Remington Model 870 (Shoutgun)

Remington Model 870 (Shoutgun)

Remington 870
Remington 870 Marine Magnum
Type	Shotgun
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	L.Ray Crittendon, Phillip Haskell, Ellis Hailston, G.E. Pinckney
Designed	1951
Manufacturer	Remington Arms
Produced	1951-present [1]
Number built	10,000,000+ [2]
Variants	Wingmaster, Express, Marine, SPS, SPS-T, XCS, TAC, Super Mag,MCS
Specifications
Weight	7.0 lb (3.2 kg) to 8.0 lb (3.6 kg)
Length	37.25 in (946 mm) to 50.5 in (1,280 mm)
Barrel length	18 in (460 mm) to 30 in (760 mm)
Cartridge	12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, or .410 bore
Action	Pump-action
Feed system	3- to 8-round internal tube magazine
Sights	Bead, twin bead, adjustable open sights, or ghost ring (all iron sights). Also cantilever and receiver-mounts for scopes [3]

 The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, Inc. It is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. It is also commonly used by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.

Development

The Remington 870 was the fourth major design in a series of Remington pump shotguns. John Pedersen designed the fragile Remington Model 10 (and later the improved Remington Model 29). Working with John Browning, Pedersen also helped design the Model 17^[4] which was adopted by Ithaca as the Ithaca 37 and also served as the basis for the Remington 31. The Model 31 was well liked,^[5] but struggled for sales in the shadow of the Winchester Model 12. Remington sought to correct that in 1950 by introducing a modern, streamlined, rugged, reliable, and relatively inexpensive shotgun - the 870 Wingmaster.
Sales of the 870 have been steady. They reached 2 million guns by 1973 (ten times the number of Model 31 shotguns it replaced). By 1996, spurred by sales of the basic "Express" models, which were added as a lower cost alternative to the original Wingmaster line, sales topped seven million guns. On April 13, 2009 the ten millionth Model 870 was produced, and the 870 holds the record for best-selling shotgun in the history of the world.^[6]

[edit] Design details

The 870 features a bottom-loading, side ejecting receiver, tubular magazine under the barrel, dual action bars, internal hammer, and a bolt which locks into an extension in the barrel. The action, receiver, trigger system, safety catch and slide release catch of the Remington Model 870 shotgun are similar to those used on the Remington Model 7600 series pump-action centerfire rifles and carbines. The basic trigger group design was first used in the automatic 11-48.^[7] 20 gauge stocks will also interchange. Several parts of the 870 will interchange with the semi-automatic Remington 1100 and 11-87.
The original 870 models were offered with fixed chokes. In 1986 Remington introduced the new Remington "Rem Choke" system of screw-in chokes (also fitted to Remington model 1100 auto-loading shotguns at the same time). Initially, the Rem Chokes were offered on barrel lengths of 21", 26" and 28". It was not offered on 30" barrels, deer guns, target guns or as a retrofit.
Production 870s for over 30 years had a design whereby a user could either "short stroke" the action - not pull the forearm all the way back while cycling the action as they should - or fail to press a shell all the way into the magazine when loading such that the shell latch did not engage the shell, and such actions could tie up the gun.^[8] This was caused by the shell which slipped out of the magazine under the bolt in the receiver to bind the action, requiring rough treatment of the action or even disassembly to clear by the uninitiated. The potential issue was resolved with the introduction of the "Flexi Tab" carrier. Guns with this modification can be identified by the "U"-shaped cut-out on the carrier, visible from below the gun. The cut-out allows the carrier to flex when the shell presses on it without binding the action.

[edit] Variants

There are hundreds of variations of the Remington 870 in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauges and .410 bore. From the original fifteen models offered, Remington currently produces dozens of models for civilian, law enforcement, and military sales. 870 variants can be grouped into:

