M109A6 Paladin
The M109A6 Paladin is the latest advancement in 155mm self-propelled artillery. The system enhances previous versions of the M109 by implementing onboard navigational and automatic fire control systems. Paladin has both a Kevlar-lined chassis and a pressurized crew compartment to guard against ballistic, nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.
The Paladin M109A6 howitzer is the fourth product improvement to the original M109 self-propelled (SP) howitzer. It features improvements in the areas of survivability; reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM); responsiveness; and terminal effects. The M109A6 is an armored, full tracked howitzer carrying 37 complete conventional rounds and two Copperhead projectiles. It is operated by a crew of four. It is designed with a new turret structure that facilitates integration of the various turret improvements and vulnerability reduction measures. It improves overall crew compartment layout and space. The howitzer can travel at a maximum speed of 38 miles per hour and has a maximum cruising range of 186 miles.
The M109A6 is the most technologically advanced cannon in the Army inventory. This weapon has a 4 man crew, and weights approximately 62,000 lbs/32 tons, and has a cruising range of 186 miles, Max speed is 35 MPH, It has a fuel capacity of 133 gals. The Paladin can operate independently, from on the move, it can receive a fire mission, compute firing data, select and take up its firing position, automatically unlock and point its cannon, fire and move out - all with no external technical assistance. Firing the first round from the move in under 60 seconds, a "shoot and scoot" capability protects the crew from counterbattery fire. The M109A6 Paladin is capable of firing up to four rounds per minute to ranges of 30 kilometers. The Paladin features increased survivability characteristics such as day/night operability, NBC protection with climate control and secure voice and digital communications. The crew remains in the vehicle throughout the mission.
The Paladin is designed to accept new technologies increasing firing range, rate of fire, and accuracy. TACOM-ARDEC, in order to maintain the state-of-the-art in artillery technologies, is continuing to develop enhancements adaptable to Paladin, such as a 52 caliber gun, Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS), and a laser ignition system.
The Paladin is an example of equipment bridging the gap between current systems and those planned for the future. It dramatically increases the responsiveness, survivability and flexibility of self-propelled cannon artillery. Adding advanced technology to a 1950s chassis, the Paladin begins a revolution in the way the field artillery fights. Using computers, the Paladin can determine its own position on the ground and compute its own firing data. Single-channel ground-air radios permit voice and digital communication with the platoon's operation center and with other howitzers in the platoon.
The most significant operational differences between the M109A6 howitzer and prior M109 series howitzers are the Paladin's ability to operate over a widely dispersed area and to move and emplace using the Paladin technology. The Paladin can move and position within an assigned position area, process technical firing data, and fire a mission without relying on aiming circles and wire lines. Target acquisition and engagement parameters (tactical fire control) are provided by the Paladin platoon's battle command facility, the platoon operations center (POC). The automatic fire control system (AFCS) and single-channel ground and airborne radio system (SINCGARS) frequency modulation (FM) radios change the current requirements for surveyed firing points, aiming circles, and land lines.
In the past, communications wire had to be manually strung between the vehicles and the fire-control center. Without the need for wire communications, the Paladin can change position more frequently, an advantage against enemy fire. Such advancements give new meaning to the artillery's ability to move, shoot and communicate. The Paladin's technology reduces the time soldiers are vulnerable to enemy fire. Every time you fire a round, the enemy can zero in on your position and fire back. If you take too long to get out of there, you're probably going to get killed.
In the past, it would take about 20 minutes to prepare a firing position and another 15 to 20 to displace. It was very manpower-intensive to emplace the battery before. A five-man crew served each of the six howitzers in the battery. Surveyers calculated the battery's location, and crew members ran communicaitons wire by hand. The gun sections each had a guy who would run the wire to the fire-direction center, and when it was time to displace, he would have to go down to the fire-direction center, unhook the wire and roll it up. It didn't take soldiers long to figure out that that's not a good way to do business if you want to stay alive.
New technology allows cutting that wire link from the fire direction center, which limited how far one could disperse the howitzers on the battlefield.
Technology also increases speed. The Paladin's top speed of 38 mph makes it slightly faster than the M-109A3. The Army beefed up the engine and transmission, and installed some new technologies -- an on-board fire control system, on-board position-navigation system, radios. There is also improved ballistic protection on the howitzer and on-board prognostics and diagnostics to help diagnose when there is a problem.
