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.

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Anything named "Crusader" can't be all bad.
(remember the F-8?)...

[Mr. Lucky]

Sounds like a great weopon to use against Nazi Germany in 1944. Trouble is, that's probably not the war we'll fight next.

How many bidges or roadways in the 3rd world will support a 70 ton vehicle? Rummy thinks these are a boondogle. I thinks rummy knows what he's doing.

[b4its2late]

Imagine the unmanned drones hovering overhead finding targets for these guns....... Oooooh baby!

[mhking]

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

"Three frags left..."

[Tactical Thunder]

Hey the dems just cut funding to ABL too there trying to slow down the program. They know its going to shoot down a boost phase ICBM and they don't want it to work before the 2004 El. Being they have fought it from the beginning this program is vastly important to US.

[Kozak]

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

Why not get really creative and move on to the "THOR" orbital system. You place multiple bundles of metal rods with terminal guidance systems, cheap and simple, in low polar orbits. When you call in the fire mission they are deorbited, and the terminal guidance takes over. You have what amounts to a guided meteor shower. This can reach anyplace on the planet within a few minutes. We have complete control of space, why not use the high ground?

[wattsmag2]

Imagine what this would do to massed forces.

[eureka!]

"Being they have fought it from the beginning this program is vastly important to US."

Yes, if the 'Rats are against it, then it probably is good for the country...

[LibWhacker]

. . .Crusader. . .

Any bets on how long it'll be before the PC nazis make them change the name?

[ClearCase_guy]

Sounds like a great weopon to use against Nazi Germany in 1944. Trouble is, that's probably not the war we'll fight next.

You are certainly correct. It would also have helped McArthur hold back the Chinese hordes who streamed over the Yalu River. The Korean Conflict might have turned out diffently.

No, we have no use for this weapon. I mean, what are the chances that we'll ever have to face the enormous manpower of the Chinese army? We certainly don't need a weapon that can face down massed troops. No siree.

[TigerTale]

Why not get really creative and move on to the "THOR" orbital system.

I'm pretty sure we have one more treaty to get rid of before we can do that. The U.S. is still a signatory to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bans weapons in space. We'll need to send that one the way of the ABM treaty before we'll be clear to use the "high ground" in the way you suggest.

[flying Elvis]

It comes with movement planning decision aids

Maps. lol

I wonder how many extra millions that addition cost? lol

[ClearCase_guy]

One more point. I usually accept the bromide that we need a fast reaction force. We do. But is that all we need?

Think about the Falklands War. It took the UK forever to get a military force across the Atlantic to fight Argentina. How about the Persian Gulf? The war was short, but the buildup lasted months. How about our pending attack on Iraq? Seven months ago it was a safe bet that the attack would be made -- but we're still planning.

There are wars (quite often, the big ones) where planning and logistics are going to take a long time. It strikes me that being able to ship the army anywhere in the world in 24 hrs is not really the right thing to focus on.

There may come a time when we wish we had the Crusader. But re-tooling and manufacturing will take a long time, don't you think? I say build it now and hope you don't need to use it. Seems to me that this is a common way for the US to think about it's powerful weapons.

[Psalm 73]

Nice post. Unfortunately they are working with a Defense budget that is WAY too small for peacetime, never mind a protracted war like we are in now.
Slash domestic social spending by 50% across the board, and order more of EVERYTHING!
We have never worried about deficit spending during wartime, nor should we.
Spend the money, get the job done, then worry about the state of social programs,
(they might even find that many of them didn't matter, after all).

[Psalm 73]

"We certainly don't need a weapon that can face down massed troops. No siree."

You're a funny man... ; )

[Almondjoy]

Wow.. talk about taking artillery to a whole new level. Biggest innovation in artillery since those monster railcar pieces they used in WWII I bet. I noticed one funny part though.. it said the people were protected from chemical bio and nukes in the safety of the vechile.. i was thinking.. nuke? Well sure if they were on the edge of the zone.. you know where you can do the hokey pokey. Put your right foot in put your right foot out put your right foot in and watch it fall off do the hokey pokey then you turn yourself around that's what a nuke is all about!

[monday]

"How many bidges or roadways in the 3rd world will support a 70 ton vehicle? "

From the article.

"United Defense has reduced the weight and size of the Crusader vehicle from 60 tons to 38 to 41 tons "

[Young Werther]

What a waste of time and energy. Who needs artillery where a properly equipped 21st Century foot soldier can get close and control more firepower on an enemy than this device which is laying down fire from miles away. what is the rationale for hitting a target with 8 shells when one should suffice?

[monday]

"I have a minimum of high regard for that kind of behavior," Rumsfeld said.

But you do have a little bit of "high regard for that kind of behavior" Rummie? Presumably just enough?....LOL... Rumsfield is learning Federal DC speak.

[monday]

"what is the rationale for hitting a target with 8 shells when one should suffice?"

Surprise. When firing from 40 km away the ability to saturate a target area with maximum firepower before the target can go to ground would be important.