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Posted on 09/06/2004 11:23:18 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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 The modern artillery piece is an incredibly lethal and (in the public eye) totally unappreciated piece of machinery. It lacks the popularity and accessibility of the personal firearm or the glamour of the main battle tank, but artillery is an absolutely crucial component of combined-arms tactics in ground warfare. Sci-fi fan discussions of ground warfare often assume that artillery is unnecessary in the presence of air support, but this is a totally unrealistic approach. While artillery doesn't produce pretty pictures of smart bombs hitting buildings for CNN, it does produce results, particularly against targets which are not easily seen from the air. Unlike aircraft, artillery is unaffected by cloud cover or similar visibility conditions; as long as the spotter can relay the target location, the act of aiming is performed through mathematical computation rather than visual target acquisition. Furthermore, artillery isn't as easily fooled by cardboard decoys or other guerilla tricks, since its targeting is based on forward observers rather than detection from a distance. An artillery piece is also much less expensive than an aircraft, and a high explosive shell is much less expensive than a multi-million dollar guided missile. Artillery has an effective 100% duty cycle in the local combat area, unlike aircraft which cover large areas and must periodically return to base for refueling, maintenance, etc. Artillery is also much harder to detect than aircraft. Even a stealth aircraft is neither invisible or silent, while a camouflaged artillery piece can avoid detection until it opens fire, even in daytime.  Artillery pieces can range from small 52mm mortars to massive 8-inch self-propelled howitzers such as the M110A1, and they serve two purposes: close-range infantry support and long-range destruction of enemy units. Since artillery fires projectiles in an arcing trajectory, it has the absolutely priceless ability to hit targets without a line of sight. The importance of this capability simply cannot be overstated. An enemy tank column can be attacked by field artillery from behind geographical obstructions, and even if the attacking artillery is within range, the tanks still wouldn't be able to shoot back. In mountainous terrain, this capability is absolutely crucial; an army without artillery is a dead army. Of course, this leads to the obvious question of how artillery is aimed, and that job falls to fire control and the forward observer. Forward observers operate independently, and their job is to locate the target. They can be anything from specially equipped vehicles to men on foot, and they are typically equipped with laser rangefinders and accurate positioning systems such as GPS systems, so that they can relay very accurate targeting data back to fire control. Fire control then performs mathematical computations to determine the ideal firing angle and charge in order to hit the target, factoring in such variables as wind, humidity, temperature, etc. Modern systems even have multiple simultaneous strike capability, which is accomplished by firing three times in rapid succession: once at very high elevation, once at medium elevation, and once at low elevation. All three shots are timed so that they hit the target at the same time, from three different angles. Against a hardened target, this can effectively triple the power of the weapon. Against soft targets like infantry, the approach is somewhat different; a single proximity-fused projectile is set to explode in the air above the target and shower it with shrapnel. Either way, whether the target is a bunker, a column of armoured vehicles, or a group of infantry, if the artillery can find it, the artillery can destroy it.  Unfortunately, the greatest advantage of the artillery piece is also its greatest weakness: the parabolic trajectory of its projectile. While it allows the artillery piece to hit its target at great distances without a line of sight, it also allows a well-equipped enemy to swiftly locate the artillery piece, simply by tracking the arc of its projectile and mathematically computing its source. Specialized systems have been designed for just this purpose: for example, the EMI Cymbeline radar system is a specialized mortar-locating radar system, and the US Army's Firefinder system can locate both mortars and field artillery pieces. This means that field artillery is as much of a target as a threat, and the best efforts at concealment are basically for naught when the gun is ordered to open fire. However, the enemy must be well equipped in order to exploit this weakness, thus further underscoring the necessity of artillery: an enemy without effective artillery of his own would be helpless to exploit this weakness, so you would be able to attack him with impunity. Another point of vulnerability is the forward observer, since your artillery cannot target the enemy if your forward observers have been killed or captured. A possible alternative to the forward observer is the small aerial RPV (remote piloted vehicle), which is already in use for naval gunnery. However, the RPV is an expensive device, and forward observers are expected to be available on the battlefield by the time artillery is deployed.  Mobile warfare is hampered by immobile artillery support, so a full-scale conventional warfare scenario requires self-propelled artillery pieces. The doctrine of self-propelled gun deployment calls for large numbers of independent units to situate themselves around the countryside and move with the infantry and armour units. When a target is identified by the spotters, all of these artillery pieces will simultaneously open fire and shower it with shells, before pulling up stakes and changing positions in order to avoid the inevitable enemy artillery counter-attack (the slang term is "shoot and scoot". In this way, mobile artillery units achieve the dangerous combination of mobility, dispersion, and firepower concentration.
