🥊 M109A6 Paladin: US Army's Heavy Hitter Joins the Fight in Ukraine

⚙️ Want to know more about the latest tech and innovations? Don’t Miss Out!
SUBSCRIBE & HIT THE BELL 👉 bit.ly/SubscribeNowIE
--
The Ukrainian war demonstrated once again that artillery is not obsolete. The US Department of Defense announced a new military aid package for Ukraine on January 6, 2023, and for the first time, the US will provide the Ukrainian army with 18 M109A6 Paladin 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, which are advanced modern versions of older units already fighting in Ukraine.
🎬 Key Points:
📌 The M109A6 Paladin's 155mm gun has a maximum firing range of 14,9 miles (24 kilometers) with standard artillery ammunition and 18,6 miles (30 kilometers) with assisted rounds.
📌 Some of the US Army M109A6 Paladins were fitted with modification kits to fire M982 Excalibur extended-range precision guided projectiles.
📌 Secondary armament consists of a roof-mounted 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Some vehicles were fitted with 40 mm automatic grenade launcher in place of machine gun.
📌 The M109A6 Paladin is supported by the M992 ammunition supply vehicle. It can carry a maximum of 93 rounds and transfer them to the self-propelled howitzer via conveyer.
--
🥊 M109A6 Paladin: US Army's Heavy Hitter Joins the Fight in Ukraine
🎥 Video Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction: The importance of artillery in the Ukraine War
0:55 - M109A6 Paladin Overview: Design of the turret and the armor
2:52 - Secondary Armament and Support Vehicle: The secondary armament of M109A6 Paladin
3:47 - Engine and Performance: Maximum road speed and cruising range
4:12 - SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
--
⚙️ About the Channel
At Interesting Engineering, our mission is to use storytelling to uncover the inner workings of the latest scientific breakthroughs, technological innovations, cultural phenomena, and more. We don’t just bring you breaking news. We uncover the mechanisms that make these developments possible, transforming how you see the world of today to ensure you’re prepared for the world of tomorrow.
🔔 Stay tuned for fresh and exciting content as we publish new videos daily. Don't forget to subscribe NOW and hit the notification bell to never miss an update! SUBSCRIBE NOW 👉 bit.ly/SubscribeNowIE
#InterestingEgineering #M109A6Paladin #UkraineWar #Artillery #SelfPropelledHowitzer #Military #USMilitary #Warfare #Weapons #MilitaryTechnology #Howitzer

[@Interestingengineeringofficial]

⚙ Want to know more about the latest tech and innovations? Don’t Miss Out! *SUBSCRIBE & HIT THE BELL* 👉bit.ly/SubscribeNowIE

[@timschmidt4466]

Paladin: Have gun, will travel. 🐎

[@michaelwittkopp3379]

Did you know that according to the novels, Paladin's real name was Clay Alexander?

[@guytansbariva2295]

Hey man, yes what a great show. I watch it daily on my over the air antenna. Also, Rawhide, early Clint Eastwood. Some of the best TV ever made IMO

[@guytansbariva2295]

​@@michaelwittkopp3379 There were novels?

[@michaelwittkopp3379]

@@guytansbariva2295 Yup, most all the oldies but goodies were all based on novels... Virginian, Bonanza... Martin Grams was the original author of Have Gun. But, screen plays were written by a whole slew of authors, including Gene Roddenberry _(Star Trek... which also started as novels)._

[@guytansbariva2295]

@@michaelwittkopp3379 Yep, and Zane and Loius. It makes me happy in a way that these shows are still broadcast each day. Digital TV mostly, but also streaming

[@krausatorseins584]

I served 30 years ago in a M109 A4. Still proud about this time.

[@michaelwittkopp3379]

*_Yup,_* doesn't need to be the newest and fanciest. More important is functionality and availability. M109 is still heads above anything Russia can field, and a couple hundred of them could be a very welcome aid to the war effort.

[@NameLess-hr4bg]

you have a source for the above anything Russian can field or its info that came from your butt

[@JoeZorzin]

Just curious, but what is the newest and fanciest American self-propelled howitzers?

