Arty response times

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FalloutBoy RE:Arty response times 11/4/2001 8:27:54 AM

Mortars and larger artillery shells can hit the target itself faster than MLRS rockets because it takes a long time for the rockets to boost into their trajectory(they are big and heavy, not like Katyushas), where as the shells fly off at high speed right away. The MLRS rockets are far more damaging then even a 120mm mortar however.

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natng1@cogeco.ca RE:Arty response times 3/6/2002 8:55:27 AM

MLRS takes a long time to reach the firing point and lay onto the target, that's why it takes 5 min. The rocket reaches its "flight speed"in seconds. It also has a low trajectory. TOF can be as low as 15 seconds. a lot shorter then guns and mortars. MLRS wouldn't be used for close support either, really.

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t31 120MM mortar electrical primers 2/7/2003 10:24:57 AM

Anyone care to comment on the wisdom of switchout of mechanical primers for electrical primers, in breechloading 120mm mortar systems. I have been under the impression that the mechanical have always been more efficient.

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teemu_s RE:Arty response times 11/12/2003 2:25:40 AM

As far as I'm concerned it takes less than 3mins from any mortar or artillery section to open fire after command has reached the firing section. After that, there is flying time etc.

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AlbanyRifles Arty response times 11/12/2003 8:32:43 AM

The after action report from the Iraq War stated that 155mm & 105mm response times (call for fire initiated to rounds on target) was less than three minutes and some as fast as 1 minute. Now mortars can sometimes respond more quickly, but it is not the same kind of round and has different effects. MLRS response was very quick because they were tied into artillery radar systems and would echelon the firing platoons. That way, you always had SPLs ready to go....and MLRS was primarily counterbattery or ATACMS deep strike.

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walker0416 RE:Arty response times 11/24/2003 1:10:10 PM

Depending on the threat and/or priority of that particular unit (Main effort, ETC)it is very unlikely that they will get MLRS fires at all. MLRS is a corps asset controlled by divarty. It would take at least 5 minutes to get approval up the chain to respond with fires. More than likely the troops will get 155mm cannon fire if they can't get their mortars first.

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walker0416 RE:Arty response times 11/24/2003 1:13:37 PM

Actually, I believe that clearance of fires slows MLRS down more than anything. As for 15 secs TOF- that depends of range.

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IsoT RE:Arty response times 2/13/2004 4:33:11 AM

Hmm, For integrated firecontroll system.meaning all goes automatically from FO to Guns it takes 1min to lay gun, and in neigbourhood from 30sek-1.5 minutes to package to reach target. On manual it takes time to calculate the solutuin and to give it to guns. When I was in arty the counting bit had to be done in under two minutes. and then you started to give the solutiiin to guns. It took another minute for laying and the it was under way. So anything from 30 seconds to 5 minutes... depending on loads of factors..

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rocketpower MLRS 4/11/2004 9:42:37 PM

FalloutBoy MLRS have very fast burning propellant they reach max speed within few seconds of launch. TOF (time of flight) is 15 to 60 seconds depending on range and trajectory. Two things slow down MLRS fire. 1) MLRS are fires are given high value because of their ability to do devestating damage in seconds. So most of time MLRS fires must be cleared with divarty. MLRS is used mainly for counterfire, high value targets, and planned supression fires. 2) MLRS are valuble and vulnerable at firing point so SOP is to keep launcher in hide area until it recieves a fire mission. This adds 2 to 5 minutes for crew to bring launcher to hot status and move to FP and lay launcher. Once launcher is in position with valid fire mission the launcher aims in less than 18 seconds and flight time is very quick.

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rocketpower faster MLRS 4/11/2004 9:50:11 PM

There are couple of methods for speeding MLRS up. 1) SHSF (stay hot shoot fast). When launcher gets a SHSF mission it stays at firing point ready to fire. This makes the launcher vulnerable to attack by air or special forces units. Since launcher is hot and at FP it can fire mission very rapidly. Then newer M270A1 can lay on target in as little as 10 seconds after it is armed. 2) Direct sensor to shooter link. In counterfire units the C3 computer can be setup to designate the a sensor as having a direct link to launcher. So a counterfire radar could send fire mission and it would pass without human intervention to a launcher (most likely in SHSF status). Both of these methods rquire good training, and SOP to work. Both methods increase risk of fracticide and are never (to my knowledge) used in a danger close situation.

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