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This article is from Jane's International Defense Review
South Korean Army rolls out K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery system
CHRISTOPHER F.FOSS
In the late 1980s, the ROK Army drew up its requirements for a new 155mm/52-caliber SPH to meet the requirements of the 21st century based on the following missions: deep supporting fire of the corps, qualitatively superior to overcome numerical inferiority; and effective firing support in mountainous areas with its longer range.
For many years the mainstay of the Republic of Korea's (ROK's) self-propelled field artillery units has been the United Defense LP 155mm/39-caliber M109A2 self-propelled howitzer (SPH). Samsung Aerospace Industries Ltd (SSA), Defense Program Division, was the ROK prime contractor for the co-production of 1,040 M109A2 SPHs, deliveries of which were completed several years ago.
The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) began work on a new SPH in 1989. Key operational requirements included a higher rate of fire, longer range, more accurate fire, faster into and out of action times and greater mobility, all of which were intended to lead to a significant increase in the battlefield survivability of the weapon system.
Following a competition, Samsung was selected to be the prime contractor for the K9 Thunder 155mm/52-caliber SPH. The company is responsible for delivering the complete system to the ROK Army as well as being responsible for logistics support and associated testing equipment.
The ROK government has invested a total of US$170 million in the development of a new 155mm self-propelled howitzer since 1989. First prototypes were completed in 1994 under the designation XK9 and put through extensive development test/operational tests (DT/OT) by the ROK Army and the ADD.
VERIFIED RELIABILITY
These were followed by three pre-production vehicles manufactured during the full-scale development phase (Phase II), the last of which was completed in 1998.
The mobility and firing reliability of the K9 Thunder had been verified through the trial of the prototype vehicles in Korea and by the end of 1998 these had travelled 18,000km and fired 12,000 rounds.
The XK9 Thunder was type classified by the ROK Army in 1998 as the K9 with the first production vehicles being completed early last year. The first ROK field artillery battalion is now operational and has three batteries each of six K9s. Each battery is normally controlled by one battery fire direction center.
The first K9 production batch consisted of six units; these were fielded for fire support of a corps artillery but did not replace the existing towed and self-propelled 155mm artillery systems.
The ROK Army is the first in Asia to deploy a 155mm/ 52-caliber SPH and the second in the world. The German Army was the first to deploy such a system with the introduction into service of the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann PzH 2000 in 1998.
The hull and turret of the K9 are of all-welded steel armor construction with a maximum thickness of 19mm. This provides the occupants with protection from medium calibre small arms fire and 155mm high explosive shell fragments. The K9 has a crew of five people, a driver and four in the crew compartment, with the latter consisting of commander, gunner, assistant gunner, and ammunition loader.
In appearance and overall layout the K9 is similar to other systems of this type. The driver sits front left with the power pack to his right. The rest of the vehicle is taken up by the turret and crew compartment.
The driver enters the tank by a rear- opening roof hatch that can be locked in the horizontal position. He has three forward-facing day periscopes, the center one of which can be replaced by the driver's passive night vision.
Wherever possible, to reduce development time and costs, proven subsystems were used in the development of the K9. The power pack for example consists of the German-designed MTU MT 881 Ka 500 V8 water-cooled diesel developing 1,000hp coupled to an Allison Transmission Division X1100-5A3 fully automatic transmission with four forward and two reverse gears.
PROVEN ENGINE
The MTU MT 881 Ka 500 is a proven engine and is also installed in the German PzH 2000 SPH while the X1100-5A3 is a diesel version of the X1100-3B developed for the US M1 Abrams MBT.
The fuel tank is at the front right side of the hull with the battery compartment being front left. The air intake and outlet louvers are in the roof with the exhaust outlet on the right side. The indirect fire sight is mounted on the left side of the turret roof and is provided with a ballistic cover.
The commander and gunner sit on the right side of the turret. Mounted on the forward part of the commander's cupola is a 12.7mm M2 machine gun for air- defense/local-defense purposes and a single piece hatch cover is provided which opens to the rear. A door is provided in the left side of the turret and there is also a large door in the chassis rear for crew entry and ammunition resupply purposes.
The 155mm/52-caliber main armament has a chamber volume of 23 liters and is fitted with a muzzle brake and fume extractor. The large multiple slotted muzzle brake reduces the firing impulse applied to the recoil system and also provides a superior capability of attenuating the blast overpressure and flash. The vertically sliding breech mechanism automatically opens upward after firing and obturates the propellant gases with the high strength obturator ring in the barrel assembly.
