Quoted:
Awesome pics Phil.
Now I wnat to know a little about what I am looking at. What is the name/range/size of that? Any info would be appreciated.
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[b]Make it so.[/b]
CRUSADER 155MM - SELF PROPELLED HOWITZER, USA
The Crusader self-propelled howitzer is being developed for the US Army as a replacement for the Paladin and the US Army requirement is expected to be for over 800 vehicles. Live firing trials of the Crusader began in February 2000 at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, and in November 2000 a firing rate of 10.4 rounds per minute was achieved. The demonstration and validation phase is nearing completion, the first production versions are due in 2006 and the Crusader is planned to enter service in 2008. The Crusader programme is being carried out by Team Crusader, led by United Defense.
The Crusader artillery system provides enhanced survivability, lethality and mobility and is more easily deployable and sustainable than current systems. A battery of six Crusaders can deliver 15 tons of ammunition in less than 5 minutes.
United Defense has reduced the weight and size of the Crusader vehicle from 60 tons to 38 to 41 tons allowing two vehicles rather than one to be transported on a C-5 or C-17 aircraft. This allows the Howitzer to be more easily available for any fire support mission in any field of operation, including forward battlefield operations for medium and light forces.
The Crusader consists of two vehicles, the XM2001 155-mm self-propelled howitzer and the XM2002 armoured re-supply vehicle. The high level of automation means that the howitzer and re-supply vehicle each require only three men to operate. The gunners can control the entire loading and firing process from the safety of the computerised cockpit under armour and nuclear biological and chemical warfare protection. In addition to the current tracked system the Crusader Armoured Re-supply Vehicle is being offered in a wheeled variant.
XM2001 SELF-PROPELLED HOWITZER
Crusader's 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, XM2001, has fully automated ammunition handling and firing that allows firing of the 48 on-board rounds at rates of up to 10 rounds per minute to ranges in excess of 40 km. The first rounds of a mission can be fired in 15 to 30 seconds. [b]Additionally Crusader has the capability to fire multiple rounds to achieve simultaneous impact on target (MRSI). One Crusader vehicle can fire up to 8 rounds to strike a single target at the same time.[/b] The digital fire control system calculates separate firing solutions for each of the 8 projectiles