Did the Marine Corps Fix Fires or Save an Airframe

摘要

In 1999 General Jones stated that the Marine Corps needed to fix Marine artillery. He was particularly interested in replacing the aging M198 with a lighter, more mobile 155mm howitzer. The Marine Corps has since developed, tested, and fielded a replacement howitzer. However, by the time the requirements for this new howitzer were finalized, the weapon was no longer designed to make improvements over the M198. Instead the requirements were centered on the limitations of the MV-22 Osprey. More specifically, the requirements were focused on weight rather than range, accuracy, mobility, and crew fatigue. The United States Marine Corps should not allow the transport limitations of the MV-22 Osprey to affect the capabilities of a fire support asset. The Marine Corps allowed the Osprey to drive the development of the M777 LW155 howitzer. Transportation should support rather than drive the development of new equipment. Because of this influence, the M777 is a mere replacement instead of a magnificent improvement over the M198. The Marine Corps should revisit the role of cannon artillery. Despite the enormous amount of money spent in the last 10 years, cannon artillery is still broken.