• Wingmaster – Blued steel with high gloss or satin walnut stocks. They have been offered in Skeet, Trap, and field configurations. Originally the basic Wingmaster was chambered for 2 3/4" rounds and came with a fixed choke, and the 3" chambered versions were designated Magnum models. Models built after 1986 offer the RemChoke Interchangeable choke tube system, and the 12 and 20 gauge versions are chambered in 3" for either 2 3/4" or 3" shells. Prior to the introduction of the "Police" model 870, altered Wingmasters were popular among law enforcement.
• Police – Blued or Parkerized steel with satin walnut, stained hardwood, or synthetic stocks. These models feature a stronger sear spring and magazine spring, and they receive extra care and inspections during assembly. Also often has an extended tube magazine.
• Marine – Nickel plated with synthetic stocks.
• Express - Matte blue/black bead-blasted with laminated hardwood or synthetic stocks and chambered for 2 3/4" and 3" 12 or 20 gauge shotshells. All Expresses have been chambered in 3" in 12 and 20 gauge, but markings have varied.
• Express Super Magnum – Matte black bead-blasted with laminated hardwood or synthetic stocks and chambered for 3½" 12 gauge shotshells.
• MCS(Modular Combat Shotgun)- A new modular version of the M870 which can be quickly modified with different barrels, magazine tubes, and stocks for different purposes, such as urban combat and door breaching.

[edit] Chinese M870

China has made unlicensed M870 copies by Norinco as the Norinco HP9-1 and used by the People's Liberation Army as the standard shotgun.^{[citation needed]}
However, the M870 copy is a widely-distributed design no longer under patent protection, and most parts interchange freely. In the United States, where Norinco products are specifically non-importable, this gun is imported and sold under the names Norinco Hawk 982 and Interstate Hawk 982.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Users

A U.S. Coast Guard petty officer from Maritime Safety and Security Team 91106 armed with an M870P fitted with a Trijicon reflex sight and a Speedfeed stock.

The Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun loaded with pyrotechnical shells (blanks) is seen here used as a last resort to scare off unwanted birds in flight from the vicinity of Incirlik Air Base.

Country	Organization name	Quantity	Date
Australia	Australian Defence Force[9][10]	_	_
Austria	EKO Cobra[11]	_	_
Bangladesh	Bangladesh Armed Forces[12]	_	_
Canada	Canadian Forces[13]	_	_
	Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)[14]	_	_
China	Made unlicensed copies by Norinco as the Norinco HP9-1 and used by the People's Liberation Army as the standard shotgun[citation needed]	_	_
Finland	Finnish Army[15]	_	_
Germany	Bundeswehr[16]	_	_
Greece	EKAM counter-terrorist unit of the Hellenic Police[17]	_	_
Hong Kong	Used by various units of Hong Kong Police such as Special Duties Unit and Police Tactical Unit[citation needed]	_	_
Ireland	Army Ranger Wing[18]	_	_
Israel	Israel Defense Forces [19]	_	_
Republic of Korea	Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Brigade [20]	_	_
Luxembourg	Unité Spéciale de la Police group of the Grand Ducal Police[21][22][23]	_	_
Malaysia	Malaysian Special Operations Force[24]	_	_
Sweden	Swedish Armed Forces[25]	_	_
Switzerland	Swiss Armed Forces (designated Mehrzweckgewehr 91; MzGw 91)[26]	_	_
United Kingdom	United Kingdom Special Forces (designated L74A1) and some Specialist Firearms Officers (as a breaching weapon)[27]	_	_
United States	U.S. Border Patrol[28]	_	_
	U.S. Department of Education[29]	_	_
	U.S. Military (designated M870)[30]	_	_
	U.S. Secret Service[31]	1,600	2001
	Internal Revenue Service[32]	_	_
	Various police forces such as the California Highway Patrol (since 1965),[33] Phoenix, Arizona SWAT, and Sparta, New Jersey Police Department[34][35]

Challenger 2 (Tank)

Challenger 2 (Tank)

FV 4034 Challenger 2
Challenger 2 on manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1998–present
Used by	British Army, Oman Army
Wars	Iraq War
Production history
Manufacturer	Alvis Vickers
Unit cost	~£4,217,000 ~$6,797,660 [1]
Produced	1993–2002
Number built	~446
Specifications
Weight	62.5 tonnes (61.5 long tons; 68.9 short tons)
Length	8.3 m (27 ft 3 in) 11.50 m (37 ft 9 in) with gun forward
Width	3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) with appliqué armour
Height	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Crew	4 (commander, gunner, loader/operator, driver)
Armour	Chobham/Dorchester Level 2 (classified)
Main armament	L30A1 120 mm rifled gun with 52 rounds
Secondary armament	Coaxial 7.62 mm L94A1 EX-34 (chain gun), 7.62 mm L37A2 Commander's cupola machine gun
Engine	Perkins CV-12 Diesel 1,200 hp (890 kW)
Power/weight	19.2 hp/t (14.3 kW/t)
Transmission	David Brown TN54 epicyclic transmission (6 fwd, 2 rev.)
Suspension	Hydropneumatic
Ground clearance	0.5 m (1 ft 8 in)[2]
Fuel capacity	1,592 litres (350 imp gal; 421 US gal)[2]
Operational range	450 km (280 mi)[2] road 250 km (160 mi)[2] off road
Speed	56 km/h (35 mph)[2] 40 km/h (25 mph)[2] off road