[@fuckoff4705]

@@JoeZorzin next generation for america is the m1299 howitzer en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1299_howitzer

[@TheBongReyes]

@@JoeZorzinM1299 will be the newest US Army SPH. Uses the M109 chassis but new gun system. Improved range and, eventually, will have an autoloader. The previous attempt to replace the M109 with the Crusader was cancelled due to the Crusader just being too big.

[@michaelwittkopp3379]

@@JoeZorzin There's a prototype called the M1299. Otherwise, it is the M109A7. The M1299 has a slew of improvements, but primarily it is a ERCA _(Extended Range Cannon Artillery)._ This will bring it up to the range capabilities of the M777 and PZH2000.

[@joshua7999]

These are and always were intended to be used on Russians. They are living their best lives in Ukraine, doing what their engineers created them for.

[@jaybox4284]

Right that's what I been saying we got like 60 years worth weapons built to kill Russians so make use of it.😂

[@RubyBandUSA]

Good point. Ironic isn't it.

[@MBBurchette]

Every time a Javelin kills a T-72 an Angel get it’s wings…oh wait, that’s just a flying turret.

[@elephantsarenuts5161]

Hot Steel. On time. On target.

[@williambarnes4612]

Strange but true 😮

[@Jarod-te2bi]

The 20 from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 23 from Norway 🇳🇴 6 from Estonia 🇪🇪 combined with the 18 from America 🇺🇸 that’s 67 mobile howitzers made form Uncle Sam that gonna give Russia a bad day

[@Jay.Kellett]

That is the intent.

[@B.D.E.]

America needs to send more. Those are rookie numbers

[@miguelangelsalaslegonia7356]

​@@B.D.E. it is not a matter of numbers, it os a matter of sending a message

[@B.D.E.]

@@miguelangelsalaslegonia7356 No it's a matter of numbers at this point. Messages doesn't send orcs home in bodybags.

[@aidancreager4095]

With Excalibur they’re like mini Himars! Hearing the 40mm grenade launcher can be equipped as a secondary made me spit out my coffee 😂

[@user-ev4pb9xj7e]

Lotta people spitting their coffee out in you tube comments 😂

[@JB-pu8ik]

Mk19's can be fitted to just about any NATO standard pintle mount.

[@HVAC356]

Forget about the paladine, i am amazed at those planes carrying them!

[@adamtwelve]

probably explains the aluminum hull, for weight savings

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

C-5M Super Galaxy

[@tg5834]

Do they open the back door in flight and fire from the plane?

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

@@tg5834 no

[@slimjimnyc270]

@TC. No. Cannot fire out the back but there is a U.S. plane w/ a 105mm howitzer gun sticking out the side for direct fire. Lookup the videos for the AC-130 Gunship.

[@828SAGE]

The sound of those 155mm rounds screaming through the air is the sound of FREEDOM

[@Saphire0437]

Yeah...freedom from terrestrial existence.

[@twm4259]

Watched a demo where three rounds were fired in sequence at one target but on different trajectories. The rounds all landed on target within a fraction of a second. Excellent against hardened targets.

[@daveyd0071]

compare that to soviet Scud DUD missiles that don't even detonate at the destination. 😂

[@NameLess-hr4bg]

@@daveyd0071 compared to your fake account so you can type your propaganda 🤣😂🤣😂

[@phuklyyve8941]

@@NameLess-hr4bg are you russian?

[@NameLess-hr4bg]

@@phuklyyve8941 here comes the second fake account 🤧 and nope I am not

[@T33K3SS3LCH3N]

It's called MRSI (multiple rounds, simultaneous impact). PzH 2000 has the best MRSI capability with 5 rounds. MRSI only works from certain ranges (not too short, but also not quite maximum range). Having the highest MRSI also means that PzH 2000 can use MRSI from a larger variety of ranges. It is extremely useful against unaware targets that isn't in cover yet. Other artillery pieces have 1 shell that could hit the enemy before they can hit the ground or get into even better cover, but with MRSI they may get hit by multiple rounds at once while they're still in the open. Devastating.

