Can towed artillery still be an asset on the modern battlefield?
Letโs take a look at M777s, the most numerous 155mm system and NATO arty system in Ukraine today.
Ukraine has innovated in many ways to still make them relevant in the face of UAVs.
Hereโs a recent video๐
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Letโs take a look at M777s, the most numerous 155mm system and NATO arty system in Ukraine today.
Ukraine has innovated in many ways to still make them relevant in the face of UAVs.
Hereโs a recent video๐
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In the 1st month after their arrival, they were praised for their ease of use & accuracy despite their slow rate of fire.
@ratushnyi_r, a ๐บ๐ฆ activist & soldier, reported that his recce team was constantly getting 1st round effects, the main objective of artillery.
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@ratushnyi_r, a ๐บ๐ฆ activist & soldier, reported that his recce team was constantly getting 1st round effects, the main objective of artillery.
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During the summer, ๐ท๐บ was able to shoot 60k rounds/day, meaning ๐บ๐ฆ was being outshot 20:1
Survivability moves (not shoot & scoot as itโs sometimes called) were required. ๐บ๐ฆ HARMS strikes had not yet degraded ๐ท๐บ radar capabilities fully.
Speed was key, & M777s did fine.
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Survivability moves (not shoot & scoot as itโs sometimes called) were required. ๐บ๐ฆ HARMS strikes had not yet degraded ๐ท๐บ radar capabilities fully.
Speed was key, & M777s did fine.
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September brought two major ๐บ๐ฆ counteroffensives, and ๐ท๐บ artillery was on the back foot.
M777 crews had more time to set up firing points (FP), safely store ammunition and propellant, and do more time-consuming missions like EXCAL.
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M777 crews had more time to set up firing points (FP), safely store ammunition and propellant, and do more time-consuming missions like EXCAL.
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More time at the FP between moves led some to believe that ๐บ๐ฆ was reckless. However, it was more likely to do with a reduced threat from ๐ท๐บ counterfire.
HARMS had probably destroyed many radars and ๐ท๐บ was only firing 20k rounds daily at this time (thanks to HIMARS)
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HARMS had probably destroyed many radars and ๐ท๐บ was only firing 20k rounds daily at this time (thanks to HIMARS)
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๐บ๐ฆ M777 crews resembled American ones in a lot of ways at this point, but the lack of camo nets and ammunition/propellant improperly stored could pose a hazard if Russia changed tactics.
Which they soon didโฆ
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Which they soon didโฆ
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Meet the ๐ท๐บ Lancet UCAV. At 3kg+ of HE and a range of 40km, itโs ideal against radars, but has mixed results against armor/vehicles.
In some cases resulting in a flat tire. With less arty ammo available, ๐ท๐บ began to use these more instead of arty.
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In some cases resulting in a flat tire. With less arty ammo available, ๐ท๐บ began to use these more instead of arty.
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However, it was soon discovered seemingly by accident that Lancets had difficulty penetrating camo nets used by ๐บ๐ฆ tanks to shoot indirect fire.
(Again, not good against armor)
๐บ๐ฆ quickly passed these lessons learned to their M777 crews which were more vulnerable.
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(Again, not good against armor)
๐บ๐ฆ quickly passed these lessons learned to their M777 crews which were more vulnerable.
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Within a week, metal fences/screens were being incorporated into camouflaging nets to provide protection against Lancets.
While this meant M777s would be less mobile, it meant they would be protected from their current threat.
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While this meant M777s would be less mobile, it meant they would be protected from their current threat.
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Using an Orlan-10 for observation and 1-3 Lancets for strikes, the costs of NOT putting up nets was/is high.
The more M777s displaced to new positions, the easier they were to find. ๐ท๐บ UAV constantly scan roads behind ๐บ๐ฆ lines.
This is the paradox of survivability moves.
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The more M777s displaced to new positions, the easier they were to find. ๐ท๐บ UAV constantly scan roads behind ๐บ๐ฆ lines.
This is the paradox of survivability moves.
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Unsurprisingly, more & more ๐บ๐ฆ artillery units (in this case a ๐ต๐ฑ Krab) decided to incorporate these into their FPs even if they were highly-mobile SPGs.
This could show that the threat from loitering munitions has outgrown the threat from ๐ท๐บ artillery, at least currently
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This could show that the threat from loitering munitions has outgrown the threat from ๐ท๐บ artillery, at least currently
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However, staying static isnโt without risk.
Complacency, improper storage, and fuzing rounds before missions start can cause catastrophic results, as seen here.
Propellant (the tubes strewn across the FP) completely lost and fuzed projectiles burned/damaged.
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Complacency, improper storage, and fuzing rounds before missions start can cause catastrophic results, as seen here.
Propellant (the tubes strewn across the FP) completely lost and fuzed projectiles burned/damaged.
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Lastly, what lessons should ๐บ๐ธ artillery take away? The start of answer is already in doctrine. All ๐บ๐ธ arty systems already have checklists with nets for use against detection/observation.
If reinforcing them with metal can help stop small drones, it should be considered.
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If reinforcing them with metal can help stop small drones, it should be considered.
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Military innovation, leadership, and planning is all about understanding, analyzing, and mitigating risk. With every benefit comes a potential danger.
Ukraine has shown great skill when it comes to balancing risk. We should all dig deeper to better understand how.
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Ukraine has shown great skill when it comes to balancing risk. We should all dig deeper to better understand how.
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Final Roll-Up:
-152+ M777 delivered
-35 damaged/destroyed
-9 months of use, 1 of the 1st NATO arty systems in ๐บ๐ฆ
-Barrels firing up to 7k rounds before replacement, 4k more than expected
-A key weapon system for Ukraine thatโs made a huge difference on every front
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-152+ M777 delivered
-35 damaged/destroyed
-9 months of use, 1 of the 1st NATO arty systems in ๐บ๐ฆ
-Barrels firing up to 7k rounds before replacement, 4k more than expected
-A key weapon system for Ukraine thatโs made a huge difference on every front
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Thanks to @noclador @John_A_Ridge @SpencerGuard @JaysonGeroux @ColbyBadhwar @ratushnyi_r (KIA, Izyum) @general_ben @LiamSCollins @doctrinatrix_C2 @oryxspioenkop @Rebel44CZ @osint_east @Osinttechnical
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