Analysis: Discover US M777 155mm towed howitzer used by Ukraine army to fight Russian troops
According to a video released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on May 15, 2022, the M777 155mm towed howitzers donated by the United States are now on combat duty with the Ukrainian army. In this article, discover the combat capabilities of the M777 explained by our editorial team.
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Ukrainian soldiers fire with M777 155mm towed howitzer donated by the U.S. (Picture source Ukrainian MoD)
Citing information released by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on May 16, 2022, the 155 mm M777 towed howitzers supplied by the U.S. and other types supplied by ally and partner nations to Ukraine are having a big impact on the battlefield.
On May 15, 2022, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III had a conversation with Ukraine Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov. Reznikov told Austin that 74 of the 90 M777 artillery cannons that the U.S. supplied Ukraine are forward in the fight, providing long-range, indirect fire capability, the official said, noting that the tubes are being used not only in the Kharkiv area but elsewhere in the Donbas.
The M777 is an ultra-light or lightweight howitzer designed and manufactured by BAE Systems. The M777 is a 155mm 39 caliber towed gun that, through proven technology and the innovative use of titanium and aluminum alloys, meets the requirement for rapidly deployable and accurate artillery fire support.
The gun of the M777 has a maximum firing range of 24.7km with unassisted rounds and 30 km with rocket-assisted rounds. The latest version, the M777A2 can fire the Raytheon / Bofors Excalibur GPS / Inertial Navigation-guided extended-range 155mm projectiles using the Modular Artillery Charge Systems (MACS). Using Excalibur ammunition, it has a maximum firing range of 40 km and an accuracy of 10 m.
The M777 has a production weight of 3,745 kg and can be transported by helicopter, transporter aircraft, and ship. The howitzer can be towed by an air-braked 4x4 vehicle greater than 2.5 t. The M777 is equipped with two wheels. When the M777 is in the firing position, a firing platform is lowered to the ground under the forward part of the carriage and the wheels are raised clear of the ground.
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 more quickly than earlier towed and air-transported howitzers.