[@tinytanks]

so nice to hear that the ukrainians are sending lots of 155mm gifts to the russians with these. i'm sure russia appreciates that we're thinking about them during these difficult times.

[@lesterquintrell4844]

Thing is soon they won't have any 155mm ammo left and the west can't make enough to help.

[@vincegedeon6583]

Russia has LOST this war wait until Ukrainian offensive starts there gonna roll over RUSSIA😂💪🇺🇦

[@andrewrivera4029]

The West is running out of 155mm shells… the last shipment of 155mm ammo was 5000 rounds, about 2 days worth of ammo in Ukraine. Meanwhile Russia is firing 20,000 rounds per day… what now Felix?

[@onlythewise1]

yes enjoy people dying for money your kind loves it dont ya

[@paulrooster2108]

The Iron Curtain Lives 👍

[@MrNicktheBeat]

I trained alongside the old M109 in BAOR, 1960s. Formidable weapon then and more so now I guess.

[@charlesphillips1468]

I am assuming the current M109s don't use a collimator any longer. They were a pain in the butt with a M109 because of the turret, they were made for towed artillery.

[@MARedleg]

I was on A2 model. I was the driver and #1 man. I left the Army in 1992 before the A6 model came into use.

[@chrishooge3442]

It's not the howitzer...it's the employment of them in platoon, battery, and battalion that makes the difference. Imagine a battalion of 18 to 24 guns firing 3 to 6 rounds each. It's devastating. Ask me how I know.

[@lorenzodiaz595]

How do u know? 🤔

[@DavidOfWhitehills]

@@lorenzodiaz595 He died.

[@chrishooge3442]

@@lorenzodiaz595 I was a Forward Observer in US Army.

[@paulrooster2108]

Did I hear - Fire in da hoe

[@realist8967]

He watches Utube

[@garychynne1377]

the excaliber shell turns these into one shot one hit weapons. we need a shell for every tank.truck, personal carrier, tracked howitzer, radar unit they have. add up how many there are and order the shells a few billion dollars and the war will end. that's cheaper than allowing the war to continue. there is no reason that the quad drones which carry one to six grenades and the excalibur shell can't govern the war but they are needed in large numbers.

[@Jay.Kellett]

Rome was not built in a day. Russia will not fail in a year.......buy maybe this year?

[@martinlatvian5538]

Latvia did donate to Ukraine their M109 allready last year august, but We could give only 6 units.

[@simul8guy75]

Hopefully NATO will replace those units with newer ones for the Latvian military.

[@jansix4287]

@@simul8guy75 NATO doesn’t finance their members military budget. Get a life and go to work!

[@stupidburp]

Some NATO members have surplus in inventories that other members could make use of as upgrades.

[@user-vy8jn9mc6g]

You give like 10 times more than others per citizen. You dudes are awesome!

[@bennyboy5374]

@@simul8guy75 Should pick some other artillery in that case like Archer or K9 those two are the best. Ukraine will get 12 Archers. Seems Usa will also go for Archer as they replace the Paladin.

[@aaronmccombs169]

My brother was in Gessen, Germany on those 155 self propelled. Proud of my brother. I was in Kersche Gons at what was known as "THE ROCK" 2nd Bn 33rd Armored...if we were in Ukraine, the Russians would quit in a week.

[@peterruizquiles5919]

I was stationed in Kirchgons and Giessen with B Btry 2/3 FA from 1994 to 1999 as Howitzer mechanic

[@peterruizquiles5919]

Old Ironsides

[@realist8967]

Hoenffelds was known also as "the rock". 2nd AD, 2nd / 41st Infantry (Mechanized). Our Weapons platoons fired the 4 deuce, and 88mm mortors.

[@ak9989]

I remember my first time in a paladin. So much room compared to my tank to 😴. We had the m577s which are still being used after decades too.

