Replies

This is the Lockheed-Martin EFSS candidate - there are several more systems being proposed for the Marine Corps including a couple of rifled 120mm mortars.

The article doesn't mention it, but the Corps is looking at 120s because the 155s are too heavy, bulky and slow moving for long distance air movements, such as for our Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare (EMW) missions. Towed 155s strongly handicap our ground maneuver forces too because they take 20 minutes to set up and they don't move very fast trying to keep up with LAVs, tanks, and armored amphibians.

A rifled 120 with a state-of-the art aiming system shoots very, very well - usually a CEP of 25 meters or so.

Have a look at the Dragon Fire Mortar during your web searches...for another version of the EFSS. The Dragon Fire can be towed behind a HMMWV or loaded onto a modified LAV as a form of fast SP artillery. About this time next year, the Dragon Fire will be capable of firing accurately on the move from its LAV platform.

If somebody would be kind enough to instruct me on how to put a photo on this thread, I'll show you what this puppy looks like.

Whole different world out there!

I thought the Corp just fielded a new lightweight titanium alloy 155mm a few years back. It is extremely light and can be a carried in on most fixed-wing and rotary transport. With the V-22 they can bring one down with its crew and a couple of days of rounds. Perfect for rough terrain where speedy insertion is better than a self propelled solution. I think that this particular mortar are for more "mechanized units" like the LACV companies. Correct me if I am wrong but I think that they plan to use both. The point here is that they do not want to use a 155 self propelled tube, not that they will have no 155's in the corp.

With the addition of those small light weight MLRS that the corp is getting they are really developing a very powerful "mini battery brigade? and the MEB and MEF level that can also be spun out to the MEUs. It makes them capable of taking on good sized regional armies while still maintianing the expeditionary profile.

Dragon Fire Mortar System Test Successful

A Dragon Fire 120mm mortar mounted on a Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicle fires during a recent test at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va. Photo courtesy U.S. Navy Surface Weapon Center

Meanwhile, Stryker Mortar crews have to roll their tubes down the ramp and fire from the ground.

>>If somebody would be kind enough to instruct me on how to put a photo on this thread, I'll show you what this puppy looks like.

Well, it's starting to get a little out of date, but I'm afraid the best thing to do is for you to go to (HTML) Boot Camp.

>>If somebody would be kind enough to instruct me on how to put a photo on this thread, I'll show you what this puppy looks like.

Well, it's starting to get a little out of date, but I'm afraid the best thing to do is for you to go to (HTML) Boot Camp.