thedrifter
02-20-08, 06:20 AM
New Howitzer shooting made easier
By Lance Cpl. Spencer M. Hardwick, MCB Camp Pendleton
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Feb. 7,2008) -- Aiming artillery is now as easy as pushing a button. Literally.
Marines from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division used the Digital Fire Control System in conjunction with the M777 Lightweight Howitzer for the first time during a training exercise here Jan. 31.
The new system uses a Global Positioning System to aim the guns, improving the speed and accuracy of the cannon. It also allows each gun within a battery the ability to work independently.
“This thing is just absolutely great,” said Cpl. Franco D. Lopez, number one cannoneer for Gun 1, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. “It’s so much more accurate and it helps us get rounds downrange faster. We don’t have to deal with the sights or anything; We just follow the arrows and pull the cord.”
The section chiefs for each gun within the battery receive a fire mission from Fire Direction Control on the DFCS. The chiefs pass word to the Marines, who prepare to load the cannon. They will then receive an order to load the cannons along with coordinates of the target. The coordinates are automatically sent to the DFCS and show up as arrows. All the Marines have to do is aim the gun where the arrows tell them to. When this happens, Marines load the gun with the round and gunpowder. Finally, they receive the command to fire. The whole process takes no more than two minutes.
“I like this system a lot,” said Gunnery Sgt. Erik M. Alston, the battery gunnery sergeant. “It just gives us so much flexibility.”
The howitzer’s themselves also contribute to quick response times the unit has. At 9,000 lbs., it weighs almost half as much as its predecessor. This allows it to be transported and set up faster than before.
“This thing essentially cuts out the middleman, the middleman being communications,” explained Alston. “Before, the Marines had to contact the FDC through radios and they relayed information back to the Marines. The whole process was just time consuming. Now, they just receive the information on the display and they’re moving.”
During a fire mission, the section chiefs oversee everything.
“They are now in complete control of their gun,” said Alston. “They receive the word on the FDCS and take action. This saves so much time but it adds lots of responsibility.”
“At the end of the day, this new system helps us send rounds downrange faster to help the grunts on the ground,” said Sgt. Nelson D. Lopez, the Gun 1 chief. “Anything that helps us do that is an invaluable asset to the Marine Corps.”
Ellie
By Lance Cpl. Spencer M. Hardwick, MCB Camp Pendleton
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Feb. 7,2008) -- Aiming artillery is now as easy as pushing a button. Literally.
Marines from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division used the Digital Fire Control System in conjunction with the M777 Lightweight Howitzer for the first time during a training exercise here Jan. 31.
The new system uses a Global Positioning System to aim the guns, improving the speed and accuracy of the cannon. It also allows each gun within a battery the ability to work independently.
“This thing is just absolutely great,” said Cpl. Franco D. Lopez, number one cannoneer for Gun 1, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. “It’s so much more accurate and it helps us get rounds downrange faster. We don’t have to deal with the sights or anything; We just follow the arrows and pull the cord.”
The section chiefs for each gun within the battery receive a fire mission from Fire Direction Control on the DFCS. The chiefs pass word to the Marines, who prepare to load the cannon. They will then receive an order to load the cannons along with coordinates of the target. The coordinates are automatically sent to the DFCS and show up as arrows. All the Marines have to do is aim the gun where the arrows tell them to. When this happens, Marines load the gun with the round and gunpowder. Finally, they receive the command to fire. The whole process takes no more than two minutes.
“I like this system a lot,” said Gunnery Sgt. Erik M. Alston, the battery gunnery sergeant. “It just gives us so much flexibility.”
The howitzer’s themselves also contribute to quick response times the unit has. At 9,000 lbs., it weighs almost half as much as its predecessor. This allows it to be transported and set up faster than before.
“This thing essentially cuts out the middleman, the middleman being communications,” explained Alston. “Before, the Marines had to contact the FDC through radios and they relayed information back to the Marines. The whole process was just time consuming. Now, they just receive the information on the display and they’re moving.”
During a fire mission, the section chiefs oversee everything.
“They are now in complete control of their gun,” said Alston. “They receive the word on the FDCS and take action. This saves so much time but it adds lots of responsibility.”
“At the end of the day, this new system helps us send rounds downrange faster to help the grunts on the ground,” said Sgt. Nelson D. Lopez, the Gun 1 chief. “Anything that helps us do that is an invaluable asset to the Marine Corps.”
Ellie