Extra Rounds

Cpl. Kedrin Clepper unloads artillery rounds during a live-fire artillery exercise at the Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, April 21. Clepper is an motor transport operator with 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Photo courtesy: DVIDS Hub.

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The live-fire exercise was the first time M-777A2 155mm Lightweight Howitzers were fired at Camp Fuji, Japan. Photo courtesy: DVIDS Hub.

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During the exercise, Marines used 155mm high explosive artillery rounds for fire missions. Photo courtesy: DVIDS Hub.

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Cpl. Ryan C. Wright communicates with fire direction control to coordinate fire missions during a live-fire artillery exercise at the Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, April 21. Wright is a field artillery fire control man with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. Photo courtesy: DVIDS Hub.

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Cpl. Rolla Forcum II loads a 155mm high explosive artillery round into the M-777A2 155mm Lightweight Howitzer during a live-fire artillery exercise at the Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, April 21. Forcum is an artilleryman with 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Photo courtesy: DVIDS Hub.

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Cpl. William Heisel checks the deflection of the M-777A2 155mm Lightweight Howitzer during a live-fire artillery exercise at the Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, April 21. Marines must calibrate a howitzer with several methods after each emplacement to ensure accuracy. Heisel is a howitzer section chief for 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Photo courtesy: DVIDS Hub.

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Airborne artillerymen man a 75mm howitzer near the completed airstrip at Nadzab, September, 1943. (World War II Signal Corps Collection). Courtesy U.S. Army News Service.

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An original 36 pounder French made naval cannon that sets at Fort McHenry’s water battery.

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A cannon firing living history event held at Fort McHenry.

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“Antietam’s cannon long shall boom.” Herman Melville. Like a silent sentry an artillery piece sits on the field, facing west towards the sunset, on the Antietam National Battlefield.

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The Soldiers of the 108th Field Artillery fire the M777A2 howitzer, marking the first time a National Guard unit has fired the massive gun.

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Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 108th Field Artillery prepare their new gun, the M777A2 howitzer, for its first official firing.

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Another aerial invention of sorts in the 2007 group is the XM982 Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectile, which, the Army says, "ushered in the 21st century for cannon artillery." In this image, taken in February at Camp Blessing, Afghanistan, a member of the 321st Field Artillery Regiment programs map grid coordinates into an Excalibur round.

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A soldier pulls the lanyard on an M-777A2 howitzer for the first firing in Afghanistan of a GPS-guided Excalibur round. Besides being digitally programmable, the M-777 is about 9,800 pounds lighter than the more common M-198 howitzer, according to the Army. Greater accuracy for the projectiles, the Army says, means less collateral damage in the target area.

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Excalibur rounds improve upon the accuracy of conventional 155mm artillery shells through the use of data from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites and automatic updates of the navigation system. Grid coordinates are programmed into the round via the Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuse Setter.

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CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan — Field artillery cannoneers with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit inspect a new M777 Lightweight Howitzer on Camp Hansen Dec. 17. The 31st MEU is the first unit on Okinawa to receive the new guns, which are scheduled to replace the M-198 Howitzers Corps-wide by 2010. The M777, which is about 5,000 pounds lighter than the M-198, is a more mobile weapon system. Marines can transport it using an MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Photo courtesy of USMC.mil.

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CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan — Lance Cpl. Robert B. Cummings lowers the 155mm canon on a new M777 Lightweight Howitzer Dec. 17. Photo courtesy of USMC.mil.

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Marines from Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, became the first artillery unit to fire from Saint Barbara’s Range, one of South Korea’s newest artillery firing points during a live-fire exercise conducted March 19. Over 100 Marines and sailors participated in the live-fire exercise that promoted improving individual section drills, rapid gun displacement and setting-up procedures, creating defensive positions and practicing effective communications operations. The BLT is the ground combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Photo courtesy of USMC.mil.

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The rear view of an M198 Howitzer prior to the first fire mission of the day. Marines from Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, prepared for the day’s firing by acquiring their azimuths of fire and marking it with aiming sticks during a live-fire exercise, March 19. Over 100 Marines and sailors participated in the live-fire exercise at Saint Barbara’s Range, making them the first Marines to fire from one of South Korea’s newest artillery firing points. The BLT is the ground combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Photo courtesy of USMC.mil.

