A typical 155mm howitzer barrel is designed to last 1500 Equivalent Full Charge (EFC) rounds. That is 1500 rounds fired at nearly maximum range. If firing at less than max range, you might only have 0.7 EFC rounds per shot. If firing some rounds such as Excalibur or extended range HE, you may see 1.2 EFC rounds per shot. If these guys are firing 100 to 150 rounds per day, it stands to reason that tubes need to be replaced every 1 to 2 months, or accuracy suffers. It’s an artillery war, so you have to do the barrel changes. Every army has the same problem.
How efficient is the changeout? What is the equipment required? How much skill is required of the maintenance crew?
One of the reasons for the incredible logistics run by the U.S. in WWII was the standardization and modularization of the machinery.
The US 8” was retired years ago. Maintenance hogs, projectiles outdated, requires bag charges, barrel life short compared to our main line 155mm and requires large crews. We surplused out many to Taiwan years ago.
We are now sending outdated and retired equipment, sheesh, we couldn’t supply anymore 155mm so started sending 105’s.
A typical 155mm howitzer barrel is designed to last 1500 Equivalent Full Charge (EFC) rounds. That is 1500 rounds fired at nearly maximum range. If firing at less than max range, you might only have 0.7 EFC rounds per shot. If firing some rounds such as Excalibur or extended range HE, you may see 1.2 EFC rounds per shot. If these guys are firing 100 to 150 rounds per day, it stands to reason that tubes need to be replaced every 1 to 2 months, or accuracy suffers. It’s an artillery war, so you have to do the barrel changes. Every army has the same problem.
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Thanks, Redlegs understand, the FR armchairs here have no idea. The main problem is also the 155 round,very heavy, comes on pallets, requires forklifts, large heavy 5 ton trucks and much support equipment.
Ammo supply a logistical nightmare…and I doubt the Ukies have the trained armorers following the guns around. More than likely they are being abandoned and left sitting where they became “ red X’d”.
I expect many to end up on display in Vlad’s war museums.