[C19fan]

Canadian engineer Gerald Bull designed large caliber, tube length, weapons to extend range. The Bull designed GC-45 155 MM howitzer had a caliber of L45 compared to the L39 for the US M109 extending the range by 20 KM, for conventional rounds, over the M109.

[wally_bert]

Brilliant guy who loved big guns.

Played with the wrong guy one time and it cost him his life.

[centurion316]

Now we need to bring back DPICM (Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition) ammunition because politicians decided that it was “too scary”. The Russians, of course, did not ban their DPICM munitions.

[fso301]

using a new ram jet projectile – kind of like a rocket

Looks like it is just a rocket launch tube.

[Magnum44]

with a larger caliber tube and new grooves to hang weights for gravity adjustments to the weapon

[Chainmail]

I love all of these “make the tube longer and outrange the enemy” articles: they seem to come in cycles.

1. Longer tubes shoot further but introduce more variables and therefore more error. End up with CEPs the size of Paris- see “Kaiser Wilhelm Geschutz”. Means that they would have to use $100K-per-shot guided rounds exclusively.

2. Extended range projos using larger RAP motors and/or ramjets take up the room used for HE or payloads. Therefore smaller effects at the business end. Just end up annoying the enemy.

3. Really long tubes are a bitch to transport; try taking a turn in a small village and see what happens.

The author of this piece really doesn’t know a lot about tube artillery. Such as spelling “breech” and “ muzzle brake”.

[doorgunner69]

So, will the new artillery rounds be affordable?

The navy developed ERGM for 5" guns decades ago with range over 50 miles, but the rounds would have been over $200k apiece I believe.