RE: http://tech.military.com/equipment/view/89033/m198-155m...wed.html?eq_id=89033

All photos are TOO small and resolution is also TOO low. Nice and great photos BUT lousy quality, really a waste!

I do not know the date the unit received the M198 howitzers, but when I arrived in November 1981, 'B' Btry 1st/73rd FA, Ft. Bragg, NC was already well aquainted with its operation.

Maybe I missed something in the narrative, but if it can only be air lifted by a CH-53 helicopter or a C-130 and above, how does this benefit the Army's ability to rapidly move this gun system? Do I see a push for "bigger and badder" helos for the Army?

All I know is they were routinely airlifted with a Chinook. Sorry, but I don't know the designation. 1st/73rd was a part of the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery, and ours was a suppporting role primarily to 82nd Airborne Division.

The M198 155MM Howitzer is not only transportable by CH-47 but it also can be dropped from C130, C141, C5, C17 cargo aircrafts. And believe me that I've seen it put into action within 25 minutes of leaving the aircraft. Also this is the primary weapon of 1BN 321st AFAR out of Ft. Bragg, NC. (The only 155MM Airborne Field Artillery unit in the US Arsenal). This my frieds is a rapid delivery of mortal power anywhere in the world.

I was the Motor Sgt of 1st/6th FA Service Battery at FT. Bragg, NC in 1980-82.
We had the 155mm short nose howitzer in our battery and they are very effective on pinpoint firing and towing was a brezz.
The new M198 is good but we should not for get about the old PIGIRON SHORT NOSE 155mm Howitzer, because it save me and a lot of my buddies in the Niam.
It is still a powerful weapon today.

Sgt. C. H. Brown; Motor Sgt. Retired/DAV

the M-1777 will be the premier 155 in a short while. it can be airdropped, giving paras arty when they jump, and the self-propelled version, the ENLOS 155 can be carried by a C-5 or C-17. The new, lighter 1777 can be choppered in also. Air-Assault and Airborne units need arty and lite armored vehicles so they can hang on till the heavy units push through.

You guys on all those nice little specs on what you've seen & what can haul it but, let's put a little spin on it and talk to a guy who actually served on multiple gun crews and has been in combat/ peacekeeping roles with this piece. Now it doesn't set-up as fast as the m-119 or the m-102 (God I miss the ramming stakes, yeah right ), but I have laid this piece in a record time of 1:38. A record that I believe still stands today. This piece is definately effective. I never liked the 1 minute of sustained fire but you have to give something right? All in all this is a good weapon.

quote:

Originally posted by RHYNO506:
the M-1777 will be the premier 155 in a short while. it can be airdropped, giving paras arty when they jump, and the self-propelled version, the ENLOS 155 can be carried by a C-5 or C-17. The new, lighter 1777 can be choppered in also. Air-Assault and Airborne units need arty and lite armored vehicles so they can hang on till the heavy units push through.

the Army has made the M-777 lite enough to be airdropped from a cargo plane. the ENLOS system is a big box that holds precision missles and fire while the crew is miles away. the technology is amazing. the box sits there, co-ordinates are punched in, and whoosh...its very accurate. everything is being made lighter and is built around mobility. i read an article that the Chinese are hacking into our computers, that they will target our sattellites first in any engagement. they are looking ahead. we, are tied down in Iraq. by the end of the year, nothing changes, then NOTHING is gonna change. plan B-withdraw from all population centers, let them slug it out, when they get tired, we should move in and pick up the pieces. those who resist should be eliminated-quickly. thier sponsors: hit with all the airpower we can muster. this whole thing is overdue and ridiculous.