The Armed Forces of Ukraine are already actively, and most importantly - effectively, using American 155 mm M777 howitzers in battles against occupiers.
Defense Express has received public materials from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which allow to consider the most interesting features of this new artillery system for the Ukrainian army, as well as to hear how Ukrainian artilerymen themselves respond to the new weapon.
Read more: M777 Howitzers with Rocket Assisted Projectiles in Ukraine Taking Revenge on Bucha Massacre, Along With Irpin and Boyarka (Photo)
In particular, Ukrainian artillerymen are very pleased with the American M777 howitzer because it turned out to be much better than Soviet systems. This is not only about the range of the shot, where the M777 is ahead of the Soviet the 2A65 Msta-B howitzer, but also about accuracy and ergonomics.
It should be noted that the M777 uses a digital fire-control system similar to that found on self-propelled howitzers such as the M109A6 Paladin to provide navigation, pointing and self-location, allowing it to be put into action quickly.
For example, howitzer guidance is performed simultaneously by two members of the gun team - each on its own axis, and all corrections could be put in a digital fire-control system. Also, for convenience, everything you need to work with M777 is already included in the software of Ukrainian Kropyva artillery control system.
Ukrainian artillerymen use the M795 155mm projectile. This is is the US Army and US Marine Corps' standard 155mm High Explosive (HE) projectile for howitzers, which came to replace the M107 projectile. It is a bursting round with fragmentation and blast effects. The M795 is designed to be a more lethal, longer range version of the M107. A welded band replaces the swaged rotating band of the M107, allowing the M795 to be fired with M119 or M203 propelling charges, increasing range by 6,000 metres (6.0 km; 3.7 mi). The explosive payload was also improved, as was the fragmentation pattern, giving 30% higher lethality.
To understand the difference, it should be noted that in Soviet 152.4 mm projectile, used by enemy artillery, the weight of the explosive varies from 4.8 kg to 6.8 kg. Therefore, the firepower of one M795 projectile is 1.5-2 times greater than the firepower of 152.4 mm Soviet artillery projectiles.
In addition to M795 projectile, the Armed Forces of Ukraine also use the M549 High-Explosive Rocket Assisted (HERA) 155 mm howitzer projectile, having maximum range 30.1 km.
It should also be noted that not only howitzers and projectiles, but also FMTV trucks were transferred to Ukraine. These trucks are standard artillery tractors in the US Army having an armored cabs.
It should be noted that the United States does not plan to stop the transfer of weapons to Ukraine and soon the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive not only a new nomenclature of weapons systems, but also additional batches of systems previously transferred to the Ukrainian military.
Erlier the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi on his Facebook demonstrated M777 howitzers provided by the United States to the Ukrainian military.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Showed Uses of M777 Howitzers
Defense Express reported that the Ukrainian warriors are already using American M777A2 howitzers on the battlefield - and they are having their first successes.
We published a video that directly captures the work of artillery units on enemy targets - preparation for the shot and, in fact, the shot itself, adjusting artillery fire and shooting at the defeat
Whatch the video and find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
The First Successes of American M777A2 Howitzer on Battlefield in Ukraine - russia’s 2S3 Akatsiya Self-Propelled Gun Eliminated (video)
Earlier we also published a video with "first shots" of 155 mm M777 howitzers in Ukraine appeared.
As Defense Express reported Ukraine's Armed Forces destroyed another russian artillery battery trying to fight like in Syria.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, illustrative photo of pre-war times
Read more: Canada Delivered M777 Howitzers to aid Ukraine
