tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post5246809549850358517..comments2024-03-27T20:37:08.065+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: Eurosatory 2008Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-81155118777442000182008-06-22T21:27:00.000+02:002008-06-22T21:27:00.000+02:00Hello Sven,A few interesting observations you have...Hello Sven,<BR/><BR/>A few interesting observations you have, besides the melted butter instead of tomato sauce on les frites (prefer Mayonnaise myself - hope I didn't horrify any non-French readers here). First off, yes, when a safety or other component of a small arm is a little less than reliable (and at an exhibition no less), it tends to create a sense of unease, even disquiet, amongst current or former triggerpullers. A showman explaining away such a malfunction as merely being the result of heavy usage over the course of a few days does not assuage the triggerpuller's growing doubts.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, it was similarly a little unsettling to learn of the M-777's traverse and laying limitations, not to mention the necesity of having a full Battery of not less than 8 guns to achieve full 6400-mil coverage. Granted, I am not a Gunner, and the M-777 is a fairly new piece; hitherto my personal doubts about equipping Light Forces with 155 mm artillery had centered around the difficulties of supplying sufficient munitions for such large pieces; perhaps not a problem for the most part in Low-Intensity operations, but a rather different case as one goes up the ladder of intensity of conflict. <BR/><BR/>Needless to say, it had seemed to me that the trend towards replacing 105 mm with 155 mm guns in Light Forces was perhaps misconceived; now, little doubt remains. Of course, that depends upon whether it is proper that Light Forces should be employed only operations of short duration or in sustained operations in anything other than very restricted environments, or that Light Forces are genuinely capable of sustained operations in many or even most environments. Given the difference in capabilities between say, a U.S. Light Infantry Division on the one hand, and a U.S. Marine Expeditionary Brigade on the other, I would rather argue that a "Medium" Formation, even of a nominally lower echelon, would probably be much better suited for such sustained operations than a "Light" Formation, even of a nominally higher echelon. Leave the 155's to the Marines and Heavy - Armoured/Mechanized - Forces; let the Light/Airborne Forces keep their 105's and avoid sustained operations in anything other than the most restrictive environments (Mountains, Swamps, Deep Forest, the Arctic, etc.)<BR/><BR/>Some good observations Sven.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/><BR/>NorfolkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com