Medium gun, from a Medium Regiment.
Medium gun, from a Medium Regiment.
1940s
BL 5.5 inch gun (140mm)
6,200 kg
16km max range
1980s
M198 (155mm)
7,200 kg
22-30km
2010s
M777 (155mm)
4,100 kg
22-40km
D529/M795 ammunition
Will this be the standard now, 81mm mortars deploying with M777s?![]()
Canadian M777 + 81mm mortars
http://www.army.dnd.ca/land-terre/news-nouvelles/story-reportage-eng.asp?id=2064
...
"The power and accuracy of the M777 155 mm howitzer is great, but if we need an immediate volume of fire anywhere, out to around 5000 metres, it's more advantageous for us to use the 81," stated Master-Bombardier Jason Simpson from the command post during a shoot.
During training and overseas operations, the mortars are set up right next to the big guns with ammo standing by. The type of fire mission dictates the system to be used, with no delay in the crew switching between the two.
"We can maintain a rate of ten rounds per minute (maximum) with each mortar," said the Number 2, Gunner Ryan Tapp. The Number 2 is responsible for dropping the bombs in the tube.
...
During operations, the mortars are typically set up next to the howitzers and are not packed up and moved. If range becomes an issue, the crews can switch to the howitzer. In case of an operational requirement, the mortars can be easily transported by vehicle, or man-packed by a crew of three, with additional soldiers carrying the ammo.
PIC3RA proven and reliable weapon system, the 81 mm mortar is primarily used as a local defence system nowadays by artillery units. Although the mortars manned by the gunners in Afghanistan are used regularly to support infantry operations, the M777 is still relied upon for most fire support missions.
With no clear front lines in Afghanistan, artillery batteries can be as vulnerable to attack as the troops they support. Therefore, the ring of fire provided by the mortars gives them some comfort as they do what they do best.
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Gun M777, 155mm and mortar 81mm; Location: Afghanistan; District: Khakriz (200 km north of Kandahar) in the desert. Date: the 02 feb 2008; Time: 11h11 a.m. OPS: 5 RALC, C Tp, heliported by Chinooks to support the Gurkas and Brits in North operation Duration of Ops: 15 days; Temp of the day -5C and we hade -20 C during the operation.
Photo by: Capt JCG Courtemanche, 5 RALC
Last edited by comoford; 04-04-2012 at 02:01 AM.
Hi Dig, I should maybe put this in the Military History Part can you move it if you think its appropriate, I thought it would be a good place to initially hit all of the Aussie posters.
A bit of a History challenge for someone with access to records etc VB are trying to find the records of the 12 guys in the VB photo taken in Egypt details below:
To help the public with their search VB has released some key information about the photo:
• The diggers were part of the 13th Platoon, D Company in the 2nd/1st Machine Gun Battalion, Egypt 1941
• The 2/1st Australian Machine Gun Battalion was formed on 14 December 1939 as part of the 6th Division. In May 1940 the 2/1st sailed with the 18th Brigade to the Middle East but the convoy was diverted to Britain to help bolster defences.
• At the start of 1941 the battalion moved into camp at Ikingi Maryut and undertook desert training
• In February 1944 the battalion returned to Australia and spent 14 months in Tenterfield in Petrie near Brisbane, and Kiari near Tologa on the Atherton Tableland. During this time the 2/1st became associated with the 7th Division.
My kids great grandfather (wifes grandfather) went to Gallipoli and came back due to "rheumatism". Apparently he was crazy before he left though.
NVM, you obviously missed a comma.
Speaking of big guns.....
RSL clubs, historical groups and local government bodies to get howitzers.
THIRTY-eight assorted RSL clubs, historical groups and local government bodies are to receive their very own field gun. But the surplus Vietnam-era M2A2 howitzers are for display purposes only.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226318691025
ah the M198, aka "God's Gun" the M777A2 is fun, but I still miss my old M198. someone asked earlier what a "large gun" would be since the M198 and M777 are in fact medium howitzers...go look up the old 8 inch howitzers from the 1980s, or take a look at the M270 and HIMARs of today and their abilities/munitions.
DEFENCE force chief General David Hurley has appointed a full commission of inquiry to examine the crash of an Australian helicopter in Afghanistan that killed a soldier.
The crash happened on May 30 last year when a CH-47D Chinook helicopter crashed in Zabul province, killing Lieutenant Marcus Case, a member of the 6th Aviation Regiment, who was the 26th Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan.
Immediately after the crash, army chief Lieutenant-General David Morrison ordered an investigation to identify any aviation safety issues. General Hurley said that investigation was finalised in December and its findings would inform the commission of inquiry.
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He said the report won't be publicly released. However details were published in News Ltd newspapers yesterday, attributing the cause of the accident to ''uncontrolled pitch oscillation'' while flying close to the ground.
Presiding over the inquiry will be Andrew Kirkham, QC, who most recently conducted the inquiry into the Defence force academy *** scandal.