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Marines with Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, load the barrel of an M198 Howitzer. The training was conducted in order to sustain and retain perishable artillery skills and use the available training area to its maximum potential. The exercise was history in the making as the battery became the first Marines to fire from Saint Barbara’s Range, one of South Korea’s newest artillery firing points. The BLT is the ground combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Photo courtesy of USMC.mil.

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A Marine with Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, swabs the bolt of an M198 Howitzer during a live-fire exercise here, March 19. Over 100 Marines and sailors participated in the live-fire exercise at Saint Barbara’s Range, making them the first Marines to fire from one of South Korea’s newest artillery firing points. The training was conducted in order to sustain and retain perishable artillery skills and use the available training area to its maximum potential. The BLT is the ground combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Photo courtesy of USMC.mil.

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Pfc. Justice Knight (top) and Lance Cpl. Joshua Hawkins assemble a Howitzer cannon. Both Marines work for Ordnance Maintenance Company. Photo courtesy of DVIDS.

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Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason W. Andrews (left) checks up on Marines on the gun line. Andrews, a hospital corpsman with M Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, has been with the unit for more than three years. Photo courtesy of marines.mil.

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Lance Cpl. Dace M. Squires explains the functions of different types of artillery shells to chaplains and religious program specialists July 28 on Camp Hansen. Several periods of instruction were given to the sailors throughout the day to help them to progress in their Fleet Marine Force pin training. Squires is a field artillery cannoneer with C Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. Photo courtesy of USMC.mil.

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Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery, share leadership and training lessons learned while on a staff ride to Valley Forge National Historical Park. Photo courtesy of Army.mil.

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Cpl. Guillermo J. Alvear sits down with his section, Gun 5, to have a discussion on knowledge pertaining to the M777 Lightweight Howitzer during their downtime. Location: Twentynine Palms, Calif. This photo appeared on USMC.mil.

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Maintenance Center Barstow’s Cost Work Center 729 is repairing a shipment of 51 M198 Howitzers for the Army this year. Chris Benavidez, artillery repairman of CWC 729, attaches a variable recoil rod to the seventh Howitzer MCB personnel have worked on. This photo appeared on USMC.mil.

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Udairi Range- A 2nd BCT howitzer awaits firing orders at the Udairi Range in Kuwait.

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Spc. John Hernandez, from 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Artillery Brigade, searches the streets of New Orleans for people in need of assistance as well as providing security, in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Photo courtesy of Army.mil.

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Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan - Pfc. Todhunter Demesyeux and Lance Cpl. Michael Albanese carry half of a maintenance tent before setting up a command center for training at Camp Kinser Aug. 24. Combat Service Support Detachment-36 is deploying with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, on their 10-day artillery relocation exercise in Yausubetsu, Japan. Photo appeared on USMC.mil.

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Sgt. Maj. Eugene R. Brewere, acting Division Artillery command sergeant major, unfurls the colors for casing during the unit''s deactivation ceremony. This photo appeared on Army.mil.

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Staff Sgt. Reynolds Jolly, Fort Sill, Okla., receives the 2005 Drill Sergeant of the Year award from Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, commanding general for Training and Doctorine Command, in a ceremony at Fort Monroe, Va., June 24. Photo appeared on army.mil.

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Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, Military District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Galen B. Jackman and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston kick off the Army''s 230th birthday events by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, June 14. The birthday celebrations are a recognition of the Army''s history, traditions and service to the nation: a "Call To Duty." This photo appeared on www.army.mil.

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Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division fire a gun salute during "All-American Week" at Fort Bragg, N.C. This photo appeared on www.army.mil.

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Significant structures of the M777A1 Lightweight 155-mm howitzer are made from investment cast 6Al4V titanium. Photo courtesy of Army-Technology.com.

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The M777A1 transported by U.S. Marines helicopter. Photo courtesy of Army-Technology.com.

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Four hundred ninety five M777A1s are due to be delivered starting in July 2006. Photo courtesy of Army-Technology.com.

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BAE has already marketed the M777A1 worldwide. Photo courtesy of Army-Technology.com.

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Supplying the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, about 70 per cent of the M777A1 weapon is being manufactured in the US with the remainder coming from the UK. Photo courtesy of BAESYSTEMS.com.

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Supplying the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, about 70 per cent of the M777A1 weapon is being manufactured in the US with the remainder coming from the UK. Photo courtesy of BAESYSTEMS.com.

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This an artist''s drawing of the FCS howitzer vehicle. The crew will be reduced from four to two soldiers with advanced fire control and loading technology. Photo courtesy of www.army.mil.

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M777A1 firing by U.S. Army

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