M777A1 New Lightweight towed 155mm Howitzers ,US
155mm Light Weight Self Propelled Howitzer (LWSPH),Spore
THE M777 ULTRALIGHTWEIGHT FIELD HOWITZER (UFH) -- SPECIFICATIONS
Crew 7 or a reduced detachment of 5
Length 30.4 feet (9275 mm) in tow
33.5 feet (10210 mm) firing mode
Width 9.1 feet (2770 mm) in tow
12.2 feet (3720 mm) firing mode
Height 7.4 feet (2260 mm) in tow
Weight 8256 pounds (3745 kilograms)
Caliber 155 mm
Barrel length 39 caliber
Barrel life 2650 firings
Muzzle velocity at Charge 8 Super 827 m/s
Maximum firing range 24.7 km, unassisted
30 km, assisted
Rate of fire 5 rounds per minute, intense
2 rounds per minute, sustained
Maximum towed road speed 88 km/hour (55 mph)
Maximum towed cross country speed 50 km/hour (31 mph)
fr:
http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_M777,,00.htmlCompare Spore LWSPH
http://www.stengg.com/upload/313Z5KmZQffkhgCoZ7L.pdf2.We are self propelled of 7000 kg without ammo.M777A1 is 3745 kg but towed.
3.FIRE CONTROLM777A1
Fire Control
In the dead of night or the thick of a storm, the M777 can fire its massive artillery with accurate precision - directly or indirectly - thanks to its optical fire control system, which is digitally compatible. A killer feature is its compatibility with the new Raytheon XM982 Excalibur GPS/Inertial Navigation-guided extended range 155mm projectiles. These babies have a maximum range of 40km and a circular error probability (CEP) of 10m. Now that's precision. Initial testing of the Excalibur was in August of 2003, and initial fielding is expected for 2006.
How about Spore's?Do we have guided ammo?Authorised info pl.
4.More info:
http://www.pica.army.mil/PicatinnyPublic/warfighter/index.asphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M777_howitzer5.Are we a nose ahead in Howitzer? PICATINNY, N.J. -- April. 06, 2005 -- A joint-service program office here at Picatinny has completed development and is managing the purchase of 495 new lightweight 155mm howitzers for the Marine Corps and the Army, a spokesperson for both services has announced.
An $843 million four-year contract has been awarded to BAE Systems, Barrow-in-Furness, UK, to manufacture the weapons and 94 digital fire control retrofit kits, according to Jim Shields, deputy program manager for the lightweight 155mm howitzer program.
Shields said that the howitzer, known as the M777A1, howitzer in the servicesÂ’ inventories.
“The M777A1 will replace all of the Corps’ current M198 towed howitzers,” he said, “and will be the artillery system for the Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.” .......
All 495 full-production units will be manufactured with digital fire control systems also known as towed artillery digitization or TAD.
The M777A1 will be capable of firing the ArmyÂ’s Excalibur precision-guided projectile that is also under development here at Picatinny. Excalibur will be fired out to a range of 40 kilometers from the M777E1 and because of its GPS and inertial navigation guidance, will deliver precision strike capability (<10 meters CEP) at all ranges. .........
two can fit on the C-130.....
Excalibur is scheduled to be fielded in late 2006 when the Army starts taking delivery of their first M777A1Â’s.
fr:
http://www.pica.army.mil/PicatinnyPublic/warfighter/index.aspM777A1 Started full production in 2005.
Spore LWSPH is already in full productions.
Can we say Spore not bad in Howitze R&D ?
6.94 M777 started built fr 2003[quote]In November 2002, Land Systems was awarded a $135 million contract by the US Department of Defense (DOD) for the low rate initial production of the M777 155mm lightweight towed howitzer.
Under the initial phase of the contract, Land Systems will manufacture 94 M777s for the US Marine Corps (USMC) with the first weapons delivered in February 2004 from the company's facility in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
It is expected that the USMC will take delivery of 377 systems to replace the heavier M198 155mm towed howitzer with the US Army also acquiring 273. Full production is due in January 2005 when 20 systems will be produced each month.[quote]
fr:
http://www.baesystems.com/programmes/landsystems/land.htm
