The M777 has proven to be a very mobile and highly accurate artillery piece. The integration of the Gun Management System to the M777 in 2006 has changed the way the Royal Canadian Artillery conducts gunnery operations. The Canadian Gun Management System (GMS) is unique in the world but is based on the LINAPS system by SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems and is manufactured in Edinburgh, UK.
The GMS consists of a Power Management System, Inertial Navigation Unit, Gunners Display Unit, Muzzle Velocity Indicator (DOPPLER RADAR head from Weible in Germany), Detachment Commanders Display Terminal, and Odometer. All Optical Fire Control (OFC) components remain on the howitzer in case the GMS becomes unserviceable. The M777 with GMS provides Canada with a truly, 21st century, mobile, rapidly-deployable, indirect fire capability. The GMS and Optical Fire Control components are maintained by the Eletro-Optical Technician while the howitzer is maintained by the Weapons Technician.
The lightweight characteristics of the M777 are mostly due to the dominating use of Titanium within the structure of the howitzer carriage. The main assemblies of the carriage consists of a "Cradle" which is part of the elevating mass, a "Saddle" which holds the elevating mass and can be traversed a total of 800 mils; and, the "Body" which is the foundation of the carriage and consists of a central base, left and right spade assemblies as well as left and right forward stabilizers.
There is no need for a variable recoil system on the M777 which helps reduce weight; however, the equilibration system is critical due to the fact that the ordnance is quite a bit forward of the trunnions. The Breech Opening Loading Tray System (B.O.L.T.S.) is a unique lightweight hydraulic system which operates the breech and loading tray. Gunners will charge the B.O.L.T.S. with a hand pump and the system will stay charged through the recoil actions of firing and a hydraulic scavenge system.
The OEM for the howitzer is BAE Systems in the UK; however, the ordnance consisting of the Breech Mechanism, Cannon and Muzzle Brake is designed and manufactured by the US DoD.
- Howitzer Performance Data
- Brakes:
- Parking.......................................................................................................................... Manually operated
- Service ................................................................................................................................... Air/Oil power
- Breech type ...............................................................................................Screw block, interrupted thread
- Dimensions (travel conditions):
- Ground clearance at rear of body ......................................................................................2 ft 3 in (0.66 m)
- Height at spades:
- Towed position........................................................................................................... 7 ft 22/3 in (2.65 m)
- Length:
- Firing position ...................... 35 ft (10.21 m) (center traverse) 35 ft 4 in (10.83 m) (maximum traverse)
- Towed position.........................................................................................................31 ft 2 ¼ in (9.51 m)
- Width:
- Firing position ...........................................................................................................12 ft 2½ in (3.72 m)
- Towed position...............................................................................................................8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
- Dimensions (max elevation 1275 mils QE on level ground)
- Height......................................................................................................................... 8.95m (29.4 feet)
- Length........................................................................................................................ 5.07m (16.63 feet)
- M777 howitzer weight (without EIS) ……….................................................................9277 lb (4208 kg)
- Handwheel load:
- Elevating .........................................................................................................................265 in-Ib (30 N-m)
- Traversing......................................................................................................................106 in-Ib (12 N-m)
- Length of recoil (maximum)....55 in (1385 mm) charge 8S (M203A1), 55.9 in (1420 mm) max metal-to-metal
- Lunette load........................................................................... 60 lb (27.21 kg) at a height of 2ft 7½ in (0.80 m)
- Maximum ranges:
- M3 propelling charge 2 thru 5 ......................................................................3 to 5.9miles (5000 to 9900m)
- M4 propelling charge 3 thru 6 .............................................................2.55 to 7.64miles (4100 to 12300m)
- M4 propelling charge 7 white..................................................................5.8 to 9.2miles (9300 to 14800m)
- M203 propelling charge 8 (RAP rd, M549A1)..............................................................18.6miles (30000m)
- M231 (MACS zones 1 and 2) .............................................................2.80 to 7.39miles (4500 to 11900m)
- M232/M232A1 (MACS zone 5)....................................................................................18.6miles (30000m)
- M119 Series propellants .................................................................11.8 to 14.91miles (18000 to 24000m)
- Maximum terrain slope.........................................................................................................10-degree cant
- Maximum towing speeds:
- Cross country...........................................................................................................Up to 15 mph (24 kph)
- Improved roads ........................................................................................................Up to 45 mph (74 kph)
- Secondary roads......................................................................................................Up to 30 mph (50 kph)
- Mils of movement per turn of handwheel:
- Elevating .................................................................................................................. Approximately 10 mils
- Traversing ................................................................................................................ Approximately 10 mils
- Muzzle brake................................................................................................................................Double baffle
- On-Carriage elevating range........................................................... -43 mils (-2.5 deg) to +1275 mils (72 deg)
- Traversing range .............................................400 mils (22.5 deg) left and 400 mils (22.5 deg) right of center
- Primer feed mechanism ....................................Box Magazine feed (10rds); loads, fires and extracts primers
- Rate of fire:
- Maximum ..................................................................................................... 4 rounds/minute for 2 minutes
- Sustained ......................................2 rounds/minute (determined by the Thermal Warning Device (TWD)
- Recoil mechanism............................................................................... Hydro-pneumatic, constant, dependant
- Speed shift range ...............................................................................................................6400 mils (360 deg)
- Tires (radial):
- Pressure ....................................................................................................................... 100 psi (690kPa)
- Size ................................................................................................................................ 245 x 70 x 19.5
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