About the Non-Line-Of-Sight Cannon, the future US Field Artillery device, from
an article at Global Security,.
Additionally at the bottom of this post a link to a fun game trying it out for yourself (JFTR, in my first attempt I reached 103.000 points roughly which of course became better later with training, but this first score gives you a good indicator about your brain relating angle and velocity to parabolas), CAUTION!! High addiction risk... whistle:
While air power, precision-guided bombs and missiles often receive all the glamour on the modern battlefield, cannon artillery still plays a critical role in today's fight by serving as the only 24-hour, all-weather reinforcement for the infantry soldier - a fact proven in recent conflicts.
Combat experience and extensive analyses have shown that the greatest threat to ground force survivability is indirect fire artillery. The U.S. Army currently ranks behind several other countries in cannon artillery capabilities, and U.S. Army after-action studies from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan, and Desert Storm have exposed that the U.S. Army has a critical need for an advanced cannon artillery solution. […]
The system's primary purpose is to provide responsive fires in support of the FCS Combined Arms Battalions (CABs), and their subordinate units in concert with line-of-sight, Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS), Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS), external and Joint capabilities. The system provides flexible support through its ability to change effects round-by-round and mission-by-mission.[…]
Specific features will include: increased strategic mobility (NLOS-C will be the first self-propelled howitzer to be C-130 transportable); high tactical mobility to keep pace with all units; networked communication systems; a real-time digital operating environment to enhance situational awareness; a fully-automated howitzer with unmatched rates of fire and increased lethality; advanced projectile tracking system to ensure greater accuracy; an MRSI capability for optimum enemy destruction and suppression. […]
The clear choice for the NLOS-C was the 38-caliber 155-mm howitzer. The 155-mm was 58 percent more effective against personnel targets than the 105-mm and 82 percent more effective against materiel targets than the 105. The 38-caliber was selected over the longer 39-caliber tube, trading four kilometers of range (using the M549 rocket-assisted projectile) to save 1,367 pounds. This will make the NLOS-C C-130 deployable with about 25 percent of its basic load of ammunition. […]
To move from the existing 40- to 60-ton systems of today to an 18-ton system of the future is no minor challenge. The gun mount and cradle still will undergo significant stress and, therefore, must be built of high strength/ strong materials. The tube must have consistent pointing performance. If too rigid, the tube is subject to structural failure during firing. If too flexible, the variable directional pointing of the tube throws inaccuracies into the firing computations. […]
The aluminum-armored vehicle has a diesel engine that provides power to a hybrid-electric drive that propels two extremely quiet 18-inch band tracks. With a two-man crew, the NLOS cannon features an automatic ammunition-handling system […]
Manual tasks - such as having to manually handle projectiles and powder charges, and yank a rope lanyard to fire each round - have become automated. In the NLOS cannon this entire process is completed by using an automated ammunition handling system which includes a laser igniter, robotics, all-electric drives, networking, and much more. It's a more efficient, faster and less labor-intensive system, according to officials.
Try for yourself
http://science.howstuffworks.com/cannon-challenge-game.htmEnjoy!
Rattler
