to this ammunition is reflected in the development of the domestically produced Ukrainian 2S22 Bohdana howitzer, using 155 mm ammunition. The only prototype completed before the war is now used in combat, not far from the Kramatorsk plant.
While Ukraine's legacy Soviet artillery will not be phased out anytime soon, Ukrainian crack troops will increasingly use systems that outperform standard Russian field artillery. Indeed, the more accurate Ukrainian fire from a greater distance is already leaving subtle traces on the battlefield, judging by the pontoon bridge at Siverskyi-Donets.
Sébastien Roblin writes on the technical, historical, and political aspects of international security and conflict for publications such as The National Interest, NBC News, Forbes.com, and War is Boring. Here he is a defense editor in depth. He received his master's degree from Georgetown University and served in the Peace Corps in China. You can follow his articles on Twitter.
Redlegs Train On New M777 Howitzer
Sebastien Roblin writes on the technical, historical and political aspects of international security and conflict for publications such as:
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