Alright, a little background before the story. The
U.S. M777 155mm made "heads turn" when it was fielded. It was arguably one of or the lightest field howitzer in the world being highly mobile giving it a "
shoot and scoot" capability with a very high rate of fire.
So that remains unchanged today but, that was the
M777 that shot
conventional artillery rounds.
So, while the
EXCALIBUR precision munition was starting evaluation and testing the U.S. fielded the
M777A1. The difference (Main) was it mounted a
digital FCS vice an optical one. It would only be fielded for no more than 3 years.
EXCALIBUR was coming online so the
M77A1 had to be modernized too the
M777A2 by conversion and production of new systems.
The
M777A2 had a
modernized version of the
digital FCS that added the
software that the
GPS guided EXCALIBUR needed to be fired. There's more to than this, but it's important for accuracy to "
know where you are" the rest I'll leave to you to figure out, but
EXCALIBUR and similar advanced munitions have a
very, very, very small CEP.
https://www.military-today.com/artillery/m777.htm
So, can you guess who now operates the
M777A2 with EXCALIBUR?
Ukraine, I submitted this weapon (
M777A2 w/EXCALIBUR) for Australia, and they were the
first export customer to receive
it. And it appears so did
CANADA which is sending more (And for Don,
we're replacing them with new ones.)
I've always pointed out that
nomenclature is important when it comes to equipment. A prime example is the
F-104D added to the
USA OOB. Because it was the first version to carry the weapons it is equipped with in the game and the type in the "
real world".
Also, the game has advanced as well since I submitted
M777A2 to the
USA/Australia OOB's. We debated the
EXCALIBUR principle, and I got the name.
Which was fine then as now.
Point is now we have an operational
NLOS and I would
very respectfully suggest what really is the difference now?
Except a whole lot of work. So there's the rub.
But if the day should come, ever the optimist, I'll keep submitting the proper nomenclature and be
factually correct and see where the game
might be down the road.
To be clear not everyone got the M777A2, I'm sure INDIA only received the M777.
Gotta requal on my weapons in the morning so I'm going to enjoy the rest of the night and check my PELTOR noise cancelling range headphones (Wished I had them years before I got them. Such a difference.) and look forward to a
bonus night home.
Regards,
Pat
