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FReeper Canteen~Military Vehicles~May 11, 2006
Various Internet Sites

Posted on 05/10/2006 6:05:42 PM PDT by 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~


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: airforce; army; coastguard; marines; militarysupport; nationalguard; navy
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To: EsmeraldaA; All
There is more cake!


61 posted on 05/10/2006 6:49:34 PM PDT by fanfan (FR is the best/biggest news gathering entity in the whole known history of the world. Thanks Jim.)
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To: AZamericonnie; Esmeralda; All
LOL...........they changed the title back to what it originally was.

Oh well.

62 posted on 05/10/2006 6:50:32 PM PDT by MozartLover ( My son, my soldier, my hero. Protect him, Lord, wherever he goes, and keep him strong.)
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To: EsmeraldaA

We will make it so right here with all your friends! (((hugs)))


63 posted on 05/10/2006 6:52:05 PM PDT by luvie (A free Iraq . ... will serve as an amazing example for people who are desperate for freedom! GWB)
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To: Gucho

Sorry Gucho....I can't make the pic work I do like the Olive drab site....I find alot of information there. I trust you are well?


64 posted on 05/10/2006 6:52:27 PM PDT by AZamericonnie (~www.ProudPatriots.org~Serving those who serve us!~)
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To: Radix
Howdy Radix....I was hoping you would stop by. Care to caption this?


65 posted on 05/10/2006 6:54:21 PM PDT by AZamericonnie (~www.ProudPatriots.org~Serving those who serve us!~)
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To: acad1228

Thanks for the blues Acad....did you avoid all the bad weather today?


66 posted on 05/10/2006 6:55:09 PM PDT by AZamericonnie (~www.ProudPatriots.org~Serving those who serve us!~)
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To: battlegearboat

Why would you shoot the guy who made the tank mower?


67 posted on 05/10/2006 6:57:00 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Learning to shrug is the beginning of wisdom)
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To: BIGLOOK

They're beautiful, thank you so much!


68 posted on 05/10/2006 6:57:36 PM PDT by EsmeraldaA
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To: fanfan

Good!

Cake is always welcome! ;-)


69 posted on 05/10/2006 6:59:00 PM PDT by EsmeraldaA
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To: AZamericonnie

The Paladin is one wild machine.
Those things really rock when they light off!


70 posted on 05/10/2006 7:00:33 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: AZamericonnie; Radix


"I'll just be a sec, Lt......I left my license in my other pair of pants."


Great thread, Connie.........even if it is Army!

71 posted on 05/10/2006 7:02:18 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (Order of Battle: Sink or capture as Prize, MS Media)
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To: EsmeraldaA

72 posted on 05/10/2006 7:03:02 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: LUV W

I can tell you now, it already is.

{{LUV}}


73 posted on 05/10/2006 7:04:17 PM PDT by EsmeraldaA
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To: acad1228
Hi Sapalupa!

I just dropped $25.00 over at the Walmart to get two fishing licenses that your fine city requires to fish Sahoma and Pretty Water.

Stopped at the feed store by the tracks and had some yucks with the boys while checking out the baby chicks in the big galvanized tubs.

74 posted on 05/10/2006 7:04:41 PM PDT by battlegearboat
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To: EsmeraldaA

Very good. We do throw good birthday parties around here! LOL! What are you going to do for your birthday?


75 posted on 05/10/2006 7:05:49 PM PDT by luvie (A free Iraq . ... will serve as an amazing example for people who are desperate for freedom! GWB)
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To: Lady Jag

I'd shoot him because he's only about fifty times bigger than me and he's pushing my tank around.


76 posted on 05/10/2006 7:06:49 PM PDT by battlegearboat
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To: mylife
Thank you my!

I like the purple stars....hehehhe.....a lot!
77 posted on 05/10/2006 7:07:14 PM PDT by EsmeraldaA
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To: AZamericonnie

Good evening AZ. All is well, and thank you for another great thread.


78 posted on 05/10/2006 7:07:45 PM PDT by Gucho
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To: AZamericonnie

May 11, 2006

Your Biography

READ: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. —2 Timothy 4:7

When D. L. Moody was moving into old age, he was asked to grant permission for his biography. Moody refused, saying, “A man’s life should never be written while he is living. What is important is how a man ends, not how he begins.”

For better or worse, I have failed to follow that dictum. My biography has been published. Yet I agree with Moody that the way our lives end is the crucial test of authentic discipleship. Only if we remain in a steadfast relationship with the Savior can we be confident not merely of entering heaven, but of obtaining the victor’s crown (1 Corinthians 9:25).

Paul was concerned about the possibility of being disapproved by his Lord (v.27). He was a redeemed believer who was serving the Lord, yet he feared that his service might prove to be wood, hay, and straw rather than gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3:12-13).

What will be the Lord’s appraisal of our lives? Will someone evaluating us be able to say honestly that we continued to bear fruit in old age? (Psalm 92:14). Whatever vocation we pursue, with the help of the Holy Spirit we may be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Vernon C Grounds

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion light their way;
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.  —Mohr
© 1987 by Jonathan Mark Music and Birdwing Music (ASCAP)

For the ignorant, old age is as winter; for the learned, it is a harvest.  —Jewish proverb


79 posted on 05/10/2006 7:07:47 PM PDT by The Mayor ( We are moving in on Albany! http://www.newyorkcoalition.org)
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To: EsmeraldaA

I hope you have a great day Hon!


80 posted on 05/10/2006 7:08:37 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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