There is more to artillery than the howitzers

[Adroth]

When we talk about improving the capabilities of our artillery batteries, discussions often center on the artillery pieces. However, there is more to setting up an artillery battery than having the howitzers themselves.



A modern artilleryman's kit ought to include gear that would make a geodetic engineer green with envy. Do PA and PMC artillery batteries have the following equipment?

• Gun-Laying Positioning System (GLPS)
• North-Seeking Gyroscope (NSG)
• Global Positioning System (GPS)

Although these modern equipment have improved accuracy, they are still expected to be verified by good ol surveying gear. Do the surveying sections of our artillery battalions have enough of the old gear (e.g., aiming circles / theodolites, etc.)?

If not, then we are probably better off spending money getting this equipment and just keeping our existing equipment working -- rather than buying new howitzers that we might not be able to maximize.

Here's an interesting excerpt from the following article: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/call/call_01-16_ch4.htm

Although I suspect this is not really a problem with us, since we're still probably using old technology -- I'm worried that we might not even have enough of the old gear.

At the same time, the addition of the new equipment has reduced the experience level within the survey section. The new modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE) leaves only one Positioning and Azimuth Determining System (PADS) team, a junior survey sergeant, and an inexperienced reconnaissance survey officer within the battalion. Although the surveyors' knowledge of PADS and the NSG is good, they need to improve their understanding and their support to the firing batteries or mortar sections. The GLPS and PLGR were added to the light Field Artillery Battalion to assist the advance party in establishing accurate initial data for a new location without a survey section present. The GLPS is designed to augment the PADS, NSG and the M2 Aiming circle, allowing the gunnery sergeant to lay the battery and establish an OS and EOL until a survey team can get into position to validate and/or verify common survey.

[Adroth]

The M2 aiming circle

I wonder if this is the aiming circle we currently use.

http://www.seilerinst.com/mltry/m2a2.asp

   

Gun Laying Positioning System (GLPS)



North seeking gyroscope

Somehow I don't think we use something this advanced.

http://www.imtecgroup.com/gyro.htm

[Adroth]

Missed this gem.  PMC aiming circle. I hear folks at the UP ROTC Artillery Bn ought to be familiar with these. 

Would anyone know if these are M2 aiming circles, or are they an older model?

[Wowowiee]

BTW, saw an OTO MELARA pack 105mm Howitzer displayed at Fort Boni Marine barracks...is that a non working model? why don't they repair and re - deploy that howitzer instead of using it as a garden decoration?

anybody know why that particular gun is out of commision?

[Adroth]

BTW, saw an OTO MELARA pack 105mm Howitzer displayed at Fort Boni Marine barracks...is that a non working model? why don't they repair and re - deploy that howitzer instead of using it as a garden decoration?

anybody know why that particular gun is out of commision?

They did repair the Oto Melaras in the inventory. As Opus said here:

http://timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=6171.0

Per MBLT, the OTO Melaras were declared "beyond economical repair" 9 years ago and were about to be returned to GHQ November last year.  Of the 10 in inventory, 8 have now been restored and made operational.  These will now be part of the Philippine Marine Ready Force and strategic reserves of the Marine Corps.

Waste not, want not!

 

=== ~~~ ===

Guys, this thread is about artillery -- but focuses on the accessories, not the tubes themselves.