The M728 was designed with combat across a broad spectrum in mind. From urban to desert to jungle, the M728 was built to destroy obstacles to the manueveur force.
Time will tell but if the Army and/or Marine Corps ever finds themselves in urban combat against a skilled opponent, the lack of a bunker busting/obstacle clearing gun will NOT go unnoticed.
I think a simple, light-weight 12omm breach loading mortar would be perfect. Combine that with purpose-built HESH (for demolition) or breaching rounds and it would do just fine.
ReplyDeletei could live with that but many obstaclles will require a weapon that fires at a flat trajectory.
ReplyDeleteA heavier 120mm mortar would allow for flatter trajectories. Since we are talking about a 165mm replacement, the need for a flat trajectory is really not an issue.
ReplyDeleteBesides, there is always the LHAT that can be used in a pinch.
165 was used at close range against barriers, fortifications etc. it didn't lob its shells at the target. that's the concern with the 120mm mortar. you need something that will punch through walls to allow infantry into buildings, blast stuff off the road way. that just doesn't sound like a mortar to me. even a big one. missiles? an expensive solution to a simple problem. like shooting rabbits with 50 cal. it'll get the job done but do we really want to do it? is the juice worth the squeeze?
ReplyDeleteThe 165mm only had a HEP round.
ReplyDelete"The HEP round is very effective against masonry and concrete targets. The pushing and heaving effects caused by the HEP round's base detonating fuze and large amount of explosive can demolish barriers and knock down walls. One round creates a 1 foot (0.3 m) diameter hole in a 7 inch (178 mm) thick reinforced concrete wall. The round's effects against bunkers and field fortifications are dramatic, often crushing or smashing entire walls. "
With newer explosives and more important, better fuses, a 120mm round should be able to create a much larger hole in a wall. I have seen demos of a 120mm round that can be set to point detonate, detonate while in a wall, or detonate after penetrating a wall. This offer more flexibility than the simple point detonation of the previous 165mm HEP shell. Work smarter not harder :)
It's not the weapon but the decision to drop the CEV and demolition gun. Certainly if the role was seen as important new rounds could be developed. Doesn't the UK use a different round, HESH vs HEP, in the L9? Personally I think the US Army didn't read all it's after action reports from 1991 and 2003 which all described needs for far more combat engineers.
ReplyDelete