New Army artillery piece that can fire 8 rounds that hit a target simultaneously

"The Website for Defense Industries" ^ | Unknown date

[mhking]

CRUSADER 155MM SELF PROPELLED HOWITZER, USA

The Crusader self-propelled howitzer is being developed for the US Army as a replacement for the Paladin and the US Army requirement is expected to be for over 800 vehicles. Live firing trials of the Crusader began in February 2000 at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, and in November 2000 a firing rate of 10.4 rounds per minute was achieved. The system successfully completed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in November 2001. The first production versions are due in 2006 and the Crusader is planned to enter service in 2008. The Crusader programme is being carried out by Team Crusader, led by United Defense. The Crusader artillery system provides enhanced survivability, lethality and mobility and is more easily deployable and sustainable than current systems. A battery of six Crusaders can deliver 15 tons of ammunition in less than 5 minutes. United Defense has reduced the weight and size of the Crusader vehicle from 60 tons to 38 to 41 tons allowing two vehicles rather than one to be transported on a C-5 or C-17 aircraft. This allows the Howitzer to be more easily available for any fire support mission in any field of operation, including forward battlefield operations for medium and light forces. The Crusader consists of two vehicles, the XM2001 155-mm self-propelled howitzer and the XM2002 armoured re-supply vehicle. The high level of automation means that the howitzer and re-supply vehicle each require only three men to operate. The gunners can control the entire loading and firing process from the safety of the computerised cockpit under armour and nuclear biological and chemical warfare protection. In addition to the current tracked system the Crusader Armoured Re-supply Vehicle is being offered in a wheeled variant. XM2001 SELF-PROPELLED HOWITZER Crusader's 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, XM2001, has fully automated ammunition handling and firing that allows firing of the 48 on-board rounds at rates of up to 10 rounds per minute to ranges in excess of 40 km. The first rounds of a mission can be fired in 15 to 30 seconds. Additionally Crusader has the capability to fire multiple rounds to achieve simultaneous impact on target (MRSI). One Crusader vehicle can fire up to 8 rounds to strike a single target at the same time. The digital fire control system calculates separate firing solutions for each of the 8 projectiles. XM2002 RESUPPLY VEHICLE Crusader is re-supplied by the XM2002 ammunition re-supply vehicle, which is equipped with a fully automated ammunition handling subsystem. This allows its three-man re-supply crew to automatically transfer, under armour, up to 48 rounds of ammunition and fuel to the howitzer in less than 12 minutes. Resupply can be carried out in a contaminated environment. The resupply vehicle itself can be fully loaded with fuel and 110 rounds of ammunition in less than 60 minutes. COMMAND AND CONTROL Crusader's command centre is equipped with onboard tactical systems including decision aids, and advanced position and navigational aids and an automated IFF system. The Crusader sends and receives real-time battlefield information through the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) and it can communicate directly with other combat vehicles. The secure data transmission network digitally links the Howitzer, Resupply Vehicle and the rest of the battlefield to give every vehicle real time situational awareness. ARMAMENT Crusader can deliver any type of round including high explosive, white phosphorus and smoke, DPICM, illumination and SADARM rounds. The Crusader solid propellant armament system consists of the cannon, gun mount, and a laser ignition system. The Crusader cannon tube is Integral Midwall Cooled (IMC) which enables extremely high rates of fire. The cannon chamber and tube are chrome-plated to minimise wear and erosion. The chamber is compatible with the Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS) solid propellant propulsion system. PROPULSION The Crusader's engine and hydropneumatic suspension give a road speed of up to 67 km/hour and a cross-country speed of 48 km/hour. The transmission allows automatic scheduling of engine speed and transmission ratio for fuel economy. The driving system features drive-by-wire, positional navigation and movement planning decision aids. The US Army has selected Honeywell International Engines and Systems and General Electric to develop a new LV100-5 gas turbine engine for the Crusader, in common with the M1A2 main battle tank, as part of the Abrams/Crusader Common Engine Program. The new engine is lighter and smaller with rapid acceleration, quieter running and no visible exhaust.				The Crusader cannon tube is Integral Midwall Cooled (IMC) which enables extremely high rates of fire.
				The XM2002 ammunition re-supply vehicle, equipped with a fully automated ammunition handling system automatically transfers 48 rounds of ammunition and fuel to the howitzer in less than 12 minutes.
				The XM2002 resupply vehicle itself can be fully loaded with fuel and 110 rounds of ammunition in less than 60 minutes.
				The Crusader Howitzer XM 2001 schematic. The howitzer and the resupply vehicles contain 60 percent common components.
				One Crusader vehicle can fire up to 8 rounds to strike a single target at the same time. The digital fire control system calculates separate firing solutions for each of the 8 projectiles.
				Two Crusader vehicles can be transported on a single C-5 or C-17 aircraft.
				Live firing trials of the Crusader began in February 2000 at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.

[mhking]

I'd buy that for a dollar!

Y'think Saddam would like us to use this?

[eureka!]

How cool. You gotta click & enlarge the photos too. And I do hope Saddam gets to see it in action...

[bribriagain]

I want one.

[ladtx]

Is there a 10 day waiting period?

[cksharks]

This program is the one that Rumsfeld just canceled. 11B bucks.

