I recently came across this video, which from the equipment around the gun, looks to be fairly recent. In anycase it shows some bad habits that have evolved, certainly out of a good reason, to achieve a high rate of fire, but none the less have some potential risks I don't believe the gunners realise they're taking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb3tfk8dxvU
Just to give you some background, I have been involved with the implementation of the M777 in Canadian service from the beginning, and I'm still in regular contact with the project office, life cycle manager and units deploying this gun, and yes I've been to theater outside the wire. I'm saying this to qualify what I'm about to say as being based on some history and lessons learned, so I'm not just "horning off" here.
First: having a round on the loading tray while gun is firing
It might seem to speed up your ROF in the short term, but in the long term it results in stress on the hydraulics used to raise and lower the tray that it was not designed for, which eventually means it begins to fail, and the det has to use the trunnion pump to raise and lower the tray, resulting in a slower ROF. This practice has also resulted in damaged rounds, usually the fuse. This has been going on for some time and everyone I've talked to, from the engineers at Hattiesburg where the gun is assembled, to the instructors at the Canadian and American Artillery Schools say this is an unnecessary and bad habit. The same ROF can be sustained without having to put a round on the tray. It just takes practice to get the timing down, I have seen it.
Second: one guy ramming - this has resulted in bad rams and rounds falling short, so why do it?
Third; propellant in path of muzzle blast - white bag at that
This propellant has had a problem with secondary blast and is why they're supposed to be fired with an extra flash reducer, but leaving propellant in line of possible flash from the muzzle is asking for trouble. The charge needs to be handy to the number 5 but it doesn't take much to shield the propellant a bit better than this.
I'm well aware of the urgency with which the Troops throw themselves into the task, and I have a good idea which FOB this is, and they're not just wearing their PPE because there's a camera on, they're definitely motivated to get a high ROF. So I'm not doubting their soldierly qualities, their drive is something to be admired and used as an example, but there is something to be learned here.
Despite some having been bit in the ass by some of these bad habits, a lot of them are still going on, and an Arty Lesson's Learned document is about to make it way out to deal with some of these, but in the meanwhile maybe this video and this post can help start some discussion on how others can learn how to avoid the same bite marks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb3tfk8dxvU
Just to give you some background, I have been involved with the implementation of the M777 in Canadian service from the beginning, and I'm still in regular contact with the project office, life cycle manager and units deploying this gun, and yes I've been to theater outside the wire. I'm saying this to qualify what I'm about to say as being based on some history and lessons learned, so I'm not just "horning off" here.
First: having a round on the loading tray while gun is firing
It might seem to speed up your ROF in the short term, but in the long term it results in stress on the hydraulics used to raise and lower the tray that it was not designed for, which eventually means it begins to fail, and the det has to use the trunnion pump to raise and lower the tray, resulting in a slower ROF. This practice has also resulted in damaged rounds, usually the fuse. This has been going on for some time and everyone I've talked to, from the engineers at Hattiesburg where the gun is assembled, to the instructors at the Canadian and American Artillery Schools say this is an unnecessary and bad habit. The same ROF can be sustained without having to put a round on the tray. It just takes practice to get the timing down, I have seen it.
Second: one guy ramming - this has resulted in bad rams and rounds falling short, so why do it?
Third; propellant in path of muzzle blast - white bag at that
This propellant has had a problem with secondary blast and is why they're supposed to be fired with an extra flash reducer, but leaving propellant in line of possible flash from the muzzle is asking for trouble. The charge needs to be handy to the number 5 but it doesn't take much to shield the propellant a bit better than this.
I'm well aware of the urgency with which the Troops throw themselves into the task, and I have a good idea which FOB this is, and they're not just wearing their PPE because there's a camera on, they're definitely motivated to get a high ROF. So I'm not doubting their soldierly qualities, their drive is something to be admired and used as an example, but there is something to be learned here.
Despite some having been bit in the ass by some of these bad habits, a lot of them are still going on, and an Arty Lesson's Learned document is about to make it way out to deal with some of these, but in the meanwhile maybe this video and this post can help start some discussion on how others can learn how to avoid the same bite marks.
to all those involved at Slesse.
