Barrel Wear for 105mm Howitzers

[weswood]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

In particular, the US Marines still use towed artillery instead of self-propelled artillery, as do light infantry formations, the 82nd Airborne, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the 101st Air Assault Division. I don't know if it's still true, but when I was in the National Guard (1983-86), they still used substantial amounts of towed artillery. In the Marines and Army, however, most of the 105mm guns have been replaced by the M-777 light 155mm gun (actually a British design adopted by the US).

Aahhhh. I remembered seeing them years ago, while I was in the Corps, but I haven't seen anything on them game wise or in the news so I thought they had been retired.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by weswood

Aahhhh. I remembered seeing them years ago, while I was in the Corps, but I haven't seen anything on them game wise or in the news so I thought they had been retired.

The main think to remember is that a howitzer that can be towed by a HUMVEE can, more importantly, be slung under a helicopter like a Blackhawk.

[Webstral]

The 105mm towed howitzer is still quite popular, as our compatriots above have mentioned. The towed 105mm howitzer is popular in many armies throughout the world for its high level of mobility and relatively good punch. In Twilight: 2000 terms, the humble towed 105mm howitzer will be either the most common or the next most common field piece in CONUS. My particular reason for asking goes to Thunder Empire and Silver Shogunate (my Nevada work). Fort Huachuca receives 24 of the M119 105mm pieces in October, 1997 as a part of the Contingency Division's efforts to prepare CONUS for a nuclear exchange. The ongoing nuclear exchange overseas has made delivery of the guns dubious. Rather than have them sit around in a depot, the CD sends them (along with a host of other equipment) on to Huachuca. From December, 1997 onward, replacement barrels become a rather iffy prospect. From the standpoint of Fort Huachuca, replacement barrels become a near impossibility from June 1998 onward. Therefore, barrel wear and proper care of the howitzers is going to be a primary concern for the Huachucans. In Nevada, the Shogun definitely isn't going to be able to obtain spare barrels for his single 105mm gun, so his officers will be terribly interested in making the most of the equipment in hand.

Thanks for the helpful replies.

Webstral

[TiggerCCW UK]

Originally Posted by weswood

Aahhhh. I remembered seeing them years ago, while I was in the Corps, but I haven't seen anything on them game wise or in the news so I thought they had been retired.

There's an article about the M-777 in this months Military Machines International, about it in service with a Stryker Brigade.