[@hgv1947]

Wow looks a beast of a weapon

[@embodiedconducting]

The Paladin is an awsome piece of artillary. My favorite feature is its capability to launch multiple rounds that arrive on target simultaneously by changing the angle of fire.

[@Steeler-wg5zo]

like the PZH 2000...

[@retiredsignalman5865]

One of my favorite actors Richard Boone starred in a show called Paladin "Have gun ...Will travel."

[@rogerodle8750]

"Paladin oh Paladin where do you roam?" Ukraine apparently.

[@echohunter4199]

Had 3 of these on our FOB in 2004 (FOB St. Michael’s) that would hammer targets when we got a couple enemy mortar rounds nearly daily. I watched from the roof with binos as they tore up a date palm orchard for 30 minutes, palm trees went flying nearly 100 feet in the air! Our Artillery Corps is called the “King of Battle” for a damn good reason and I’m fine with my title of the “Queen of Battle”. Our enemies fear our Artillerymen and I respect them highly because they can save lives on a huge scale, mine included.

[@ToEuropa]

Russian soldier #1: "Not to worry. Artillery tanks are 40 km away." Russian soldier #2: "What's that sound?"

[@RubyBandUSA]

very clever

[@philshyu5248]

Wow. My daily commute to work is about 10 km. And this artillery piece can hit something 40 km away? That’s nuts. I thought that was guided missile range. 😳

[@lyn-jhonosia8981]

its about time this Weapon system is sent, keep it coming.This Paladin is a very good pounder

[@charlesphillips1468]

Last day of firing at artillery school in 1985 one of our guys was hit by the recoil inside an M109. I remember he limped into graduation with a cast and stitches. They allowed him to graduate artillery school and then sent him home.

[@jackdripper5675]

At least one of the British-supplied M109s delivered in the Summer has been knocked out. There is footage on the tube showing something penetrated the side and into the engine compartment.

[@ichimonjiguy]

It's a beautiful piece of weaponry. It is utilitarian, but high-tech at heart.

[@Jay.Kellett]

Exactly what Ukraine needs....send more please!

[@boelensds]

love these platforms. served on the m109a4

[@TTTT-oc4eb]

23 Norwegian M109A3GNs are already there, 22 since May 2022. Two have been destroyed and three damaged.

[@anthonyhulse1248]

So 18 still pounding Ruzz orcs! Good to know 👍🏻 And presumably 3 to be repaired 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ludiogoncalves1030]

​@@anthonyhulse1248 🎻🇷🇺💪

[@peterruizquiles5919]

M109A3 are very old systems. They don’t compare with a Paladin

[@flitsertheo]

@@peterruizquiles5919 The M109A2 had a range of 18 km (with a favourable wind) only.

[@maxwill6408]

I was assigned to an M-110 8 in. (203 mm) self-propelled battery when I was in Germany in the mid 1980. I was a Battery Commo Sergeant. Of course I never worked or helped with the placement of the guns but I was very impressed with the way they operated. Now when they fired a battery solo that was something to watch, hear and feel.

[@elephantsarenuts5161]

Babenhausen?

[@tg5834]

I need one of those to deal with my neighbour over the road. He left the hose on out his lawn again last night, instead of rolling it up.

[@danielramsey1959]

Interesting how simple drone are changing warfare.

[@ii2bcnii]

Hearing "12.7mm" wounds the America in me. It is the "0.50cal BMG" as our lord, John Moses Browning, intended.

[@ken15882]

I get it. However USA is the ONLY country on this planet that still use that old system. All now are metric.

[@DavidOfWhitehills]

Yeah, give these commie engineers an inch and they'll take 25.4mm.

