Friday, May 24, 2019

Australia - M177




 
 
The M777 is the latest artillery piece to be employed by the Australian Army. The M777 replaces the L119 105mm light gun and the M198 155mm medium gun in Royal Australian Artillery units. This new equipment is a significant advance in Army's capabilities as the gun has a much higher level of digital connectivity allowing more rapid, safe and accurate application of effects across the battlespace. The M777 can link with Australian and coalition networks providing accurate and timely responses as required to support ground forces in all weather conditions, day or night.
The M777 provides direct support to combat troops through offensive and defensive fires with conventional and precision-guided projectiles. It can also employ illuminating and smoke projectiles. 

The M777 will be towed behind the Mack gun tractor and the Mack replacement procured under Project Land 121. It can also be lifted by the Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter and carried in the Air Force C-17A Globemaster III and C-130J Hercules aircraft. The M777 is deployable by Navy watercraft and amphibious vessels.

Calibre - 155mm
Weight - 4100kg
Length - 10.7 metres in deployed configuration or 9.5 metres in towed configuration
Rate of fire - 2 x rounds per minute (sustained) or 5 x rounds per minute (rapid)
Effective range - 24km for conventional rounds or 30km for improved rounds