Just how powerful are the M777 artillery pieces the U.S and its allies are giving to Ukraine? Can they truly turn the tide against Putin in Donbas and other regions in Ukraine? In the 1950s the Soviet Union held dominion in the artillery class of weaponry with its D-30 field howitzer. Some countries may hold dominion in several weapons categories at the same. Take the United States, for example: At the same time, we field the best fighter, the best tank, and the best towed-field howitzer in the world is the M777.
The West and NATO countries recognized that the war of Russian aggression in Ukraine has become, by and large, a war of dueling artillery exchanges. So, Ukraine pleaded for the word contender, the M777 (Triple777) Ultralight Field Howitzer, and promptly received 90 M777 howitzer guns in the first shipment from the U.S. NATO members Great Britain, Canada, and France also provided Ukraine with howitzers bringing the total to106 tubes (artillery guns).
The mighty and accurate M777
The M777 howitzer is considered lightweight coming in at 9,300 pounds due to the use of many light titanium parts. It can reach out as far as 25 miles (ammunition dependent). It is unbelievable to me that with the aid of special ammunition the M777 can reach a target at 25 miles with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 16 feet. CEP defines how many feet of error you get with certain ammunition: The greater the distance the larger the CEP.
The M777 can use a technology called Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) to give it an extra push out to longer ranges. It also achieves increased accuracy due to its M982 GPS Inertially-guided Excalibur rounds.
It is interesting to me how the technology develops with weapons systems like these: Once the creators have tweaked the last drop of blood out of the gun and carrier, they start going after corollaries of superiority like the M777’s ammunition. The accurate Excalibur munition can be fired in glide mode such that its apex can be programmed in by the gunner, instructing it to glide in at a low or high angle to the target.
The howitzer’s gunner can also program what azimuth he wants the round to impact the target from; that could be a significant advantage if the target has assumed cover.
The US is sending its best
I am proud of the U.S. contribution to the Ukrainian people and of the Ukrainians’ perseverance to fight the more powerful Russian army. We are giving Ukraine our M777 big guns to help; we didn’t just shove some relics at them and wish them good luck. I believe the gift of the M777 batteries is a thoroughly honest demonstration of our will to see our Ukrainian brothers and sisters through to peace and success.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to Attack Battery, 2-12th Field Artillery Battalion, Task Force Rock, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducts registration and calibration for the M777 A2 Howitzer weapon system in Syria on Sept. 30, 2021. These exercises enable gun sections to deliver timely and accurate fires in support of TF Rock and their fight to defeat Daesh in designated areas of Syria. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Isaiah Scott). These are similar to the M777 pieces serving in Ukraine.
U.S. Marines fire an M777 Howitzer during Exercise Rolling Thunder 1-22 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S. October 19, 2021. Picture taken October 19, 2021. U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr./Handout
US Military M777 Artillery. Ukraine Now Has a Similar System.
U.S. Marines with India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire an M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer during MEU Exercise 14 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 17, 2014. The purpose of MEUEX is to train the different elements of the 15th MEU to work together to complete various missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jamean R. Berry/Released)
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 2-11 Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, conduct field artillery training on Warrior Base, New Mexico Range, Demilitarized Zone, Republic of Korea, March 15, 2015. The training was a part of joint training exercise Foal Eagle 2015 between the U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) Armies. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven Hitchcock/Released)
U.S. Marines with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force attached to 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd MarDiv, III MEF, fire the M777A2 155mm howitzer in support of a combined arms live-fire exercise at Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex during Korean Marine Exchange Program 13-5, part of Ssang Yong 13 in the Republic of Korea April 17, 2013. The CALFEX illustrates how the annual exercise Ssang Yong supports ongoing efforts to strengthen combat readiness in both U.S. and ROK forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jose D. Lujano III MEF PAO/Released)
George Hand is a Master Sergeant US Army (ret) from the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, The Delta Force. In service, he maintained a high level of proficiency in 6 foreign languages. Post military, George worked as a subcontracter for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on the nuclear test site north of Las Vegas Nevada for 16 years. Currently, George works as an Intelligence Analyst and street operative in the fight against human trafficking. A master cabinet-grade woodworker and master photographer, George is a man of diverse interests and broad talents.