The primer magazine automatically feeds, inserts and extracts the primers, and movement of the breech block allows for the continuous firing capability of 21 rounds.
The gun mount, which consists of two hydraulic recoil brakes with an internal buffer and a pneumatic recuperator, reduces the firing impulse to the chassis. The high rigidity cradle, fitted to the autoloader at the rear, has enhanced firing accuracy by minimizing the lateral motion of the barrel when firing.
When traveling the barrel is held in position by a travel lock installed on the forward part of the hull; this is operated by the driver via remote control so ensuring the NBC integrity of the vehicle.
Mounted over the rear part of the ordnance is a muzzle velocity measuring system that feeds information to the onboard computer. This Doppler type system has a muzzle velocity recording range of 202,000m/sec.
A burst rate of fire of three rounds can be fired in 15sec with a maximum rate of fire of 68rds/min for a period of 3min. Sustained rate of fire is 23rds/min for one hour. A thermal warning device is fitted as standard and this feeds the temperature of the barrel to the Automatic Fire Control System (AFCS).
Firing a standard M107 high explosive (HE)projectile a maximum range of 18km can be achieved. Maximum range firing a HE rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) with uni-charge of five zones is 30km; firing the new K307 projectile with a six zone charge a maximum range of 40km can be achieved with a chamber pressure of (3,655kg/cm2) and a muzzle velocity of 924m/sec.
Using its onboard fire-control system it can carry out time-on-target (TOT) procedures and put three rounds on to the target at once. The bustle rack of the turret has been designed to load four types of 155mm projectile and is fitted with four independently operated electrical drives which can be operated manually in an emergency. A total of 48 projectiles and their associated charges are carried for ready use.
Internally an automatic-loading system takes projectiles from the storage position and places them onto the ammunition tray ready for ramming. The charges are loaded manually. Although it can use a conventional bag type charge system (M3A1, M4A2, M119A1 and M203), the K9 has been optimized for use with a locally developed modular charge system.
The new modular charge system comprises two charges. One is a uni-charge used for up to five zones (five increments) and another is a module type charge for zone six only (two increments).
The new K307 projectile is a high-explosive extended-range full-bore base-bleed (HE ER FB BB) type which features an aerodynamic body and base bleed to achieve its enhanced range.
Standard equipment includes a Honeywell Modular Azimuth Position System, Automatic Fire Control System, powered gun elevation/depression and turret traverse system. The K9 Thunder can open fire within 30sec if it is already stationary or within 60sec if it is moving.
Information to lay the weapon on to the target can be transmitted from the battery command post to the K9 Thunder via a data digital radio link or voice communications and the system can also calculate laying data using its onboard fire-control equipment.
The suspension system is of the hydropneumatic type with each side having six dual rubberized road wheels and with the drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and three track return rollers. The track is of the double pin type with replaceable rubber pads.
SUPPLYING SUSPENSION
Subcontractor for the suspension is Tong Myung Heavy Industries which signed a contract with Air Log of the UK in 1995 for the supply of an undisclosed quantity of 'Hydrogas' suspension units and license production of these in South Korea. This is similar to that used on the Marconi Land & Naval Systems 155mm AS90 self-propelled artillery in service with the Royal Artillery.
The K9 Thunder is also fitted with an NBC system, heater, internal and external communications system and a manual fire-suppression system.
Using the same basic chassis as the K9 Thunder an ammunition resupply version is under development and funding permitting, this could enter service around 2005.
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew: 5
Combat weight: 46,300kg
Power-to-weight ratio: 21.6hp/tonne
Length gun forwards: 12m
Length hull: 7.44m
Width: 3.40m
Height: (turret roof) 2.73m (including 12.7mm M2 MG) 3.5m
Ground clearance: 0.41m
Track: double pin with replaceable rubber pads (GS(c)2)
Track width: 548mm
Length of track on ground: 4.72m
Maximum road speed: 67km/h
Maximum towing speed: 27km/h
Acceleration: 12 sec (0 to 32km/h)
Braking distance: 12m (from 32km/h)
Fuel capacity: 850 litres
Range (cruising): 360km
Fording: 1.5m
Gradient: 60%
Side slope: 30%
Vertical obstacle: 0.75m
Trench: 2.8m
Engine: MTU MT 881 Ka-500 V-8 water-cooled diesel
developing 1,000hp at 2,700rpm
Transmission: Allison Transmission Division X1100-5A3 automatic with four forward and two reverse gears
Suspension: hydropneumatic
Electrical system: Generator voltage: 28V DC Battery voltage: 24V DC
Armament: (main) 1×155mm/52-cal (anti-aircraft) 1×12.7mm M2 machine gun
Ammunition: (155mm) 48 (12.7mm MG) 500
Gun control equipment: Turret power control:
hydraulic/manual
Turret traverse: 360
Gun elevation/depression: +70/2.5
Armour: 19mm max
Armour type: steel
NBC system: yes
Night-vision equipment: yes
In other military/defense news, France's aggressive marketing campaign to woo the Pentagon with its "Kerry" Self-Propelled Kibitzer has been shelved.
