FReeper Canteen~Military Vehicles~May 11, 2006

Various Internet Sites

[AZamericonnie]

MILITARY VEHICLES

M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer

The M109 is an American self-propelled 155 mm howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. Continually upgraded and improved, to today's current version the M109A6 "Paladin", it is still the primary indirect-fire support weapon of maneuver brigades of armored and mechanized infantry divisions of the US Army, Israel Defense Forces, the Italian Army, and many other militaries, including the Norwegian, Swiss, Danish, Pakistani,Dutch and Austrian armies. ****

Army Spc. Frank Guerra prepares to fire rounds from a M109A6 Paladin artillery vehicle as part of a counter fire mission against insurgents near the town of Falluja, Iraq, on Nov. 5, 2004. Guerra is assigned to Alpha 382nd, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry. DoD photo by Senior Airman Christopher A. Marasky, U.S. Air Force. (Released)



Paladin M109A6 is a cannon artillery system developed by the Ground System Division of United Defense LP (now BAE Systems Land and Armaments) and manufactured at the Paladin Production Operation centre at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Paladin was first fielded in 1994 and is operational with the United States Army and the Israeli Army, and has been selected by the Kuwait and Taiwan. In June 1999, the US Army received the last of 950 Paladin M109A6 ordered. Seven systems were ordered in July 2000 for the US Army National Guard and a further 18 systems in January 2002.

Paladin was used in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March / April 2003 and in continuing operations in Iraq, including Operation Al Fajr in Fallujah in November 2004.

BAE Systems Land and Armaments is supplying 219 modification kits for US Army Paladins which will enable the use of the Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS) and the 155mm precision-guided extended-range XM92 Excalibur projectile being developed by Raytheon and Bofors Defense of Sweden (a United Defense subsidiary). Deliveries began in 2005.




(Exerpt) The eardrum shattering report of the Paladin rings out as the battery runs through one such registration fire mission. Spc. Ellery Villalobos, the ammunition team chief, stands a distance away from the vehicle, a red propellant bag slung over his shoulder. He waits. The look of excitement and shear joy mix on his face with the dirt and grime that flies back with each round expelled. BOOOOOM fires the gun and Villalobos is sprinting towards it with a new round to load up.

“HOOOOOAH!,” he shouts as he sprints back throwing another propellant charge over his shoulder in anticipation. “This is what being artillery is all about! COME ON GUYS! LET’S GO! GET THAT ROUND DOWN RANGE!”


The M284 cannon which is fitted with an M182 gun mount, has a range of 24 km using unassisted rounds or 30 km using assisted rounds.




Big gun go boom!

Model Type: GAW M109A6 "Paladin"
Vehicle Type: Self Propelled Howitzer
Crew: Four (Driver, Gunner, Loader, and Commander).

M.D.C. by Location: [1] Tractor Treads (2): 45 each
Howitzer Turret: 140
Howitzer Barrel: 70
12.7 mm Machine Gun (right side of turret): 20
[2] Main Body: 280

Notes:
[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the Howitzer until it is replaced. Replacing a tread will take 1D6x10 minutes by a trained crew (2 replacements are carried on board) or three times as long by the inexperienced. Changing the tread is only advisable when the vehicle is not under attack. [2] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and is unsalvageable.

Speed:
Ground: Cruising speed on land is 35 mph (56.3 kph) on roads and 30 mph (48.3 kph) off road maximum. The vehicle is designed to traverse virtually all terrain and can climb at up to a 60% grade although at a much slower speed (About 10% of maximum road speed). It can also climb barriers and ford trenches. The vehicle can also handle side slopes of up to 30%. Maximum Range: 213.7 miles (344 km)

Statistical Data:
Height: 9.2 feet (2.8 meters) without machine mount and 10.6
feet (3.236 meters) including machine gun mount
Width: 10.3 feet (3.15 meters)
Length: 20.3 feet (6.19 meters) for main body and 32.2 feet (9.8 meters) with gun forward:
Weight: 26 tons (23.6 metric tons) empty and 31.7 tons (28.74 metric tons) combat loaded
Power Source: Diesel Engine (Detroit Diesel Model 8V-71T developing 440 horsepower).
Cargo Capacity: Minimal, enough for equipment with crew Black Market Cost: 175,000 Credits. If fitted, any extra weapons systems will add to the cost of the Howitzer.






~Tribute To Our Troops~

[tomkow6]

 

"Aaaawww Man!  I almost had it!!!!"

 

[beachn4fun]

Yeah, We've got a small closet in the hallway I can yank stuff out of if need be. The thunder sounds like it is moving off. I'm watching the sky and news.

[beachn4fun]

As safe as I can, you bet!

[MEG33]

I am a Texan but never had done this before my son and his pregnant wife were in the big Wichita Falls tornado in "79..I developed a healthy respect for tornadoes and warnings..We have so many "watches" here I just listen to the news in the background and go about whatever I am doing.

[luvie]

BWAAAHAAAHAAA! I love that shot. It turned out even better than I expected!

(((hugs)))...HI!

[beachn4fun]

We have watches every once in a while. Tonight was a watch for some areas and a warning for others.

The thing about where I live, which is the southern tip of Maryland and is surrounded by the river, tornadoes that develop in Virginia can hop over the river and land in our area. That's what happened a few years ago when the tornado hit La Plata. That was the first one we'd had in a very long time. Luckily where we lived at the time was spared. The tornado jumped over our spot of land. I'm hoping where we live now will be as lucky.

Right now it is raining like crazy. And, the satellite has gone out so I can't see the news! Rats!

[MEG33]

Take care...Hope your electricity stays on.

[HopeandGlory]

Hello Meg . . . I wrote a poem about these guys at The Dragonflies Lair Thread XXIV #275 . . . enjoy . . . ;-)

The Dragonflies Lair

[luvie]

Hey! Does this mean NO POPCORN tonight? WAAAAAA!!! ;o)

[HopeandGlory]

Old Sarge crawled into the bed Penquin Girl crawled out of when she left Ramadi . . . (OK, OK!!!, so they missed one another by a few months . . . ;-)!!!) . . . she said the spiders weren't that bad . . . big fuss over nothing. Now, you have to remember that my 4'11" DIL is a little toughy . . . LOL!!!

[HopeandGlory]

Snagged for "Penquin Girl" . . . ;-)

[MEG33]

Did you see this? LOL

[HopeandGlory]

Yes I sure did . . . Lady Jag is very talented . . . ;-)

[beachn4fun]

Not too worry. So far we're getting lots of thunder and rain. Sounds like it's moving off.

Gotta check my stock of popcorn, though...he..he.....

[luvie]

I'M GONNA BE A GRAMMA!!!!!!!

[Lady Jag]

Thanks, I got one

[AZamericonnie]

Well that is wonderful news!!!! Congratulations Gramma Luv!:) *Hugs* When?????

[MEG33]

CONGRATULATIONS GRAMMA TO BE!

[MEG33]

I'm snaggin it..too cute!