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~

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hurrah!!! Mom sent a kewl package! Rest that finger as much as you can. Give it a chance to heal.

[trussell]

 

Extending my hand so you can lead me to the dance floor.
Thank you for honoring me with a dance.
 

 

 

New Christy Minstrels ~ My Dear Marianne

 

Check out the following sources to purchase the music we play.

ArtistDirect.com l Amazon.com  l Ticketmaster.com l Songfacts.com

 

Music provided for the entertainment of the troops, past and present, and their families.

 

[EGPWS]

Do you do any sightseeing on your business trips?

Yes, I see a lot of aircraft and flight attendants!

Oh joy...

[luvie]

Hee-hee! You need to get out more in the evenings! Have some fun! Take pictures to impress your friends back home. FREEP! Now that's easy, isn't it? ;o)

[trussell]

Thank you so much for the dance. That was great

[EGPWS]

Thank you so much for the dance. That was great

Now please play a song to show my appreciation for the dance the next morning. ; )

[EGPWS]

Hee-hee! You need to get out more in the evenings!

I DO when I'm home when I let my husky (Silver) out! ; (

[Lady Jag]

Yep! It sure looked this morning that Anchorage & Boston might stroll through the same chilly neighborhood today.

I noticed the closer to Cape Cod, the higher the temperatures, so I headed down that way for errands today. It ran closer to 60 down that-a-way and most beautiful!

[trussell]

 

How's this one. Wink ;)
 

 

 

The Beatles ~ Good Day Sunshine

 

Check out the following sources to purchase the music we play.

ArtistDirect.com l Amazon.com  l Ticketmaster.com l Songfacts.com

 

Music provided for the entertainment of the troops, past and present, and their families.

 

[luvie]

I understand. It's hard to leave our "buddies". My son has a Siberian Husky named Dakota. He is beautiful and such a sweet, gentle dog.

[EGPWS]

My trip won't be so bad after all! : - )

Thanks for the dance truss!

[trussell]

My pleasure...
Enjoy your trip...take your time going, but hurry back :)

[EGPWS]

I understand. It's hard to leave our "buddies". My son has a Siberian Husky named Dakota. He is beautiful and such a sweet, gentle dog.

Well, having a Siberian is commendable however, Dakota? That is oh so politically incorrect! Silver, with a proper name of "Silverado" is sooo acceptable! LoL!

[EGPWS]

Enjoy your trip...take your time going, but hurry back :)

I won't but believe me YOU I will! ; )

[trussell]

I will look forward to more dances when you return!

[StarCMC]

CUTE!!! Actually -- I am getting ready to change his bandages right now -- they look icky but he's itching like crazy -- which is a good sign.

[luvie]

Un-PC is my son's middle name! If he knew it was, he'd do it again! LOL!

[Fawnn]

Congrats, Gramma Luv W!!!

[luvie]

Hee-hee!! That is too cute, Fawnn! Thanks!

[Fawnn]

You're welcome!

I bet that good news made being back in the "real world" a lot easier to handle. ;)