Free Republic

Kinder, Gentler Artillery by Nat MoffatPosted Sep 29, 2005By any historical standard, Americans at war are scrupulous to avoid inflicting collateral damage (which is why those brave Iranian mullahs dig their bunkers next to shrines and mosques). Now even artillery fire is getting compassionate, which is amazing when you think about the physics involved: Artillery hasn't been all that helpful in the Iraq counterinsurgency. Even in trained hands, heavy, indirect fire is pretty indiscriminate. Bystanders often get killed, while intended targets slip away.Which is why the Army has been bankrolling "Excalibur," a Raytheon effort to build a 155mm artillery shell...