The Paladin/FAASV program entails a major product improvement and re-engineering effort - begun in 1979 - to upgrade the U.S. Army's primary self-propelled long-range howitzer, designated the M109 series. Range, lethality, reliability, speed and mobility were all limitations of this 1950's design, as was the lack of onboard navigation/location and nuclear, biological and chemical protection for the crew. The new Paladin closes the technology gap in response to the requirements of the U.S. Army Soldier. These "shoot and scoot" requirements, were translated into engineering requirements and specifications that updated or replaced every subsystem of the vehicle.
The first 164 Army Paladin systems were manufactured under a September 1991 LRIP contract, resulting in FUE status in April 1993. The subsequent full-scale production (FSP), multiyear contract covered 630 howitzers. Additional options for 83 systems and a follow-on order for 73 Paladins brought the total number of units produced under FSP to 786. Production of 950 Paladin vehicles and 927 FAASV vehicles has been completed.June 25th, 1999 marked the end of Paladin's Full Rate Production. By the end of 2001, the Army provided 950 (164 LRIP + 786 FSP = 950 M109A6s) defect-free Paladins and 927 defect-free FAASVs. The Army received a FY 2000 congressional plus-up for an additional 7 Paladin vehicles for continued Army National Guard modernization, with deliveries scheduled for January 2002. It is believed that Army National Guard planners may seek funding for additional M109A6 upgrades in the coming fiscal years.
The Paladin was delivered into the capable hands of US Army and National Guard Field Artillery units in accordance with a detailed schedule that included advance Materiel Fielding Team customer familiarization, new equipment training for both officers and enlisted personnel, and all of the associated logistics, spares, manuals, trainers and testing devices for the weapons system.
Additional Sources: www.persuaders65.org
www.usmilitaryart.com
www.namsa.nato.int
www.army.dnd.ca
jczs.sina.com.cn
www.israelimages.com
home.wxs.nl
www.fact-index.com
www.dew.ca
wiley2-5fa.com
www.uniteddefense.com
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on September 14:
1486 Agrippa von Nettesheim German occultist/alchemist/royal astrologer
1742 James Wilson Scot/US judge/signer (Declaration of Independence)
1769 Baron Freidrich von Humbolt, German naturalist and explorer who made the first isothermic and isobaric maps.
1819 Henry Jackson Hunt Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1889
1835 Joseph Hayes Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1912
1838 John Pelham Major (Confederate Army), died in 1863
1849 Ivan Pavlov Russia, physiologist/pioneer in psychology
1864 Lord Cecil of Chelwood UK, help form League of Nations (Nobel 1937)
1867 Charles Dana Gibson illustrator, drew "Gibson Girl"
1879 Margaret Sanger feminist/nurse/birth control proponent
1887 Stanley "Midnight Assassin" Ketchel HW boxing champ (1908-10)
1899 Hal Wallis movie producer (Maltese Falcon, Barefoot in the Park)
1907 A Cecil Snyder Chief Justice of Puerto Rico
1908 Clayton Moore Chicago Ill, actor (Lone Ranger)
1913 Jacobo Arbenz president of Guatemala (1951-54); overthrown by CIA
1914 Kay Medford NYC, actress (Dean Martin Show, To Rome With Love)
1920 Bud Palmer Hollywood Calif, NBAer (NY Knicks)/sportscaster
1921 Hughes Rudd TV newscaster (CBS)
1924 Jerry Coleman 2nd baseman/sportscaster (NY Yankees)
1925 Robert Webber Santa Ana Calif, actor (Nuts, Pvt Benjamin)
1928 Albert Shanker American labor leader (Amer Fed of Teachers)
1933 Zoe Caldwell Australia, actress (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie)
1934 Kate Millett St Paul Minn, feminist/author (Sexual Politics)
1938 Nicol Williamson Scotland, actor (Excalibur, Robin & Marian)
1938 Walter Koenig Chicago Ill, actor (Checkov-Star Trek, Bester-Babylon 5)
1944 Joey Heatherton Rockville Center NY, dancer/actress (Bluebeard)
1947 Jon "Bowser" Bauman Queens NY, singer (Sha Na Na)
1948(?) A baby found on an Oregon beach a dead half eaten tiger shark in his mouth. Named Brian "68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub" Marotta. Is reported to tell his mother the lovely Mrs Marotta "I want to go too Viet-Nam and kill me some commies." It has also been rumored that Stalin had a fainting spell, and John kill em all Kerry was reported to say he to will go too Viet-Nam and be a HEro.
