Free Republic
Browse · Search
VetsCoR
Topics · Post Article

To: snippy_about_it

I'm wondering why SP guns don't also tow a Howie of the same calibre. The artillery could pound a few shots from each, saddle up and scoot, and use the incoming enemy fire on their former position to range for their next salvo.

They could also target two separate positions from the same firing point simultaneously.

I'm just a civvie, and I'm sure it's been discussed at one time or another, but I've never seen or heard any discussion/articles about the idea.

Then again, it could be that it was tried at one point, and went the same way as jacketless ammo for small arms.


5 posted on 08/26/2005 10:49:52 PM PDT by Don W (The French are worthless in the world and anything they do make we can make better and cheaper.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]


To: Don W; Darksheare

Two problems with your scenario DonW...

1} Where is the crew gonna ride for the towed piece?

2} Where is the ammo gonna ride.

Let's ask Darksheare since IIRC he was a redleg.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}


6 posted on 08/26/2005 10:55:09 PM PDT by alfa6 (Any child of twelve can do it, with fifteen years practice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies ]

To: Don W; alfa6

As Alfa said, there would have to also be a crew for the towed piece, and ammo storage for the same piece.
For an M-198 155mm round, the ammo space requirements are the same as for the M-109A6 Paladin.

The M-119A1 light towed 105mm I was a crewmember on had an ammo space requirement described best as "The back of an M-1097 HMMWV" plus 8 or so rounds in the 'ready rack' in the back of the prime mover.

Towed or SP, there's always a prime mover vehicle, and an ammo vehicle.
But with SP, the prime mover is also the artillery piece.

It would be neat to be able to have some sort of combined artillery unit, but SP howitzers can go places that towed artillery just simply shouldn't even dare trying to go.
There are places that vehicles with treads can traverse that would be impossible while towing something.


Targeting the same position from multiple artillery pieces is done using "Time On Target" method of fire, where multiple artillery piecves form multiple batteries all aim at the same point and await the same order to fire.
Usually done for countering massing enemy columns.


Sorry I got to this late, I was out hiking today and got to play at being a trail guide.
*chuckle*


63 posted on 08/27/2005 6:26:55 PM PDT by Darksheare (There is a Possum in the works.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
VetsCoR
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson