On February 12, 2012 the longest operational artillery shot in U.S. Marines history was fired from a M777 Howitzer. Marines dropped the 155mm M982 Excalibur round on Taliban insurgents 36 km away — more than 22 miles — in Helmand province, Afghanistan. It killed the group of Taliban fighters.
The M777 howitzer is a towed 155 mm artillery piece which made its first combat appearance in Afghanistan. The M777 is often combined with the Excalibur GPS-guided munition, which allows accurate fire at a range of up to 25 miles.
Via Weasel Zippers
Imagine what would have happened if Gerald Bull's BIG artillery ever deployed...
ReplyDeleteBig boom, big crater.
Delete22 miles is amazing although the Excalibur rounds uses wings to glide at the top of its arc. The Navy 5" we shot was good for about half that, from a moving ship. AND....the Excalibur runs about $54,000.00 a shot!!
ReplyDeleteas a marine grunt a wall of steel is very nice weather doesn't matter time of day doesn't matter.when we were overrun three times in one day at cam lo the 105s saved our butts so hats off to the cannon cockers and gun bunnies. your friend truckwilkins
ReplyDelete