C3 Howitzer Replacement

[FJAG]

That Ukraine is building new towed howitzers is not an argument for Canada to invest in the same.

I think the current leadership in the army sees the need for new sp howitzers and will invest in them.

I'm concerned that they plan to divest the M777 in order to get them. That's become such a financial habit in the CAF that its almost inevitable. I think that's a great mistake as Canada needs both an SP and a light weight (and therefore M777) howitzer. You should never throw out good kit that's still serviceable.

Here's a thought. If we do go for an SP gun that needs a crew of say five to operate (say 2 or 3 on the gun and 3 or 2 on the ammo limber vehicle) then the 40 detachment members of a current RegF battery could man the six SP guns that should be in a battery to the tune of 30 which leaves ten spares to be converted to maintainers/leaders that accompany the M777s or new SP going into ResF service where 10 man ResF detachments are less of a problem. 33 M777s could equip two full (almost) regiments which would provide replacements for the clapped out C3s in what are now six ResF regiments. The remaining ResF arty regiments could be equipped with or trained as augmentees on the new SPs.

There are numerous organizational options available if the M777s are retained. How the organization looks vis a vis what goes to the RegF and what goes to the ResF and how the units are organized should be based on which of the army's priority operational needs are. If the army retains three RegF light infantry battalions then they should be supported by a regiment of three batteries of light towed howitzer batteries. If the RegF keeps six mech RegF bns then they need to acquire six batteries of 155mm SPs (a least) to support them. The point is to keep the M777s so that options for operational deployments do exist.