The Armed Forces of Ukraine have already received American M777 howitzers and began to use them against the invaders in the eastern regions. Read in the material TSN.ua what is known about the American M777 howitzer, its characteristics and features.
On May 9, 2022, the first video of the use of the American M777 howitzer by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, published by the editor-in-chief of Censor.NET, Yuri Butusov, appeared on the Web. Recall that back in mid-April, The New York Times wrote about the plans of the Pentagon to begin training the Ukrainian military as designers for new weapons. The training took place in one of the UN countries near the border with Ukraine.
Howitzer M777: history of creation
This weapon was developed by the American division of the British concern BAE System, which is engaged in the manufacture of howitzers. The gun was designed as an ultra-light field howitzer using titanium components. That is why the M777 is lighter than its predecessor (M198) by as much as 42%. Interestingly, it can be transported by helicopter without any problems.
The M777 howitzer is 42% lighter than its predecessor, and therefore it can be transported by helicopter / Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
The M777 howitzer entered service in 2005 and since that time has already managed to receive two updates. First of all, they concerned navigation, fire control systems, communications and software. M777 howitzers are used in Saudi Arabia, Canada, Australia, India, Colombia. Of course, the largest number of guns – 1000 units – is in service with the army and the US Marine Corps. All of them at one time received an upgrade to the M777A2 version.
Tactical and technical characteristics
- Weight: 4200 kg;
- Length: in the stowed position – 9.5 m, in the combat position – 10.7 meters;
- Barrel length: 5.08 m;
- Service: 7+1 people
- Range: maximum with special shells – 30+ km, maximum with conventional shells – 24.7 km;
- Deployment: in three minutes;
- Clotting: after two minutes;
- Rate of fire: intensive – 5 rounds per minute (for 2 minutes), standard – 2 rounds per minute;
- Traverse (for transportation): 400 m left and right;
- Towing: maximum – 88 km / h, in medium terrain – 24 km / h;
- Transport: aircraft – C130, C141, C17, C5, An-124, helicopters – CH53E, CH47D, MV22 and tractors – MTVR, FMTV, M800 and M900 5-ton trucks.
The M777 howitzer is distinguished by a digital fire control system similar to fire control systems in self-propelled guns (for example, self-propelled guns М109А6 Paladin). It determines the location of the howitzer and calculates the parameters so that the gun can quickly aim at the target.
M777 howitzer in the Russian-Ukrainian war
On April 21, the Pentagon agreed on the transfer of 72 howitzers as assistance to Ukraine in the war with the Russian Federation. And already on April 25, 2022, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, during his visit to Kyiv, said that 18 American M777 howitzers had already been transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 7 more were being prepared for transfer.
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