FV4034 Challenger 2 is a British main battle tank (MBT) currently in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. It was designed and built by the British company Vickers Defence Systems (now known as BAE Systems Land and Armaments). The manufacturer advertises it as the world's most reliable main battle tank.^[3] As of January 2011, only three Challenger 2s have been damaged in combat, one of which was destroyed by another Challenger 2 in a friendly fire incident.
Challenger 2 is an extensive redesign from Challenger 1, the MBT from which it was developed. It uses the basic hull and automotive parts of its predecessor but all other components are new. Fewer than 5% of components are interchangeable. Challenger 2 has now replaced Challenger 1 in service with the British Army and is also used by the Royal Army of Oman. It has seen operational service in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq the Challenger 2 tanks operating in the Gulf suffered no tank losses to enemy fire, although one was penetrated by an RPG-29 and another by an IED, causing crew injuries.

History

Challenger 2 Tank of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Squadron D) during live fire training exercises on Bergen-Hohne Training Area (Germany).

Challenger 2 is the third vehicle of this name, the first being the A30 Challenger, a Second World War design using the Cromwell tank chassis with a 17-pounder gun. The second was the Persian Gulf War era Challenger 1, which was the British army's main battle tank (MBT) from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s.
Vickers Defence Systems (later Alvis Vickers, now BAE Systems Land Systems) began to develop a successor to Challenger 1 as a private venture in 1986. Following the issue of a Staff Requirement for a next-generation tank, Vickers formally submitted its plans for Challenger 2 to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Secretary of State for Defence George Younger announced to the House of Commons that Vickers would receive £90 million contract for a demonstrator vehicle, a deal that was finalised in January 1989.^[4] The demonstration phase contained three milestones for progress, with dates of September 1989, March 1990, and September 1990. At the last of these milestones, Vickers was to have met 11 key criteria for the tank's design.^[4]
In June 1991, after competition with other tank manufacturers' designs (including the M1A2 Abrams and the Leopard 2 (Improved)), the MoD placed a £520 million order for 127 MBTs and 13 driver training vehicles. An order for a further 259 tanks and 9 driver trainers (worth £800 million) was placed in 1994. Oman ordered 18 Challenger 2s in 1993 and a further 20 tanks in November 1997.
Production began in 1993 at two primary sites: Elswick, Tyne and Wear and Barnbow, Leeds, although over 250 subcontractors were involved. The first tanks were delivered in July 1994.
The Challenger 2 successfully completed its Reliability Growth Trial in 1994. Three vehicles were tested for 285 simulated battlefield days. Each day is known to have consisted of:

• 27 km (17 mi) of on-road travel
• 33 km (21 mi) of off-road travel
• 34 main armament rounds fired
• 1,000 7.62 MG rounds fired
• 16 hours weapon system operation
• 10 hours main engine idling
• 3.5 hours main engine running

An equally important milestone was the In-Service Reliability Demonstration (ISRD) in 1999. 12 fully crewed tanks were tested at the Bovington test tracks and at Lulworth Bindon ranges. The tank exceeded all staff requirements.
Challenger 2 entered service with the British Army in 1998 (with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Germany), with the last delivered in 2002. It is expected to remain in service until 2035. It serves with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the Royal Dragoon Guards, the Queen's Royal Hussars, the King's Royal Hussars and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, each of which is the tank unit of an armoured or a mechanised brigade. One squadron of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment uses Challenger 2 in a training and demonstration role.
Deliveries of the Challenger 2 to Oman were completed in 2001.
The Trojan minefield breaching vehicle and the Titan bridge-laying vehicle based on the chassis of the Challenger 2 were shown in November 2006; 66 are to be supplied by BAE Systems to the Royal Engineers, at a cost of £250 million.^[5]
A British military document from 2001 indicated that the British Army would not procure a replacement for the Challenger 2 because of a lack of foreseeable conventional threats in the future.^[6]