1956 Joe Penny London, actor (Gangster Wars, Riptide, Jake & the Fatman)
1959 Mary Crosby LA Calif, actress (Kristin-Dallas, Ice Pirates)
1963 Antonia Real Spain, 400m freestyle (Olympic-1976)
1964 Faith Ford Louisiana, actress (Another World, Corky-Murphy Brown)
1970 Satoshi Kojima wrestler (NJPW)
Deaths which occurred on September 14:
0258 Thascius C Cyprian, Saint/Bishop of Carthage, dies at 58
0407 Johannes Chrysostomus, patriarch, dies
1146 Imad ad-Din Zengi gov of Basra, murdered
1321 Dante Alighieri dies of malaria just hours after finishing writing Paradiso.
1646 Robert Devereux, 3rd earl of Essex, dies under Queen Elizabeth's headsman
1759 Louis Montcalm French general (Plains of Abraham), dies at 47
1788 John Penn US attorney, signed (Decl of Independence), dies at 47
1836 Aaron Burr 3rd VP, dies
1852 Arthur Wellesley General/Duke of Wellington, dies at 83
1862 Jesse Lee Reno Union general-major (Reno Nevada), dies at 39
1862 Samuel Garland Jr US Confederate brig-gen, dies in battle
1901 Pres William McKinley dies in Buffalo, of gunshot wounds inflicted
by an assassin. VP Theodore Roosevelt became president
1927 Isadora Duncan dies as her scarf became entangled in her car's wheel
1966 Gertrude Berg actress (Molly Goldberg-The Goldbergs), dies at 66
1981 [Walter] Furry Lewis father of blues, dies at 88 of a heart attack
1982 Bashir Gemayel Lebanon's president-elect, killed by a bomb
1982 Grace Kelly princess of Monaco, dies at 52 in a car crash
1984 Janet Gaynor actress, dies at 77 from a traffic accident
1996 Juliet Prowse, actress/dancer (Mona McCluskey), dies at 59
Reported: MISSING in ACTION
1965 TAYLOR NEIL BROOKS RANGELEY ME.
1966 STODDARD CLARENCE W. JR CORPUS CHRISTI TX.
POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.
On this day...
0891 Stephen V ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1515 Battle at Marignano ends in French/Venetian victory
1629 Spanish garrison surrenders to prince Frederik Henry
1628 Salem, Mass., was founded.
1666 St Paul's in London destroyed by fire
1716 1st lighthouse in US lit (Boston Harbor)
1741 George Frederick Handel finishes "Messiah" oratorio
1752 England & colonies adopt Gregorian calendar, 11 days disappear
1776 The British Army entered New York City after defeating the Americans, under Gen. Washington, at the Battle of Long Island.
1812 Napoleon occupies Moscow
1814 Francis Scott Key inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner"
1847 US Marines under General Scott enter Mexico City (halls of Montezuma)
1848 Alexander Stewart opens the 1st US dept store
1856 Battle of San Jacinto, Nicaragua defeats invaders
1862 Battle at Crampton's Gap: Union troops chases away Confederates
1862 Battle at South Mountain: Union troops chases away Confederates
1862 Battle of Munfordsville KY
1862 Federal troops escape from beleaguered Harpers Ferry West Virginia
1862 Skirmish at Mountain MD (Boonesboro, Crampton's Gap, Fox's Gap)
1872 Britain pays the US $15,000,000 for damages during Civil War
1886 George K Anderson of Memphis, Tennessee patents typewriter ribbon
1891 "Empire State Express" train goes from NYC to East Buffalo, a distance of 436 miles, in a record 7H6M
1899 Henry Bliss becomes 1st automobile fatality (NY)
1901 Vice President Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as the 26th President of the United States upon the death of William McKinley, who was shot eight days earlier
