tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post2455184840927938269..comments2024-03-28T19:58:31.110-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: A game-changer in battlefield artillery support?Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-77732471966023703722014-07-23T00:43:18.970-05:002014-07-23T00:43:18.970-05:00Some years back, I saw a program about a weapon sy...Some years back, I saw a program about a weapon system that the army wanted no parts of. Probably because it was cheap, easy to use, and didn't have, or need, any cushy jobs for high ranking retirees.<br /><br />Just needed a jeep or similar vehicle for transport, to carry a box of vertical launched, fibre optic guided armor killers. Small missile with a camera in the nose, and a guy with a joystick. Loft it high above the battlefield, nose over, and look for a target. May have been throttle capable. Pick which hatch cover or drive sprocket you want to hit, and BAM! Box held at least a dozen, maybe more. Enough range to sit on the other side of the hills from where the battle was.<br /><br />Think it was a couple of ex-military guys designed it. Don't recall the cost, but VERY cheap. I think heads should have rolled for turning this down.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722792638246578812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-29117847301117520622014-07-22T13:31:35.960-05:002014-07-22T13:31:35.960-05:00Agreed it matters but IMHO more because it's o...Agreed it matters but IMHO more because it's organic. <br /><br />The Sheridan with a Shillelagh was never a great success (see David Drake's comments on the Sheridan without the Shillelagh). <br /><br />The net effect of NLOS - tanks after all do fine for line of sight artillery - is much like Thoth as seen in Pournelle's Prince of Sparta where kick the weapons out and give the ground forces control - takes the Air Force Combat Controller out of the picture. That is follows the general trend of flattening control as seen in any industry. A good thing, but neither the hardware nor the idea seems all that new to me. The precision at all levels from Designated Marksman to NLOS organic to the smaller units is good.clark myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087642063181620051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-70797911364643963902014-07-22T07:46:09.732-05:002014-07-22T07:46:09.732-05:00Looks pretty good. I'm sure the IDF has integ...Looks pretty good. I'm sure the IDF has integrated it pretty well into there SOP a they need to fight very smart to be as effective as they are.<br /><br />The enemy has numbers, which is a power the Chinese have used in the past, but this could change even that metric. <br /><br />Put some daisy cutters in these rockets and with the modified tank and off shore boats they could clear a battlefield of any infantry.<br /><br />It will be interesting to watch this iteration of the endless war play out.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708868713277676628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-68251539590393505922014-07-22T04:54:10.506-05:002014-07-22T04:54:10.506-05:00I suppose the reason for the tank platform is so t...I suppose the reason for the tank platform is so that anything other than a direct hit in the way of counter-battery fire won't affect them?<br /><br />Can't quite see how the missiles get OUT of the vehicle.<br /><br />Sometimes it seems a bit strange how long it takes for armies to adopt an old technology.<br /><br />Would've thought it would have been mounted on the back of a land-rover first, though.Coconutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-74469814480393484632014-07-21T22:07:42.616-05:002014-07-21T22:07:42.616-05:00Look at what is going on with mortar rounds, 20km ...Look at what is going on with mortar rounds, 20km range, correctable targeting in flight and a CEP of two meters or less.<br />jon spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10886632644249920124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-2125465553420068092014-07-21T20:51:40.007-05:002014-07-21T20:51:40.007-05:00@Angus: Yes, FOG-M was the first US attempt to pr...@Angus: Yes, FOG-M was the first US attempt to produce this sort of weapon. Another was the XM-501 NLOS missile, cancelled in 2011 (which would have offered greater range and hitting power than Spike NLOS).<br /><br />@Rolf: Yes, that's a nightmare scenario for many naval planners. It's entirely feasible from a technological perspective.<br /><br />@David: I suspect a lot of the resistance to the concept came from the regular artillery and fire support people. To have a fully automated system would threaten their jobs and career paths. I've seen that before all too many times . . . Israel, on the other hand, doesn't give a damn about service politics. It wants systems that will save the lives of its servicemen.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-24075077058634593862014-07-21T20:31:04.354-05:002014-07-21T20:31:04.354-05:00I was in the battery at Ft. Bliss, Texas which fir...I was in the battery at Ft. Bliss, Texas which first tested the FOG-M/NLOS back in the late 80's. Amazingly accurate, relatively simple technology. It's main limitation was the length of fiber optic which it could carry, but even then, technology was being developed which could have taken it out to 100 km, maybe beyond. Never understood why we didn't buy it.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09781711504345298784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-66539546199201786572014-07-21T18:31:11.307-05:002014-07-21T18:31:11.307-05:00So, a few dozen light patrol boats owned by Iran, ...So, a few dozen light patrol boats owned by Iran, with some sort of NorK or ChiCom knock-off mounted five to a boat, trying to tie up the straights of Hormuz. Could get ugly.Rolfhttp://www.thestarscameback.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-4267173006397427682014-07-21T15:53:10.375-05:002014-07-21T15:53:10.375-05:00The really astonishing thing about this system is ...The really astonishing thing about this system is how OLD it is.<br /><br />And we're just now noticing?<br /><br />It's slightly newer than the FOG-M and looks just like it... If you don't remember the FOG-M, don't worry; it didn't make production. We improved the TOW slightly and bought Javelin instead.Angus McThaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09295013525738248801noreply@blogger.com