[@juhajuntunen7866]

12.7×99mm NATO is modern name for it

[@fuzfire]

​@@ken15882 What do we Americans care about the metric system. With good old American ingenuity it doesn't matter where you sighted in an artillery shell wit mm's or metri inches you are still dead. Besides how many other countries in Europe has done one tenth the exploration of space? Yeah, we don't need mm's but we do know that system and use it where and when it's advantageous and leave it when it makes no sense. 😂

[@ken15882]

@@fuzfire well, ALL aviation engineering and space exploration is metric. I know Americans are happy to pay ( to Asia and European) counties to have a second and inaccurate system just for 1 country. Have you heard of the Hubble Telescope? Why did it fail initially??? Over the last few decades the US has fallen behind in tech. I have lived and worked out of North America for the last 30 years, it’s truly sad to see the differences between these continents, new tech no longer is born in USA. Global standards are to make engineering simply and cheaper. Do you know metric is all factors of ten ? Not the size of the kings foot ? Have you worked in a US hospital? It’s all metric. Don’t purposely drag US into the past…… Do you know what a 9mm means? 7.62mm? 105 mm howitzer ….all new jets F-35, F-22 etc, no engineering uses that old inaccurate system. ALL science is metric. ALL measurement standards at a high level are metric . Don’t speak with scientists and engineers in the old Kings measurements…. They will categorize you …. Not in a good way…

[@paulcoverdale8312]

M109 long range sniper solutions. You point it! We sort it! Job done❤

[@tomray8765]

I get the distinct impression that this war is serving and is being used as a "Test stand" for weapons and weapon systems for BOTH SIDES.

[@realist8967]

Wrong

[@truth2774]

Well in many ways it is for NATO systems a passive bonus to getting equipment into a warzone. Same for Russians they've tested and lost 2020, 2010, 1990, 1980, 1970 era equipment and lost it all. Currently moving to testing 1960, 50, and rumored 40. Should be interesting.

[@commandertopgun]

Wow telling, extremely informative, thought. Provoking, inspiring for Ukraine & their heroes, awesome video guys & gals.

[@michaelkimber6203]

Put this with Caesar and several other big hitters and you've got one helluva lot of BOOMS. Slava Ukraini 💪🇺🇦💪🇺🇦🇬🇧

[@jordiegundersen1465]

Awesome humble delivery system..!!

[@gaius_enceladus]

Great video, great howitzer!

[@indigoenergygamer4350]

I remember training along side these when I was stationed at Stewart. The exhilarating feeling and euphoria i ever felt in my entire life was being on a mountain about 3 miles away from them, and watching them as they shot rounds over the mountain I was on. Hearing the rounds fly over head, the shock around the paladins after they shot and the delayed "boom". What I time to be alive. I felt so much power coming from a crew of 4, as I watched those rounds chip away at the mountain next to us. Imagine, shooting from a valley, over a mountain, across another valley, to hit another mountain with absolute precision. Anyone who has to fight up against a battalion of Paladins should fear for their lives. Incredible weapons on a modern battlefield.

[@ronnestman4696]

Detroit Diesel engine ! Best of the best❤

[@kobusdutoitbosman6240]

great reflection on a stallwarth of note 👊

[@princegroove]

She definitely packs quite a punch. 🇺🇸👊🏻💪🏻

[@arnoldsherrill2585]

Just imagine for a moment a mixed battery of Archer, and paladin artillery., Doing a Time on Target fire mission.

[@misteslaus]

First round hit - very close to where aimed - a highly precise weapons system.

[@trevortrevortsr2]

Looks much like a AS-90 - The cannon is a bit short and so lacks the range of the Krab, Ceasear or other modern howitzers

[@jansix4287]

Neither of these are modern.

[@Maddog-xc2zv]

@@jansix4287 20 years old the first versions (Krab and Caesar). still better than the upgraded 109A6 Paladin. But nothing of it matters if shells for them all can't be mass produced fast.

[@peterruizquiles5919]

Like every weapon system, it is good as the crew. American artillery crews are well trained and experienced. American has been fighting and employing this weapon systems for a long time. Give a regular Joe a race car and put a real race car driver on a regular car, see who is going to go around the track the fastest.

[@jansix4287]

@@Maddog-xc2zv Krab is essentially a copy of the M109. Only PzH-2000 fires 10 rounds per minute and thus fast enough to simultaneously impact on the target with five rounds at the same time. Because the enemy immediately takes cover after the first explosion all following rounds are increasingly less deadly. The PzH is also fast enough to Shoot-and-Scoot and be gone before counter artillery hits its firing position.