The "Kerry" was designed to fire three different opinions at any given issue, a yes, a no, a maybe, with the intention of at least confusing the opponent if not silencing him.
Initial field tests showed an embarrassing tendency of the "Kerry" to self-destruct, shooting itself in the foot as it were.
"I have contacts with high-ranking officials of foreign governments."
" W ...stands for Wong!...er...I mean...Wang"!
"I have never been photographed with PLA agents"!
"China does not steal.....they pay good American dollars"!
"Oh my god...somebody shut him up"!
btt I spent 4 hours today at the Bush HQ handing out 300 yard signs.
Hey CT. Artillery is the number one killer on the battlefield, I don't see that changing in the near future. It'll just be more effective once the smart munitions come on line.
Evening aomagrat.
The USS Greenwich Bay sure got around.
Yep! You need the guy with the bayonet to get the other guy to sign the peace treaty.
Evening w_over_w.
The M-109 is supposed to be even better. :-)
Good Evening, Foxhole
Another great thread. All kinds of treads here today. Your info on the Crusader was interesting.
M2001 Crusader Self Propelled Howitzer
If I recall correctly they used Walker Bulldogs for tnaks and the M3 Halftrack.
Thanks for the info on the K-9 Thunder. (Has a nice ring to it) I could call my dog Kodi, K9 Thunder sometimes, but that's another story. What's really amazing is the elevation they can get on the modern weapons
Self Propelled Kibitzer. :-)
" W ...stands for Wong!...er...I mean...Wang"!
LOL!
LOL! I like it.
10TH U.S. Army Gun Dynamics Symposium Proceedings
Excerpt report 2002
Abstract: In order to improve the performance of large caliber guns for main battlefield tank applications a wide range of R&D program have been performed in Germany on electric and electrically supported barrel guns since 1980. In the beginning pure electric gun technologies were investigated including rail, coil and electrothermal acceleration methods. A large caliber 105 mm electrothermal gun demonstrator supplied by a 30 MJ capacitive pulsed power supply system was introduced in 1995. Muzzle velocities up to 2.4 km/s were obtained with this set-up resulting in muzzle energies up to 5.8 MJ. The missing perspective on solving the energy density requirements of the pulsed power supply technology for a system realization led to the termination of these programs in the beginning of 1996. Due to its limited electrical energy requirements the technology of ETC guns has been investigated during the last years with high priority. It is the goal to provide a future main battle tank gun with increased firepower for integration into the next generation of combat fighting vehicles. Current R&D programmes result in a demonstration of the interior ballistic performance of the different ETC concepts. 120 mm ETC demonstrators are used to perform this demonstration. The presentation gives a short briefing on the results of the former investigations on pure electric guns and introduces the background for deciding to terminate these efforts. In the following an overview on the R&D Structure of the German programs on ETC and its related technology fields is presented. Basic investigations led to the definition of different ETC concepts for the realization of electrothermal plasma ignition methods and electrothermal combustion control of ETC tailored propellants and charge designs. Based on the results of 105 mm firings and of interior ballistic simulations a 120 mm ETC cartridge was designed and investigated experimentally. First 120 mm firing results will be given.
Steve Pitkin Affadavit, August 31, 2004
I think little johnnys boat just struck another mine.
I know. You see even back in 71 George Bush KNEW he was going to run against John Kerry, so he had Pitkin infiltrate the VVAW just so he could do this.
DANM that Karl Rove sure is sneeky!
Your tax money at work.
W,,Stands for...
Kerry is on a roll now huh : )
Did some googling on *Railgun.
Lots on PDF....hopefully more current info will appear HTML.
Railgun for new Navy DDX destroyer?
I think so....railgun's power source will easily stuff into a warship..
Railgun for Arty may take longer to develop...one consideration I read was that the Artillery railgun is a seperate unit from power source.
Like the M-109's in the Israeli pic earlier in the thread....the rail gun Arty will be sectioned in groups...with cables connecting them to a power source.
So ya.....still some years off in the future...Railgun is on its way from blueprint to reality : )
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