M777 Vs M198 - Fort Sill, Okla. (December 15, 2011) - Big Gun takes its look back at 100 years of field artillery with a look at the M777, a replacement for the M198 155mm Howitzer.
A new light field artillery unit has only seen action since May 2007, when it began combat operations in Iraq; Less than a year later, soldiers fired the M777 in Afghanistan.
M777 Vs M198
With the pursuit of increased tactical mobility, the M777 tipped the scales in favor of being an artillery piece to meet this requirement. Weighing just over 9,000 pounds, the new towed artillery piece was a dramatic improvement over its predecessor—the 15,000-pound M198. Titanium alloys form the basis of this lightweight howitzer and do not compromise its strength compared to heavy artillery made of steel.
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However, it is not just a lightweight weapon system, as technology has also changed to provide new generation artillery pieces with the ability to hit targets.
"When the Triple Seven was developed, collateral damage was kind of a minor issue, then in recent years with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, collateral damage has grown in importance," said field artillery historian Boyd Dastrup. "The advantage of the M777 is that it can fire a future family of GPS-guided munitions that give the artillery piece high accuracy."
This accuracy comes in part from an advanced field artillery tactical data system. When combined with precision weapons such as the GPS-guided Excalibur, the system calculates all the data to deliver firepower to a target from almost any direction, he added.
The M777 is also easier for the operating crew because it uses an automatic firing system similar to the Paladin that does not require manual gunnery. With the M198, gun crew members began their firing by surveying the landscape to determine the exact location from which they were firing. This time-intensive task is no longer necessary because the M777 can determine its own position and accurately deliver fire.
U.s. Marines Fire An M777 155mm Howitzer [1080 X 1080]
"In many ways, the M777 is advanced technology here and now," said Dastrup. "Based on what it's been doing over the last few years in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's the field artillery piece of the present and the future."
Dastrup added a 10 to 15 year life span for the M777 to the Military Planner project. Technology was still driving the change as the intended replacement was anticipated to be a non-line-of-sight cannon. Weapons with non-line-of-sight launch systems, which he refers to as "rockets in a box," are high-cost items and have been subject to congressional budget-cutting measures.
However, they will not be burdened with short-term weapons. The M777 is designed and manufactured with currently available technology and can be upgraded as improvements become a reality.
With its technological advancements, the M777 is well-suited to manning shortages. Unlike the M198, which took nine soldiers to operate, the Triple 7 could operate with only five.
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"Years ago (Major) General (Fred) Marty, (Field Artillery Center and Fort Sill commanding general) said, 'Perfect is the enemy of good. We're still perfect,' meaning it takes a long time to get something out. Iron out all the bugs. By doing," Dastrup said. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have called for America to renew it. In terms of firepower and combat capability, the M777 and Excalibur were important to get on the field.
Two were chosen to be fielded, fully functional, but not at the high level for which they were developed. These standards will likely evolve with time and further testing.
"Based on the video footage, it is an impressive weapon and is rated as very good artillery," Dastrup said. "It has a big artillery piece for what it needs now and what might happen in the future." It is used by the land forces of Australia, Canada, Colombia, India, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the United States. It was first used in combat during the American war in Afghanistan.
The M777 is manufactured by BAE Systems' Global Combat Systems division. Prime Contract Management is based in Barrow-in-Furnace, United Kingdom, and manufactures and assembles titanium structures and associated scrap components. Final assembly and testing of the weapon is done at BAE's facility in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
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Depending on the year, contract and system package, the M777 is exported with individual unit costs ranging from $2.025 million (in 2008) to $3.738 million (in 2017).
An M777 light towed howitzer in service with the 10th Mountain Division in support of Operation Freedom, Logar Province, Charakh District, Afghanistan
The M777 debuted in 1987 as an Ultralight Field Howitzer (UFH), developed by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering's (VSEL) Armaments Division in Barrow-in-Furness, UK.
After the UFH prototypes were built and demonstrated the VSEL was purchased by BAE Systems, and so BAE became responsible for future design modifications and rammed the gun "M777".
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In assuming responsibility for the weapons, BAE largely "Americanized" manufacturing and through the BAE Systems Land and Armaments Group based in the United States. The M777 now uses about 70% of the US. Manufactured parts included the gun barrel, which was manufactured at WaterViet Arsenal.
Weighing in at 4,200 kg (9,300 lb) the M777 is 41% lighter than the 7,154 kg (15,772 lb) M198 Howitzer.
The barrel of the gun acts as a towing bar, the connecting ring is forged as the projection of the muzzle brake.
The M777 can be transported by helicopter sling load, transporter aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, or air-brake vehicles weighing more than 2.5 tons (5,500 lb) such as the FMTV and MTVR medium vehicles.
M777 Howitzer Maintenance
The M777A1 and M777A2 use a digital fire control system similar to that found on self-propelled howitzers such as the M109A6 Paladin to provide navigation, pointing and self-location, allowing it to move into action at a faster rate.
The Canadian M777 uses a digital fire control system called the Digital Gun Management System (DGMS) with components of the Indirect Fire Control Software Suite (IFCSS) developed by Leonardo MW in combination with traditional "glass and iron sights/mounts". Canadian M777. Firepower Team at Canadian Army Land Software Engineering Ctr.
The Leonardo MW portion of the system, known as LINAPS, had previously been proven by previous use on the British Army's 105 mm L118 light gun.
The M777A2 can be mounted with the M982 Excalibur 155 mm GPS-guided weapon, allowing precision fire at a range of 40 km (25 mi). This increases the area covered by a single battery to about 1,250 km
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(480 square miles). United States).
In June 2012, Gulf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines from Camp Padleton, California, fired an M982 Excalibur against insurgents at a range of 36 kilometers (22 mi) in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It was the longest operational shot in the history of the M777 Howitzer, and the longest operational barrel artillery shot in history for the Marine Corps.
Typically, a barrel in a modern artillery system, such as the M777, needs to be replaced after firing up to 2,500 rounds.
In 2008, the Australian Defense Force attacked the U.S. Foreign military sales request for 57 M777A2s for an estimated $248m.
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1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery and 8/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery to replace the 155mm M198 and 105mm L119 light guns.
An additional 19 guns can be purchased directly from the American production line, making a total of 6 batteries.
In addition, the Australian Army has received 155 mm guided munitions in the form of the M982 Excalibur and XM1156 Precision Guidance Kits.
In late April 2022, Australia announced that it would donate six of its M777 howitzers, along with ammunition, to aid in the defense of Ukraine in the event of a 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Pulling A Lanyard
In 2010, the Brazilian Navy evaluated the 155 mm M777 as a candidate to replace the Marine Corps Branch's six 155 mm M114A1 howitzers.
Canadian soldiers fire an M777 at a forward operating base in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 2007.
In December 2005, the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery conducted the inaugural firing of its first 155 mm M777 Todd howitzer, for a total of six guns. The six guns delivered were supplied by the United States Marine Corps under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract.
Between the United States and Canada. Canadian guns were first fired by A Battery, 1 RCHA at CFB Shiloh and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Archer. They were put into service in early 2006 during Canadian counter-terrorism operations around Kandahar, the first use of the M777 in combat operations.
From Reporter Moshe Schwartz, M777 Firing In Ukraine.
In the summer they made a significant contribution to the Battle of Panjwai, using a small number of rounds to great effect on Taliban elements retreating from the battlefield. Most of the 72 killed during this difficult period of action were due to artillery fire from two of these guns.
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