ARTILLERY: Marine Mortar Replaces Howitzer

StrategyPage.com ^ | January 16, 2004

[Cannoneer No. 4]

January 16, 2004: The U.S. Marine Corps has, as is their custom, taken an innovative approach to developing a new lightweight, self-propelled artillery system (the Expeditionary Fire Support System, or EFSS). They have combined an existing commercial vehicle, the Supacat HMT (High Mobility Transport) with an Israeli 120 mm mortar system. The HMT is a seven ton, four wheel cross country vehicle with a capacity for 3.2 tons. It has a 180 horsepower engine and a 4x4 drive optimized for cross country work. The cab is being modified to hold the five man gun crew. The Israeli mortar system weighs 1.6 tons and is mounted on a computer controlled turntable. The mortar can fire regular 120mm shells 8.2 kilometers, or rocket assisted ones 13 kilometers. The breech loading mortar system allows for rapid fire and the turntable system takes data directly from forward observers and quickly positions the 120mm tube to put the shells on the target. The EFSS can put shells on the target within minutes of a request. The system can fire 20 rounds in two minutes and uses a GPS assisted fire control system to provide accuracy comparable to any other artillery system. The EFSS is light enough to be moved by helicopter or Osprey tilt-wing transport.

The system can fire several types of cluster bomb shells. One of these, for example, will destroy most armored vehicles, and kill or wound most troops in a 100x100 meter area. Each of the 32 bomblets can penetrate four inches of armor, but will be hitting the thinner top armor on armored vehicles.

The marines went after the 120mm mortar, instead of another 155mm howitzer, because the mortar is lighter, faster firing and uses a shell that does damage equivalent to 155mm types.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

First they cancel Crusader, now they replace towed howitzers with SP mortars.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

FAPL ping

[Cannoneer No. 4]

LOCKHEED MARTIN TESTS ISRAELI WEAPONS FOR U.S.

Israel's Soltam has provided the 120 mm recoil mortar system. Elbit System's U.S. subsidiary, EFW has provided a weapon control system and enhanced tactical computer.

The Israeli systems were integrated on a Supacat High Mobility Transport, meant to provide tactically maneuverable fire support and rotary wing or tiltrotor transportability.

[IGOTMINE]

The Marines were never going to be Crusader customers.

The guy that is working this program for the Corps is a Freeper. A very, very smart guy.

[lormand]

I wonder if they will replace the howitzers in the AC-130s with these?

[U S Army EOD]

I wonder how accurate the RAP rounds are?

[lormand]

"The guy that is working this program for the Corps is a Freeper. A very, very smart guy."

I wonder who that guy could be.....hmmmm?

[LouD]

The Soviets had a 240m SPArty piece that was apparently very effective. I think the point is to provide transportable shorter range organic fire support, and fill in the longer range mission with air support.

[U S Army EOD]

Those are 105's and the ammo is a much easier to handle plus when you shoot out the door your are shooting direct fire of a sort.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Lockheed Martin successfully tested its Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) engineering prototype at the 29 Palms test range in California. The EFSS was designed and built (on Lockheed’s dollar) for the US Marine Corps’s fire support requirement. During the tests the self-propelled 120 mm mortar system fired several rounds from various elevations and azimuths, including over-thecab shots. The EFSS integrates a Supacat High Mobility Transport vehicle, the Soltam 120 mm recoil mortar system and a weapon control system and Enhanced Tactical Computer from EFW.

[lormand]

"Those are 105's and the ammo is a much easier to handle plus when you shoot out the door your are shooting direct fire of a sort."

Thanks for the clarification. I thought all Howitzers were 155mm because I am an ignorant civilian. :)

[Peace will be here soon]

The HMT is a seven ton, four wheel cross country vehicle with a capacity for 3.2 tons. It has a 180 horsepower engine

180 HP? That has got to be wrong. A seven ton vehicle ( with a 3.2 ton capacity )with a 180 horsepower engine.

[AmericanVictory]

Let's hope that the Rummy reforms don't shut down the independence of the Corps in coming up with better ways to do things on a decentralized basis?

[CatoRenasci]

Well, I'm a redleg, so color me very sceptical of replacing rifled tube artillery with a mortar.

No question that mortars are easier to transport and quicker to fire. They're also easy to use in most ways.

But, mortars have two fundamental flaws as serious battalion and regimental combat team level indirect fire support:

Mortars are not nearly as accurate as tube artillery; and

Mortars have significantly shorter ranges than equivalent bore diameter tube artilllery.

It's been a long time, but I once spent an afternoon pouring over the firing tables for the 4.2" mortar and comparing it to the 105mm howitzer. The differences in range and deflection probable errors were significant. If I had to fire danger close, there's no way I'd do it with mortars. Just, no way.

[CatoRenasci]

Field artillery tubes are usually in one of the following sizes:

105mm -- now mostly airborne and reserve
155mm -- now the standard battalion level tube artillery
17mmm -- probably all gone now, maybe some in the reserves or Guard - were very long range, tiny deflection probable error, large renge probable error, biggest problem was short barrel life.
203mm -- the famous 8" howitzer, probably the most accurate artillery piece fielded by any army, ever.

All of these, except 105mm, are usually self-propelled these days, although there are some towed 155mm (M198).

[U S Army EOD]

Especially using a RAP round.

[The Shootist]

Why use a 122? What's wrong with the 4duce?

[Chewbacca]

Attach some sort of GPS guidance package to a mortor round and I am sure they could be just as accurate as a JDAM.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

No question that mortars are easier to transport and quicker to fire. They're also easy to use in most ways...

Mortars have significantly shorter ranges than equivalent bore diameter tube artilllery.Would those be very good reasons why the Marines would want them and not the rifled bores?

BTW, I loved the Medicine Bluffs.

[lormand]

Thanks for the great info on artillary tubes. I am soaking it up like a sponge.

I am extremely greatful to the men and women who have served our country.