tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post8360564755805656452..comments2024-03-27T20:37:08.065+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: The Bundeswehr mortar crampUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-4546375031359557192009-11-14T02:18:57.894+01:002009-11-14T02:18:57.894+01:00The main problem is counterfire. Tube artillery is...The main problem is counterfire. Tube artillery isn't exactly rocket science either, but it got quite expensive because of the shoot&scoot requirement (self-propelled howitzers).<br />We CAN (do) use COTS 4wd Wolf vehicles to tow simple 50's tech 120mm mortars that pop 50's tech HE and SMK.<br /><br />That doesn't meet our expectations, though. It wouldn't be survivable in face of enemy counter-mortar radars.<br />So we require a self-propelled version and we'd like to have it bulletproof and fragproof and offroad-capable.<br /><br />Now add accuracy expectations (to really exploit its range and to make it available for lethal fires quite close to friendlies) in combination with the MRSI technique. The result is a requirement for an automatic laying mechanism.<br />Such an electric laying system with microprocessor constrol doesn't need to be expensive, of course. The five digit € range should be feasible using industrial robots as a reference.<br /><br />Sadly, military development and procurement projects are too often red taped, unimaginative, slow, overspecced, overpriced or even outright industry subsidy efforts.<br />There's also the terrible "NIH" syndrome - every major nation needs to develop its own hardware even for urgent needs while OTS hardware is available in allied countries.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-10128441670703469882009-11-13T22:21:23.612+01:002009-11-13T22:21:23.612+01:00The beauty of mortars is they give "CHEAP&quo...The beauty of mortars is they give "CHEAP", high angle fire that does a great job in broken terrain, which infantry must use to remain viable. Why does the west persist in making mortars expensive and impossible to procure in a timely manner? This isn't rocket science, but for some reason rocket science we have to make it. Baffling.ENhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12193563623321560413noreply@blogger.com