[@jansix4287]

@@peterruizquiles5919 Obviously the average Joe in the race car, not a race car driver in a Reliant Robin. Training can’t make up for bad engineering, but good engineering can substitute for training.

[@jdoe3006]

Very reliable beast despite its age.

[@jaybox4284]

And don't forget that model can also use rocket assisted shells that triples its range. Was deadly in iraq

[@whytebearconcepts]

When I trained on the A2 SPG our CEP was measured in hundreds of meters depending on the distance. We had, if I remember right, only half a dozen variations of fuses and explosives. And all of our computations were made using a cardboard wheel device. I went to a live fire exercise in 2019 at Camp Roberts, California, to watch the 143rd FAR AR-ANG drop 155mm rounds from their M777 within a few meters. With instantaneous targeting updates. They knew where the round was hitting while it was still in route.

[@julie804]

It’s very important to consider the cost of ammunition. If it’s ridiculously high then it’s less likely to be continuously supplied.

[@garyrichards9680]

Great weapon system.

[@rycriswell2326]

Very good

[@sealoftheliving4998]

I played Generals. One of my favorite tank

[@HammerOn-bu7gx]

It can also fire PGK equipped rounds.

[@MarxAlex]

So how many different systems from how many different suppliers with maintenance facilities a 1000 miles from the front.....

[@kyrenthang8633]

Have gun, will travel.

[@kencornwell]

Awesome

[@markdbentz]

Did some S3 lieutenant generate those graphics using power point?

[@mikew1978]

I served on the M109A6 and have the hearing loss to prove it

[@bahoonies]

I have a feeling the Russian military really appreciates what the M109 can do.

[@ThePaladinGuy142]

Im an M109A6/A7 mechanic if anyone has questions. Ill answer anything i can within reason. I love working on them one of my absolute favorite platforms!

[@billsmith5166]

Great weapon system. Seems perfect for Ukraine.

[@nightravenonline]

Have they arrived ?

[@samuelwong4152]

I love this Artillery Tank !

[@andytraill]

Holy moly. Not playing now.

[@bobbyquack4908]

What a beast.

[@hoihoi9866]

25 miles wow

[@timbungarner3842]

Is the 109 the one that can lob one shell, than drop down shot another then aim directly and have them all hit at same time?

[@nooneyouknowhere6148]

I believe they can fire multiple rounds and have all of the impact at the same spot simultaneously. And can link multiple units together to fire in synchronization.

[@RogerPack]

Give them a lot of shells, this could make an umph!

[@DavidNichol24]

I was watching this and I hadn't fully realised the capability of these excaliber rounds, 25 miles for some reason just didn't seem like a lot to me, however when I looked on a map (I'm from the UK) it's the distance between sunderland and Middlesbrough and it will hit with an accuracy delta of 7-10ft?!?!?

[@JFHeroux]

Apart from the newest, Excalibur-capable versions, the M109 is not the best system on the battleground nowadays. Although artillery is not dead, we've seen how useless it is when the Russians use their outdated crap and outdated tactics. Lots of booms, not a lot of bangs. Precision is such a force-multiplier that one well-placed round can have more effect that 100 rounds lobbed indiscriminately. When you regularly hit the ennemy's barracks and ammo dumps with one round, the enemy doesn't have a chance. That's why Russia's supposed offensive turned into Russia's stalemate recently. And that's why they are slowly losing. They thought they had a modern army and modern tactics. They have outdated crap used by people without a clue...

[@Kirkee7]

Only as good as the people who know how to use them effectively.

[@russell7489]

Any Paladin is a targeting system upgrade away from being a new Paladin. With the advantage of KNOWING it can take a licking and keep on ticking having been tested in every conflict since 1960. No other system can say this. Also, being HEAVY, it can take the HUGE forces of firing with less issues than truck mounted 155's NATO countries deploy to save money. Dosen't hurt the armor though weak can keep crews safe from stray, ill aimed bullets, fragments from near misses of enemy systems.

