It fires a 155mm projectile called the LRLAP or Long Range Land Attack Projectile. It utilizes GPS and Inertial Guidance and can send rounds as far as 63 miles. 63 fricking miles. Let me put that in perspective.
Back when I was a Fire Direction Specialist, computing Artillery firing data with plotting charts, Logarithmic tables, slide rules, FADAC (go to the link and click on photo if you want a look at a circa 1960 Army computer) and pencil & paper the newest thing in our inventory was Copperhead and ICM (Improved Conventional Munition including DPICM, APICM and FASCAM). The newest 155 self propelled howitzer, the M109A5 has a range of about 14 miles, 18 with rocket assist rounds. That's pretty good but not quite 63 miles.
No word that I can find on accuracy but considering it's use of accuracy enhancing technology and just how far we've come our smart munitions I'd expect it's probably fairly good, Range Probability Errors notwithstanding.
But still. The Navy has this bad boy? I know they need it, that new DDG1000 is going to be steady kicking ass, but the Navy!? This cannot stand. The Navy cannot have a bigger
So if you see a big ol' gun on a redneck trailer being pulled behind a crappy green pickup truck being wildly driven by a disreputable crew of drunken rapscallions and cutthroats wearing cutoff camouflage pants and Budweiser t-shirts please pay it no mind. And if anyone sees Old NFO, ORPO or NavyOne, tell them not to read this post.
You never saw me. I was never here. This post will self destruct in 5...4...3...2...1...
Six
5 comments:
Just hated trying to wiggle a light fire team of gunships around the G/T lines from numerous FSBs full of 105s, 155s, and eight inchers just to get to a gunfight Six. You guys made life so good and yet so hard at the same time. But you should have seen the 16 inchers from the BB throw some VWs inland. regards, Alemaster
I imagine that whole max ord issue could be dang interesting while trying to fly Alemaster. You have my undying respect. Of course I'll be respecting you from the ground and way over here :)
One of the great disappointments of my life. I'd have given a years pay for the chance to crew one of those guns. Even just once.
We also have lasers. Yep, ships with honest-to-god freaking lasers.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/09/us-navy-laser-weapon-deployed-uss-ponce-2014_n_3043244.html
Don't make me say it Instinct. I won't. You can't make me.
Ok, the Navy is awesome!
There, I said it and I feel strangely better now. Maybe I'm bimilitexual??
So should I buy you your very own dixie cup cover?
:D
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