[edit] Design

[edit] Armament

A Challenger 2 firing its main gun during an exercise

Challenger 2 is equipped with a 120 millimetres (4.7 in) 55 calibre long L30A1 tank gun,^[7] the successor to the L11 gun used on Chieftain and Challenger 1. The gun is made from high strength Electro Slag Remelting (ESR) steel with a chromium alloy lining and, like earlier British 120 mm guns, it is insulated by a thermal sleeve. It is fitted with a muzzle reference system and fume extractor, and is controlled by an all-electric control and stabilization system. The turret has a rotation time of 9 seconds through 360 degrees.
Uniquely among NATO main battle tank armament, the L30A1 is rifled, because the British Army continues to place a premium on the use of high explosive squash head (HESH) rounds in addition to APFSDS armour-piercing rounds. HESH rounds have a longer range (up to 8 kilometres / 5 miles) than APFSDS, and are more effective against buildings and thin-skinned vehicles.
Forty-nine main armament rounds are carried in the turret and hull; these are a mix of L27A1 APFSDS (also referred to as CHARM 3), L31 HESH and L34 white phosphorus smoke rounds, depending on the situation. As with earlier versions of the 120 mm gun, the propellant charges are loaded separately from the shell or KE projectile. A combustible rigid charge is used for the APFSDS rounds, and a combustible hemispherical bag charge for the HESH and Smoke rounds. An electrically-fired vent tube is used to initiate firing of the main armament rounds. (The main armament ammunition is thus described to be "three part ammunition", consisting of the projectile, charge and vent tube.)
The Challenger 2 is also armed with a L94A1 EX-34 7.62 mm chain gun coaxially to the left of the main gun, and a 7.62 mm L37A2 (GPMG) machine gun mounted on a pintle on the loader's hatch ring. 4,200 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition are carried.

[edit] Fire control and sights

Close up view of a parked Challenger 2

The digital fire control computer from Computing Devices Co of Canada contains two 32-bit processors with a MIL STD1553B databus, and has capacity for additional systems, for example a Battlefield Information Control System.
The commander has a panoramic SAGEM VS 580-10 gyrostabilised sight with laser rangefinder. Elevation range is +35° to −35°. The commander's station is equipped with eight periscopes for 360° vision.
The Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight II (TOGS II), from Thales, provides night vision. The thermal image is displayed on both the gunner's and commander's sights and monitors. The gunner has a stabilised primary sight using a laser rangefinder with a range of 200 m to 10 km. The driver's position is equipped with a Thales Optronics image-intensifying Passive Driving Periscope (PDP) for night driving.

[edit] Defence

Challenger 2 is one of the most heavily armoured and best protected tanks in the world.^[8] The turret and hull are protected with second generation Chobham armour (also known as Dorchester) the details of which are classified. The military claims that this material is twice as strong as steel.^{[citation needed]} Explosive reactive armour (ERA) kits are also fitted as necessary. The nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection system is located in the turret bustle.
On each side of the turret are five L8 smoke grenade dischargers. Challenger 2 can also create smoke by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust manifolds.

[edit] Drive system

A Challenger 2 practising on Salisbury Plain

• Engine: Perkins 26.6 litre CV12 diesel engine delivering 1,200 hp (890 kW).
• Gearbox: David Brown TN54 epicyclical transmission (6 fwd, 2 rev.).
• Suspension: second-generation hydrogas.
• Track: William Cook Defence hydraulically adjustable double-pin.
• Maximum speed: 37 mph/60 km/h (road); 25 mph/40 km/h (cross country)
• Range: 280 mi/450 km (road); 156 mi/250 km (cross country).

[edit] Crew and accommodation

The British Army maintained its requirement for a four-man crew (including a loader) after risk analysis of the incorporation of an automatic loader suggested that auto-loaders reduced battlefield survivability. Mechanical failure and the time required for repair were prime concerns.
Like every British tank since the Centurion, and most other British AFVs, Challenger 2 contains a boiling vessel (BV) also known as a kettle or bivvie for water which can be used to brew tea, produce other hot beverages and heat boil-in-the-bag meals contained in ration packs.^[9] This BV requirement is general for armoured vehicles of the British Armed Forces, and is unique to the armed forces of the UK.

[edit] Operational usage

[The tank was] "well armoured but in an operational theatre it's not the case that you can have absolute protection. This was not in any way new technology - the device involved was the same type of shaped charge that we have seen used very regularly. No-one has ever said Challenger tanks are impenetrable. We have always said that a big enough bomb will defeat any armour and any vehicle."