[@bavery6957]

That big ole snout looks like "strictly business"...

[@kevinnguyen5588]

Just look at the recoil.

[@rjglennon2219]

You wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of this bit of kit

[@joeo2533]

It joined a while ago. Saw videos of some getting destroyed by Lancet drones.

[@peterruizquiles5919]

Do you have a link to the videos?

[@shawnm8232]

Does anyone know why they went with the 2 cycle Diesel engine as opposed to a4 cycle?

[@peterruizquiles5919]

The hull of the Paladin is basically the same as the original M109 and it’s more cost effective to upgrade the engine for the added weight of the Paladin than develop a new one.

[@joshflugel]

I wonder how the Paladin compares to the german PHz2000.

[@williamtynan6484]

Game Changer

[@ronnyandersen5521]

Did Norway bring to table some of those Paladin to? 26 of them early on in the war? Every one they had?

[@cinnamon2151]

Detroit V8 diesel , 440 hp probably 1200 foot pounds torque? I tam trucks with the 8v92 , sliver92 Screaming Jimmy, ,& nice suppiier , was a modern unit, tough I guess

[@nikitachirich7985]

All we need is to field our new W82 refurbished enhanced radiation warheads EDRs, and we should be golden for these Paladins. Think of it as a neutron claymore, effective blast radius about 1000 meters. Perfect for behind enemy lines artillery placement. ~I work at White Sands for the NRCC DOE, strategic dev group.

[@ColonelMetus]

Also it can lay on hands if it gets hit

[@mikeking7470]

A lot of Russian artillery is still towed, much harder to shoot and scoot. And the M109 is a genius counter battery weapon with great electronics.

[@randallturner9094]

It’s waaay too short range for counter battery work. 🫤

[@peterruizquiles5919]

I agree, It did great at counter battery during operation Iraqi freedom. Iraqi Army stopped shooting artillery because they knew they were going to get hit by counter battery

[@randallturner9094]

Oh stop. During Desert Storm, we were worried about their artillery - because it was longer ranged than ours. That’s one of the main reasons we developed the MLRS. It’s got a 13 mile range with regular shells, you goofs. It’s outranged 5-10 miles by contemporary Russian and NATO 152/155mm pieces, more by their 8” gear. We suppressed enemy arty with either the MLRS or, more commonly, strike aircraft. You can’t use artillery (other than mortars) when your opponent has air superiority. And that’s why we stopped putting effort into modernizing our tube artillery, by the way - our doctrine is we always have air superiority. Face it - the US doesn’t do tube artillery. It’s the next thing to obsolete. And this Ukraine war is a throwback, it’s not a modern war.

[@peterruizquiles5919]

You’re talking about Desert Storm, the A6 is a lot more advanced than the old M109’s. Goofs? if you think it has only a 13 miles range you are wrong, I know because I served in an SP artillery unit my whole career as a maintainer including OIF 1,3, and 5

[@randallturner9094]

@@peterruizquiles5919 If you were in the FA you should be agreeing with me, then. This has been a long standing issue, you must be aware of it! You may be correct about some details here, they’re debatable - but it sounds like you’re disagreeing overall. I don’t understand why. Examples - re: “..Desert Storm, the A6 is a lot more advanced..” - we didn’t have Paladins (A6’s) operational during Desert Storm, that’s correct. But we DID have A5’s**, which use the identical M248 155mm L39 cannon. When we’re discussing range, that’s what we’re talking about. Of course ammo matters - but other howitzers also have extended range ammo, base bleed and rocket assisted etc. There are also some technical improvements possible to the tube, like the coating on new designs (a Teflon type anti-friction thing) that give you smaller improvements. The point isn’t what exact version. It’s that waaay back in 1991 using the same M248 tube we use now, we were already having problems matching contemporary designs, and it’s just gotten worse. re: “if you think it only has a 13 mile range..” - I’m talking max *effective* range with baseline, 155mm HE shells, M107’s. Not the extended range shells (various types). 13 miles may be a bit short, and max range is usually given as a range - for instance, the PzH2000 w/DM121 HE shells has an “effective” max range of 19-22mi. I’ve seen max for our M248’s listed up to almost 15mi, I just picked the “standard” 13mi figure. The variance is likely different definitions of “effective” max range. But, although you’re arguably correct about max being >13mi, it’s less than 15mi regardless - and the point still stands. The problem’s simple. We stopped developing tube artillery. We had a program to re-equip our guns with longer**, ~L50 or thereabouts barrels, but that program (or programs, iirc more than one) was cancelled. We have the technology to make longer range artillery. We just didn’t follow through. Again, I don’t understand why you’re disagreeing with me. ** A5’s vs A6’s - I’m a 66 year old engineer, I WORKED on the original Paladin project back in the mid 80’s. I’m an EE, I worked on servos, not the M248 cannon itself, but I have a handle on the general issues. We improved mostly fire control aspects; accurate positioning etc. The A6 is better, but mostly more accurate. ** longer barrel - basically the determining factor, ignoring ammunition, for cannon range is barrel length and max chamber pressure. A longer barrel allows more time for propellant combustion to apply force to the projectile. An L39 barrel (L39 = 39x caliber, ie, barrel length = 39x 155mm, ~20ft) is just too short to be competitive with designs like the 26ft long L52 Rheinmetall gun on the PzH2000 or other modern howitzers. (We do pretty good on chamber pressure.)

[@joeuscanga7235]

Big Guns...!

[@NITWIT856]

thing is an absolute beast

[@lolodee3528]

Lovely parting gifts…

[@eyeinthesky888]

Ukrainians need this for crimea, Mariupol and Donetsk region

[@salspataro9389]

Paladin? I love it! Have Gun, Will Travel! Perfect...

[@1guitarlover]

Artillery is king on the battlefield.

[@darrenskjoelsvold]

So glad to hear that Ukraine are getting these. Russia leans heavily on artillery and these could counter that. Also if the Russians assault with lots of armor in the spring these could turn a few of their tank crews into involuntary cosmonauts.

[@Jay.Kellett]

A few? More like a lot!

[@darrenskjoelsvold]

@@Jay.Kellett let's hope.

[@dan9002]

Would it be cost effective to upgrade the older Paladin's

[@michaelwittkopp3379]

Paladin, Abrams, Leopards, they all use a system of modular components. Don't know about the Paladin, but Leopard one to two had some serious changes. But otherwise, even the Leopard one can be upgraded a lot. Upgraded, they *_all_* are superior to what Russia fields.

[@slimjimnyc270]

@Dan. Yes, it is cost effective to upgrade the M109s. Main upgrades are computers, electronics, power supply/ batteries and longer gun tube.

[@peterruizquiles5919]

US already has an upgraded version.

[@dan9002]

@@peterruizquiles5919 Not some upgraded but to get all upgraded.

[@luisguadalupe1741]

The more they upgrade the more these things break, the amount of times our mechanics got mad

[@juergenstange6844]

Good old EMMA ❤️

[@mattlies7426]

Only reinforces the statement "artillery is the king battle."

[@terrystephens1102]

All power to the valiant Ukrainian forces - this piece of kit will make a huge impact on the war. 😁👌👌👌👌👏👏👏👏

[@michaelbayliss4018]

But, can it do direct fire missions? Like, when the crew can actually see the target?

[@peterruizquiles5919]

Yes it can

[@Hellfr4g]

funny thing that mounted mg or grenade launcher :D wonder what the intention was behind that idea... in case the howitzer has to storm an enemy trench? drones? well in the current war i´ve seen drone footage were they spottet artillery... but far in the distance 15-20km away only because the artillery was shooting at the time and they were able to see the smoke but no chance for the artillery to see the drone

[@cornebod]

Dang, those Russian shovels are even able to keep the Ukrainians back whilst they are using these🤯🤯