Replies

The Crusader self-propelled howitzer (SPH) is a 40-ton artillery vehicle that sets new standards for lethality, mobility, and survivability. The vehicle consists of three primary compartments -- a digitized, three-man cockpit, a fully automated ammunition handling and firing system, and an engine compartment that features a rollout powerpack. The SPH carries a payload of 48 rounds and fires up to 12 rounds per minute.

Automated ammunition-handling systems, a thermally cooled cannon, and digital decision aids allow Crusader to fight relentlessly -- in all battlefield conditions. This advanced system's power and mobility will allow artillery crews to attack targets faster and provide improved lateral support on the battlefield, creating a tremendous combat overmatch for our cannon force.

Click here and be amazed. Heaven help the bad guys.

Crusader provides the Army's Objective Force with the firepower it needs to win battles quickly and decisively -- with minimal U.S. casualties -- across the entire spectrum of operations.

The system will be able to fire up to 12 rounds per minute relentlessly -- in any weather condition and over any terrain. Responsive, long-range, and accurate fires will allow commanders to extend and dominate the battlefield and set extremely high optempos for land operations.

Plus, Crusader's ability to fire the first rounds of a mission in as little as 15(!!!) seconds will ensure that weapons hit their targets before the enemy has a chance to move. This agility will result in more enemy combat losses and more enemy casualties. It will dramatically reduce direct-fire threats for U.S. combat vehicles and ground troops. And it will allow force commanders to shape the field faster and more efficiently than ever before.

rate of fire

Crusader's automated system accurately fires up to 12 rounds per minute -- at targets up to 40 kilometers away. This means one howitzer delivers as much firepower as an entire battery of Paladins. This rate of fire is even more impressive when you consider the relentless performance of the system.

With today's systems, artillerymen must prepare, load, ram, and fire weapons -- sometimes in extreme heat or extreme cold. In these environments, even the most physically fit and highly determined men will tire -- and that will have an impact on the rate of fire. But Crusader never tires -- no matter what the conditions. Crusader allows the crew to operate at an extremely high optempo for as long as the mission requires.

MRSI

High rates of fire and deadly accuracy allow Crusader to execute devastating Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact -- or MRSI -- missions. Crusader can fire up to 8 rounds that land at the same time on a target that's located up to 30 kilometers away. This devastating attack -- which gives the enemy no time to react or relocate -- is possible because of Crusader's onboard intelligence, high rate of fire, and deadly accuracy.

rate of fire: 10 to 12 rounds
sustained rates of fire: 3 to 6 rounds per minute
MRSI: 4 to 8 rounds
payload: 48 rounds
range: 40 to 50km
rearm: 12 minutes or less
ammunition types: DPICM, Smoke, Illumination, FASCAM, HE/ER, SADARM
MRSI: 4 to 8 rounds
payload: 48 rounds
range: 40 to 50km
rearm: 12 minutes or less

Crusader isn't operational yet.

But when it is, it has an interesting capability: it can fire multiple rounds in rapid succession, at differing barrel elevations and propellant loading. Since it is all computer controlled, up to 4 (or 5?) rounds can be precisely launched at the correct time, elevation angle and powder load so that all of the shells arrive at the target at approximately the same instant.

This provides the ability to put a lot of simultaneous firepower at a location, before the enemy has a chance to move away from the position. Multiple Crusaders at different locations can be linked to further multiply the amount of explosives arriving simultaneously.