[Norman Conquest]

The name Crusader will offend our Moslem allies in the war against terror. But that's just gravy.

[Cogadh na Sith]

It's a dead program.

UDLP, the manufacturer, has mismanaged it and only a prototype exists after 18 billion $ and another 16 b$ to put it into production.

Rummy is going to kill it in the next defense bill.

[Faraday]

One Crusader vehicle can fire up to 8 rounds to strike a single target at the same time.

That has got to hurt!

[Dog Gone]

Spat over artillery system goes public

By MICHAEL HEDGES
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- A high-level Pentagon spat between Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Army Secretary Thomas White has emerged over the future of an expensive new artillery system the Army covets.

In a Pentagon briefing Thursday, Rumsfeld was visually peeved at reports that White, a former Enron executive under scrutiny for his sale of company stock, had sought to lobby Congress for the Crusader artillery system after learning Rumsfeld wanted the $11 billion program canceled. "I have a minimum of high regard for that kind of behavior," Rumsfeld said.

The dispute became public at a time White is already under the pressure of two separate investigations. The FBI is probing whether White improperly sought information from Enron officials between June and October as he was selling $12.1 million in company stock -- and Enron's stock value was tumbling.

And the Pentagon's inspector general is reviewing White's use of a military jet after reports surfaced that he stopped at a location where he was selling a house to close on that deal during a business trip without reimbursing the Army.

White has denied any wrongdoing in either matter.

The former vice chairman of Enron's energy services left a $55 million-a-year job with the company in early 2001 to take the post as Army secretary.

On Wednesday, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz met with White and told him to cancel the Crusader program within 30 days and come up with an alternative way to replace it, sources said.

Shortly after that, the Army's legislative affairs office faxed important members of Congress talking points describing why the system needed to be saved.

Rumsfeld said Thursday that even though the Army was asked to prepare alternatives, it did not mean a decision to cancel Crusader was irrevocable.

But he acknowledged such a step "clearly suggests that that's the intention -- to cancel it."

Rumsfeld was not happy that his authority to order service branches to cut weapons programs was being challenged.

"Ought a president and a secretary of defense and a deputy secretary of defense be able to expect that the leadership (of the military) and the overwhelming majority will in fact be supportive once a decision is made? Of course," he said.

Asked if he was concerned White might be fighting a "rear-guard action" to save the Crusader system, he said, "We are looking into that right now."

An Army spokesman said White had no comment on the Crusader issue Thursday.

One military official who spoke on background said the matter could become the decisive issue that leads to White's resignation from the Army.

"It may be that this becomes a matter of principle he can leave on with a certain amount of grace," the official said.

But William Taylor, a military expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies said, "What we've got going on is bureaucratic politics. It is nothing new. White isn't going behind Rumsfeld's back -- both of them know the other's position on this."

White said, "This is just a typical high-level debate over a weapon system that is in danger. This one is just out in the open."

The Crusader is a high-tech, mobile 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. It is lighter and more mobile than existing self-propelled artillery pieces, and the Army has told Congress it is crucial to plans for a more rapid deployment ability.

About $2 billion of a projected $11 billion cost for the program has already been spent. It was supposed to enter the service in 2008.

[BOBTHENAILER]

How does this compare to S. Afrika's most advanced artillery piece. In range, weight, accuracy and most important of all, transportability. I understand only one Crusader will fit in the largest transport aircraft. Not very efficient way to get to the battle.

[1Old Pro]

I believe it needs a field test to make sure it works right, especially in hot, sandy conditions.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

A great system, for the last war, but what are the advantages over airstrikes from UMA, B52s, B-1s, Tomahawk and cruise mnissles, etc. Once you consider the costs of the Crusader and at least one, sometimes more, resupply vehicles I see no operational cost advantage. This would have been real cool in WII, Korea, and maybe Vietnam (maybe not) but technology has already made it obsolete. I see why Rumsfield wants to kill it.

[Future Snake Eater]

I thought he said it was under review, not terminated.

[LetsRok]

I think I saw something about this concept a few years ago. The cannon actually has multiple rounds in the tube at the same time and they are fired simultaneously.

[TomB]

I understand only one Crusader will fit in the largest transport aircraft. Not very efficient way to get to the battle.

From the article:

United Defense has reduced the weight and size of the Crusader vehicle from 60 tons to 38 to 41 tons allowing two vehicles rather than one to be transported on a C-5 or C-17 aircraft.

[DSHambone]

I bet the MLRS can fill the void - sorry you 13Bs - you'll still be saying "ramming" & "I see red!" way into this century!

[IGOTMINE]

The target that is hit simultaneously with those eight rounds will be located in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma...which is about the only place those beasts can be deployed.

[Semper Paratus]

That could really put a dent in your day.

[TomB]

The cannon actually has multiple rounds in the tube at the same time and they are fired simultaneously.

Actually the rounds are loaded and fired separately. The fire control computer can give each round a different trajectory so they land on the target at the same time.

[wattsmag2]

One Crusader vehicle can fire up to 8 rounds to strike a single target at the same time. The digital fire control system calculates separate firing solutions for each of the 8 projectiles.

If it works like this, I am impressed. Talk about a BFG!