MOD Spokesman, speaking in regard to the Challenger 2^[10]

Challenger 2 had already been used in peacekeeping missions and exercises before but its first combat use came in March 2003 during the invasion of Iraq. 7th Armoured Brigade, part of 1st Armoured Division, was in action with 120 Challenger 2s around Basra. The tanks saw extensive use during the siege of Basra, providing fire support to the British forces. The tank's availability was excellent and the problems that were identified during the large Saif Sareea II exercise, which took place eighteen months earlier, were solved by the issuing of Urgent Operational Requirements for equipment such as sand filters.
In one encounter within the urban area a Challenger 2 came under attack from irregular forces with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades. The driver's sight was damaged and while attempting to back away under the commander's directions, the other sights were damaged and the tank threw its tracks entering a ditch. It was hit directly by fourteen rocket propelled grenades from close range and a MILAN anti-tank missile.^[11] The crew survived remaining safe within the tank until the tank was recovered for repairs, the worst damage being to the sighting system. It was back in operation six hours later after repairs. One Challenger 2 operating near Basra survived being hit by 70 RPGs in another incident.^[12]

There have been two Challenger 2s damaged in combat and one destroyed:

• 25 March 2003 - A friendly fire ("blue-on-blue") incident in Basra in which one Challenger 2 of the Black Watch Battlegroup (2nd Royal Tank Regiment) mistakenly engaged another Challenger 2 of the Queen's Royal Lancers after detecting what was believed to be an enemy flanking manoeuvre on thermal equipment. The attacking tank's second HESH round hit the open commander's hatch lid of the QRL tank sending hot fragments into the turret that caused an explosion of the stowed ammunition, destroying the tank and killing two crew members. It remains the only Challenger 2 to be completely destroyed on operations.^[13]
• August 2006 - the driver of a Challenger 2, Trooper Sean Chance, lost three of his toes when an RPG-29 penetrated an ERA protected frontal part of the hull during an engagement in al-Amarah, Iraq.^[14]
• April 6, 2007 - in Basra, Iraq, an IED shaped charge penetrated the underside of the tank resulting in the driver losing a leg and causing minor injuries to another soldier.^[15]

To help prevent incidents of this nature happening again, Challenger 2s have been upgraded with a new passive armour package, including the use of add-on armor manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel.^[16] When deployed on operations the Challenger 2 is now normally upgraded to TES (Theatre Entry Standard), this includes a number of modifications including armour and weapon system upgrades.

[edit] Upgrades and variants

[edit] CLIP

An upgraded Challenger II with added explosive reactive armor panels, manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.^[16]

The Challenger Lethality Improvement Programme (CLIP) is a programme to replace the current L30A1 rifled gun with the 120 mm Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore gun currently used in the Leopard 2A6. The use of a smoothbore weapon allows Challenger 2 to use NATO standard ammunition developed in Germany and the US. This includes tungsten-based kinetic energy penetrators, which do not have the same political and environmental objections as depleted uranium rounds. The production lines for rifled 120 mm ammunition in the UK have been closed for some years, so existing stocks of ammunition for the L30A1 are finite.^[17]
A single Challenger 2 was fitted with the L55 and underwent trials in January 2006.^[18] The smoothbore gun is the same length as the L30A1, and is fitted with the rifled gun's cradle, thermal sleeve, bore evacuator and muzzle reference system. Early trials apparently revealed that the German tungsten DM53 round was more effective than the depleted uranium CHARM 3.^[8] The ammunition storage and handling arrangements will need to be changed to cater for the single-piece smoothbore rounds, instead of the separate-loading rifled rounds. In 2006, a figure of £386 million was estimated to fit all Challengers in the British Army with the Rheinmetall gun.^[17]
Other improvements have also been considered, including a regenerative NBC protection system.^[19]
In May 2007, the Ministry of Defence's Future Systems Group invited BAE to tender for the Challenger 2 Capability Sustainment Program (C2 CSP), which combined all upgrades into one programme. However, by mid-2008, the programme was in danger of slipping, or even being cancelled, as a result of defence budget shortfalls.^[20]

[edit] Titan

TITAN Bridge Launcher with No.12 Bridge at Salisbury Plain

The Titan armoured bridge layer is based on aspects of the Challenger 2 running gear and will replace the Chieftain Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (ChAVLB). The Titan came into service in 2006 with the Royal Engineers, with 33 in service. Titan can carry a single 26 metre long bridge or two 12 metre long bridges. It can also be fitted with a bulldozer blade.