1903 NY Giant Red Ames no-hits St Louis, 5-0 in a 5 inning game
1916 Christy Mathewson pitches & wins his final game
1917 Provisional government of Russia established, Republic proclaimed
1919 British regime bans Sinn Fein
1923 Miguel Primo de Rivera becomes dictator of Spain
1930 Detroit Lions (as Portsmouth Spartans) play 1st NFL game, win 13-6
1930 Nazis gain 107 seats in German election
1933 2 billion board feet of lumber destroyed in Tillamook Oregon fire
1938 Graf Zeppelin II, world's largest airship, makes maiden flight
1940 Congress passes 1st peace-time conscription bill (draft law)
1942 Battle of Edson's Ridge (Japanese assault) at Guadalcanal
1942 German army began their siege of Stalingrad.
1948 Gerald Ford upsets Rep Bartel J Jonkman in Mich 5th Dist Rep primary
1948 Groundbreaking ceremony for the UN world headquarters
1948 Milton Berle starts his TV career on Texaco Star Theater
1954 Hurricane Edna (2nd of 1954) hits NYC, $50 million damage
1956 1st prefrontal lobotomy performed, Washington DC(I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy)
1957 UN resolution deplores & condemns USSR invasion of Hungary (USSR retreats out)
1960 Coup under Col Joseph-Desire Mobutu in Congo
1960 Chubby Checker's "Twist" hits #1
1960 Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi-Arabia & Venezuela form OPEC
1963 Mary Ann Fischer, Aberdeen, SD, gave birth to America's 1st surviving quintuplets, 4 girls & a boy
1964 Walt Disney awarded the Medal of Freedom at the White House
1965 "F-Troop" premiers
1966 Operation Attleboro, designed as a training exercise for American troops, becomes a month-long struggle against the Viet Cong.
1967 Melville Abrams Ball Field in the Bronx named
1968 1st broadcast of "60 Minutes" on CBS-TV
1968 USSR's Zond 5 is launched on 1st circumlunar flight
1969 Males of Swiss canton Schaffhausen rejects female suffrage
1971 Cleve Indians & Wash Senators, play 20 innings
1972 West Germany & Poland establish diplomatic relations
1972 "Waltons" TV program premiers
1973 Israel shoots down 13 Syrian MIG-21s
1973 Pres Nixon signed into law a measure lifting pro football's blackout
1974 Charles Kowal discovers Leda, 13th satellite of Jupiter
1975 Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton canonized as 1st US-born saint
1979 Theodore Coombs completes 5,193 mile roller skate from LA to NYC & back to Yates Center, Ks
1981 Entertainment Tonight premiers on TV
1982 The grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan's Invisible Empire of Florida announced that he was moving the group's headquarters from Orlando to Gainesville. Why? Because, he said, it's "a progressive community, and we think we can fit in."
1982 36" snow (Red Lodge, MT)
1982 Trevor Baxter sets skateboard high jump record of 5' 5.7"
1983 US House of Representatives votes, 416 to 0, in favor of a resolution condemning Russia for shooting down a Korean jetliner
1987 Oriole Cal Ripken Jr sets record of playing 8,243 inn in 910 games
1987 Toronto Blue Jays hit a record 10 HRs vs Baltimore Orioles
1989 Calgary Flames become 1st NHL team to play in USSR, win 4-2
1990 Ken Griffey, Sr & Jr, hit back-to-back HRs in 1st inning
1991 The government of South Africa, the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party signed a national peace pact.
1993 Katherine Ann Power "peace activist"/fugitive for more than 20 years in the death of a police officer during a bank robbery in Boston -- surrendered. She later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight to 12 years in prison.
2000 President Clinton said he was "quite troubled" by the way the Energy and Justice departments had handled the Wen Ho Lee case, and he expressed his regrets.
1996 Tara Dawn Holland of Kansas was crowned "Miss America."
Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"
Medieval South France Annual Fair of Ax-lesson-Thermes
Nicaragua : Battle of San Jacinto (1856)
Pakistan : Jamat Ul-Wida
US : National Anthem Day (1814)
US : National Boss/Employee Exchange Day
US : National MIA POW recognition day
National Housekeepers Week Begins
National Papaya Month
Religious Observances
Ang, RC, Luth : Memoria of the Exaltation Holy Cross Day
Orth : Beginning of the Orthodox church year (9/1 OS)
Religious History
1741 German composer George Frederick Handel, 56, finished composing his oratorio, "The Messiah." He wrote the score, start-to-finish, in only 24 days, subsisting primarily on coffee.
1765 Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter: 'How unspeakable are our obligations to the grace of God.'
1918 The Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Wisconsin, Ohio and Other States was formed from the merger of several smaller synods. In 1930 this denomination merged with two other synods to form the American Lutheran Church (ALC).
1927 Bob Jones University opened in Greenville, South Carolina, and eighty-eight students registered for the first fall term.
1975 (Mother) Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton (1774-1821) was canonized by Pope Paul VI, making her the first native-born American citizen to become a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.
Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.
Thought for the day :
"Show affection, it will probably meet with pleasant response."
Translating Southern United States Slang to English...
TARRED - adverb. Exhausted.
Usage: "I just flew in from Hot-lanta, and boy my arms are tarred."
How Many Dogs Does it Take to Change Light Bulb?
Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.
Politically Correct Terms For Males...
He does not have : A NICE BUTT
He is a : WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUAL
What's Your Business Astrological Sign?...
ACCOUNTING
The only other sign that studied in school. You are mostly immune from office politics. You are the most feared person in the organisation; combined with your extreme organisational traits, the majority of rumours concerning you say that you are completely insane.
