Posted on 04/17/2009 5:15:40 PM PDT by Jeff Head
BARROW, UK: BAE Systems workers today celebrated delivery of the 500th M777 howitzer to the US military.
Weighing in at less than 4200kg, the revolutionary M777 is the world's first artillery weapon to make widespread use of titanium and aluminum alloys, resulting in a howitzer which is half the weight of conventional 155mm systems.
BAE Systems Global Combat Systems' facility at Barrow-in- Furness is responsible for the prime contract management of the M777 programme, including direct customer liaison and acceptance of the weapon system in the US, control of the UK and US supply chain, engineering design authority and manufacturing and assembly of the complex titanium structures and associated recoil components. Final integration and test of the weapon system is undertaken at its Hattiesburg plant in Mississippi.
US Army officer Colonel James Matties congratulated workers on building a "superb" gun and told them it was doing a "magnificent job" in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The total number of orders for the gun currently stands at 737 in a programme worth over £1bn since it began in the mid-90s.
"This is a landmark day for a transatlantic programme which has hit every milestone along the way," said BAE Systems' Artillery Programmes Director Ian McMillan. "M777 follows two other Anglo-U.S. weapon success stories - the 105mm Light Gun and the 81mm mortar are both British BAE Systems designs which have been adopted by the U.S."
Canada has a potential requirement for an additional 25 howitzers. Australia has also registered official interest in a purchase and other nations are assessing the weapon system.
Most of the 500 M777s have been delivered to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. Canada also has 12 M777 howitzers in service with the Royal Horse Artillery. Both nations' services operate M777s in Afghanistan, providing fire support to coalition forces. The gun is known by local insurgents as the 'Desert Dragon'.
Its ability to be airlifted to remote positions by helicopter gives the system enormous operational flexibility and makes it ideal for a challenging environment like Afghanistan.
BAE Systems also provides support, training, maintenance and spares for the guns currently in service. The M777 effort is managed by the Light Weight 155mm Joint Program office at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey.
Some M777 facts:
FYI
When I was a kid in the Army I was walking across an old impact range. I looked down and there was a hunk of metal the size, texture and weight of a medium size cast iron frying pan. I asked the platoon Sergeant what it was and he said, artillery. He said that the 3-5 (?)pounds is what rips you apart, and the vehicle, or even tank you were in. I’ve never forgotten the feeling of dread that little mental light bulb clicked in me. I asked him how far away you would have to be and he said a football field a deep ditch would be a good start.
“Most went to the US military”
The rest went to Mexico drug cartels via US Walmarts and gun shows.
The ability to haul these things in almost anywhere, and provide accurate, long range direct fire support makes all the difference for our people...and I like that, I like that a whole lot.
Thanks for posting. That is one nice gun.
Don’t know why it couldn’t have been made in America...
It's replacing the M198 howitzer.
Jeff, I could see one of those behind my pick up.
Wonder how much Sportsmansguide.com wants for the shells?
BAE won the contract...but it is built in America of about 70% US made parts, including the gun barrel manufactured at the Watervliet Arsenal.
That’s a good question. On the other hand, BAE manufactures quite a bit in this country. There are a lot of folks here in California employed by BAE.
Yep, back to the early 1900s era of towed artillery.
Hehehe...great for maintaiining your privacy in the wildernes and keeping the varmints (of all varieties) a good 20-25 miles away from your camp site. LOL!
Delivered where you need it in the 21st century via helo or Osprey.
That's one hell of a night light.
They are a lot cheaper if you buy a hundred.
The Brits buy quite a bit of our military stuff. We can buy some of theirs.
Until they get shot out of the air and you have a broken helo and broken gun on the ground. Obviously the current idiots running weapons procurement know nothing about artillery or mobility. Cripe, why just go back to foot infantry and horse cavalry.
Additionally it is a lot easier for enemy counter-battery fire to kill the crews of towed artillery. They don’t have the protection of the M-109 series of sp 155s.
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