[edit] Trojan

Trojan AVRE

Main article: Trojan (vehicle)

Trojan is a combat engineering vehicle, styled as an AVRE for Armoured Vehicle, Royal Engineers in British Army parlance, designed as a replacement for the Chieftain AVRE (ChAVRE). It uses the Challenger 2 chassis, and will carry an articulated excavator arm, a dozer blade, and attachment rails for fascines. Like Titan, 33 are intended to reach service.

[edit] Challenger 2E

Challenger 2E is an export version of the tank. It has a new integrated weapon control and battlefield management system, which includes a gyrostabilised panoramic SAGEM MVS 580 day/thermal sight for the commander and SAGEM SAVAN 15 gyrostabilised day/thermal sight for the gunner, both with eyesafe laser rangefinder. This allows hunter/killer operations with a common engagement sequence. An optional servo-controlled overhead weapons platform can be slaved to the commander's sight to allow operation independent from the turret.
The power pack has been replaced with a new 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) EuroPowerPack with transversely mounted MTU MT 883 diesel engine coupled to Renk HSWL 295TM automatic transmission. The increase in vehicle performance is significant. The smaller volume but more powerful power pack incorporates as standard a cooling system and air-intake filtration system proved in desert use. The free space in the hull is available for ammunition stowage or for fuel, increasing the vehicle’s range to 550 km.
BAE announced in 2005 that development and export marketing of 2E would stop. This has been linked by the media to the failure of the 2E to be selected for the Hellenic Army in 2002, a competition won by the Leopard 2.^[21]

[edit] CRARRV

CRARRV on display at Salisbury Plain

The Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (CRARRV) is an armoured recovery vehicle based on the Challenger hull and designed to repair and recover damaged tanks on the battlefield. It has five seats but usually carries a crew of three soldiers from the Royal Electrical And Mechanical Engineers (REME), of the Vehicle Mechanic and Recovery Mechanic trades. There is room in the cabin for two further passengers (e.g. crew members of the casualty vehicle) on a temporary basis.
The size and performance are similar to the MBT, but instead of armament it is fitted with:

• A main winch with 50-tonne pull (can exert 98 tonnes-force using an included pulley and anchor point on the vehicle), plus a small pilot winch to aid in deploying the main cable.
• Atlas crane capable of lifting 6,500 kg at a distance of 4.9 m (this is sufficient to lift a Challenger 2 power pack).
• In order to improve the flexibility and supplement the transportation power packs around the battlefield, the British Army procured a quantity of dedicated CRARRV High Mobility Trailers (CRARRV HMT). Each CRARRV HMT enables a CRARRV to transport a single (Challenger, Titan or Trojan) power pack or two Warrior power packs by altering the configuration of dedicated fixtures and attachment of fittings.
• Dozer blade to act as an earth anchor/stabiliser, or in obstacle clearance and fire position preparation.
• Large set of recovery and heavy repair tools including compressed air powered tools and arc-welding capability.

The design prototype is on display at The REME Museum of Technology in Arborfield, Berkshire.

M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (Tank)

M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (Tank)

M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
M270 MLRS
Type	Multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	Since March 31, 1983
Production history
Designer	Vought Corporation
Designed	1977
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin, Diehl BGT Defence
Produced	1980–2003
Variants	M270A1
Specifications
Weight	55,000 lb (24,950 kg)
Length	22 ft 6 in (6.85 m)
Width	9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Height	8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Crew	3
Rate of fire	Rockets: 12 rounds in < 40 sec Missiles: 2 rounds in 10 sec
Main armament	M269 Launcher Loader Module
Engine	Cummins Diesel 500 hp
Operational range	400 miles (640 km)
Speed	40 mph (64.3 km/h)

The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is an armored, self-propelled, multiple rocket launcher; a type of rocket artillery.
Since the first M270s were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1983, the MLRS has been adopted by several NATO countries. Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured in the United States and in Europe, along with more than 700,000 rockets. The production of the M270 ended in 2003, when a last batch was delivered to the Egyptian army.

Overview

The weapon can fire guided and unguided projectiles up to 42 km (26 mi). Firing ballistic missiles, (such as the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System—ATACMS), it can hit targets 300 km (190 mi) away; the warhead in such shots reaches an altitude of about 50 km (164,000 ft). The M270 can be used in shoot-and-scoot tactics, firing its rockets rapidly, then moving away to avoid counter-battery fire.
MLRS was developed jointly by the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and France. It was developed from the older General Support Rocket System (GSRS). The M270 MLRS weapons system is collectively known as the M270 MLRS Self-propelled Loader/Launcher (SPLL). The SPLL is composed of 3 primary subsystems: the M269 Loader Launcher Module (LLM), which also houses the electronic Fire Control System, is mated to the M993 Carrier Vehicle. The M993 is a derivative of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle chassis.^[1][2]
The rockets and ATACMS missiles are contained in interchangeable pods. Each pod contains six standard rockets or one guided ATACMS missile; the two types cannot be mixed. The LLM can hold two pods at a time, which are hand-loaded using an integrated winch system. All twelve rockets or two ATACMS missiles can be fired in under a minute. One launcher firing twelve rockets can completely blanket one square kilometer with submunitions. For this reason, the MLRS is sometimes referred to as the "Grid Square Removal Service"^[3] (metric maps are usually divided up into 1 km grids). The U.S. Army is currently working on developing and fielding unitary (one large warhead instead of submunitions) rocket and ATACMS variants, as well as a guided rocket.
In 2006, MLRS was upgraded to fire guided rounds. Phase I testing of a guided unitary round (XM31) was completed on an accelerated schedule in March 2006. Due to an Urgent Need Statement the guided unitary round has already been fielded and used in action in Iraq.^[4] Lockheed Martin also received a contract to convert existing M30 DPICM GMLRS rockets to the XM31 unitary variant.^[5]
A German developmental artillery system, called the Artillery Gun Module, has used the MLRS chassis on its developmental vehicles.^[6]

[edit] Service history

The M270 MLRS conducts a rocket launch.

MLRS-System with launch vehicle, loader and a command center inside an APC

When first deployed with the U.S. Army, the MLRS was used in a composite battalion consisting of two batteries of traditional artillery (howitzers) and one battery of MLRS SPLLs (self-propelled loader/launchers). The first operational organic or "all MLRS" battalion 6th Bn, 27th Field Artillery started training in the winter of 1984 at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Alpha Battery, 6/27th FA (MLRS) was deployed en masse to Peden Barracks at Wertheim, West Germany in April of that year. "Sudden Impact" as it was known by its members fired its first rounds in theater and was considered operational by June of that year. Three other firing batteries soon joined. A Btry 92nd Field Artillery (MLRS) Was deployed to the gulf war in 1989 from Ft.Hood Texas. 3/27th FA (MLRS) out of Ft. Bragg deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield in August 1990. A/21st Field Artillery (MLRS) - 1st Calvary Division Artillery deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield in September 1990. 6/27th FA (MLRS) deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield in October 1990. In December 1990, A-40th Field Artillery(MLRS) - 3rd Armored Division Artillery (Hanau), 1/27th FA (MLRS) part of the 41st Field Artillery Brigade (Babenhausen) and 4/27th FA (MLRS) (Wertheim) deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield from their bases in Germany and 1/158th Field Artillery from Ft Sill deployed in January 1991.
C Btry 1/27th FA was the first ground unit to fire in support of Operation Desert Storm, firing a missile at approximately 00:40 (12:40am local) In early Feb 91 1/27th FA launched the biggest MLRS night fire mission in history.^[7] It has since been used in numerous military engagements including the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In March 2007 the British Ministry of Defence decided to send a troop of MLRS to support ongoing operations in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand; they will use newly developed guided munitions.
In 04/2011 the first modernized MLRS II and M31 GMLRS rocket were handed over to the German Army's Artillery School in Idar Oberstein. The German Army operates the M31 rocket up to a range of 90km.^[8]

[edit] MLRS rockets and missiles

"Steel Rain" - M77 DPICM submunition of type used by MLRS M26 rocket. 644 M77s per rocket. The M77 was developed from the M483A1 that was developed for artillery shells.

The M270 system can fire MFOM, MLRS Family Of Munition rockets and artillery missiles, which are manufactured and used by a number of countries. These include:

• M26 (United States): Rocket with 644 M77 Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) sub-munitions, range of 32 km.
  • M26A1 (United States): Extended Range Rocket (ERR), with range of 45 km and using improved M85 submunitions.
  • M26A2 (United States): As M26A1, but using M77 submunitions.
• M27 (United States): Completely inert training Launch Pod/Container to allow full loading cycle training.
• M28 (United States): Training rocket. M26 with three ballast containers and three smoke marking containers in place of submunition payload.
  • M28A1 (United States): Reduced Range Practice Rocket (RRPR) with blunt nose. Range reduced to 9 km.
• XM29 (United States): Rocket with Sense and Destroy Armor (SADARM) submunitions. Not standardized.
• M30 (United States): Guided MLRS (GMLRS). A precision guided rocket, range over 60 km, in pre-production, with a standard load of 404 M85 submunitions.
  • M31 (United States): Guided Unitary MLRS. Variant of the M30 with a unitary high-explosive warhead for use in urban and mountainous terrain.^[9]
• M39 (United States): Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS), with a range of 97 km with 950 antipersonnel and antimateriel (APAM) M74 grenades.
• XM135 (United States): Rocket with binary chemical warhead (VX (nerve agent)). Not standardized.
• MGM-140A (United States): Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). A large guided missile using the M270 launcher, with a variety of warheads.
  Main article: MGM-140 ATACMS
• AT2 (Germany, UK, France): SCATMIN Rocket with 28 anti-tank mines and range of 38 km.
• PARS SAGE-227 F (Turkey): Experimental Guided MLRS (GMLRS) developed by TUBITAK-SAGE to replace the M26 rockets.

[edit] Selected rocket specifications

• Caliber: 227 mm (8.94 in)
• Length: 3.94 m (12.93 ft)
• Motor: Solid-fuel rocket

Name	Weight	Range (max)	Guidance	Warhead
M26	306 kg (675 lb)	32 km (20 mi)		644 M77 DPICM submunitions
M26A1/A2	296 kg (650 lb)	over 45 km (28 mi)		M26A1: 518 M85 DPICM submunitions M26A2: 518 M77 DPICM submunitions
M30/M31		60 km (37 miles)[10]	GPS/INS	M30: 404 M85 DPICM submunitions M31: 90 kg (200 lb) unitary HE
AT2 SCATMIN	254 kg (561 lb)	39 km (24 mi)
PARS SAGE-227 F	over 300 kg/160 kg	70 km (43 mi)

[edit] M993 Launcher specifications

• Entered service: 1982 (U.S. Army)
• First used in action: 1991 (First Gulf War)
• Crew: 3
• Weight loaded: 24,756 kg
• Length: 22 ft 6 in
• Width: 9 ft 9 in ^[11]
• Height (stowed): 2.57 m (8 ft 5 in)^[12]
• Height (max elevation): not available
• Max road speed: 64 km/h
• Cruise range: 480 km
• Reload time: 4 min (M270) 3 min (M270A1)
• Engine: Turbo-charged V8 Cummins VTA903 diesel 500 hp ver2.
• Crossdrive turbo transmission fully electronically controlled
• Average unit cost: $2.3 million^[13]

[edit] Operators

•  Bahrain: Royal Bahraini Army (9)
•  Egypt: Egyptian Army (48)
•  Finland: Finnish Army (21 + 1 burned, called 298 RsRakH 06)
•  France: French Army (44)
•  Germany: German Army (called MARS Mittleres Artillerie Raketen System) (50+202)
•  Greece: Hellenic Army (36)
•  Israel: Israel Defense Forces(48)(called "Menatetz" מנתץ)
•  Italy: Italian Army (22)
•  Japan: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (99)
•  Netherlands: Royal Netherlands Army (no longer in service; sold to Finnish Army) (22)
•  Norway: Norwegian Army (12) (no longer in active service)
•  South Korea: Republic of Korea Army (58)
•  Turkey: Turkish Army (12)
•  United Kingdom: Royal Artillery (67)
•  United States: United States Army (840+151)

[edit] Nicknames

US military operators refer to the M270 as "the commander's personal shotgun" or as "battlefield buckshot."^{[citation needed]} It is also commonly referred to as the "Gypsy Wagon", because crews store additional equipment such as camouflage netting, cots, coolers, and personal items on top of the vehicle as the launcher itself lacks adequate storage space for the crew. Within the British military a common nickname is "Grid Square Removal System", a play on the initialism GSRS (from the older General Support Rocket System). With the adoption of the new M30 GPS guided rocket it is now being referred to as the "70 kilometer sniper rifle." ^[14] During the 1991 Gulf War, the Iraqis referred to the small M77 submunitions rockets as the "Steel Rain."