Expeditionary Fire Support System EFSS

1
United States Marine Corps
Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS)
Maj Douglas Dudgeon Patrick Freemyers Fire
Support Systems 28 Oct 2009
2
PM Fire Support Systems Mission Statement

• Program Manager (PM), Fire Support Systems (FSS)
  provides system design, development, testing,
  production, fielding and life-cycle support to
  assigned systems. Currently assigned systems are
  
• Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS)
• High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
• Targeting
• Laser Designators (PLDR)
• Laser Range Finders (CLRF Vector 21)
• Survey/MET
• Ground Counter Fire System

3
Marine Corps Fire SupportThe Triad
HIMARS
M777
We have atrophied our Marine ground fires
inventory to a dangerous point.So I am fixing
the artillery-bringing robustness back to Marine
artillery. Now, the final system of the
land-based fire support triadwill be the
very lightweight expeditionary fire support
system EFSS. Gen James L. Jones,
Commandant Marine Corps Gazette, December 2000
4
What is EFSS?

• EFSSs mission is to serve as the direct support
  weapon system for the vertical assault element of
  the Ship to Objective Maneuver force.
• A critical element of the Marine Corps ground
  fires triad, EFSS will provide increased speed,
  tactical agility, and vertical transportability
  to ranges that mirror that of a vertical force,
  with minimal tradeoffs in lethality.
• EFSS will be manned by and supported by the
  Marine artillery regiment within the Marine
  division as part of the Marine Air-Ground Task
  Force (MAGTF)
• Fielded to batteries that will deploy with MEUs
• Batteries will be dual caliber (LW-155 and EFSS)
• Most likely deployment set 4 x LW, 4 x EFSS

5
.it is the conduct of combined-arms maneuver
through and across the water, air, and land of
the littoral battle space directly to inland
objectives. - STOM Concept of Operations
6
Transportability KPP
Transportability 110 nm lift internal to
the MV-22 and CH-53E Launcher, Prime Mover,
Portion of the Basic Load and Crew in a single
aircraft

• Cargo Space Weight Limitations
• - 60 high x 60 wide x 200 long
• 17 psi on cargo deck
• 2450lbs max per axle

• V22 is driving factor for EFSS/ ITV design. The
  challenge is to maximize both Transportability
  and Mobility.

7
EFSS Battery Set

• One EFSS (Gun Section)
• 120mm Rifled Towed Mortar (RTM)
• Ammunition Trailer
• Two - Prime Movers
• Five Marine Crew
• (Two MV-22 sorties)

• Battery Equipment
• 6 Gun Sections
• 5 Light Strike Variants
• 4 Marines per LSV

Total of 50 Marines for EFSS Fly-in Btry with
all 6 Mortars
8
Rifled Towed Mortar

• Rifled Ammo Range 1200 8000 m
• Smoothbore Range 500m 6700 m
• Emplacement 3 min
• Rate of fire 2 rpm sustained / 4 rpm max
  (Minimum Requirements w/ lanyard fire) 6-8 rounds
  per min possible with well trained crew.
• Ammo HE/ Illum/ WP/ Army Smoothbore

9
Ammunition Trailer

• 30 Round HE/ Illum in horizontal position
• 20 WP in vertical position.
• 30 Total canisters, 20 WP rounds, 10 canisters
  with 2 Tail Charges each.

10
Vehicles

• 2 ITV Variants Prime Movers and Light Strike
  Vehicles
• 2 Prime Mover Configurations

• Limitations
• Max off-road speeds
• 10-25 MPH semi-improved
• 5-10 MPH cross country
• No armor
• Limited storage capacity for supplies and
  personal gear

• Capabilities
• Same engine and components
• Run Flats
• Central Tire Inflation System
• Air Ride suspension w/ variable ride height
• JP-8 Fuel, 300 mi range

Ammunition Support Vehicle
RTM Prime Mover
11
Vehicles (cont)

• Battery Support Vehicles
• Command and Control, Fire Direction and
  Communications personnel and equipment
• 2 Vehicle Radio Mounts
• Ring mount for .50 cal/MK-19/M-240G Guns up lt 1
  min after exiting A/C
• Speed Hwy - 45 Off-road - 35 Cross Country -
  25

12
EFSS Fielding Plan

• EFSS will be manned by and supported by the
  Marine artillery regiment within the Marine
  division as part of the Marine Air-Ground Task
  Force (MAGTF)
• No additional force structure
• Fielded to batteries that will deploy with MEUs

C 1/10 26th MEU
B 1/10 24th MEU
13
Concept of Employment

• Supports the vertical assault element of the STOM
  force
• Short duration operations ashore in support of
  foot mobile infantry
• Scenarios
• Portion of the battery equipped with EFSS
  inserted from ship via V-22/CH53 to provide fires
  in in support of short-term operations ashore (up
  to 72 hours) then returns to ship with the
  supported force
• Portion of the battery equipped with EFSS
  inserted from ship via V-22/CH53 to provide fires
  in in support of vertical assault element. As
  force transitions to sustained operations, the
  remainder of battery, with the M777s, closes with
  the EFSS Marines and the battery transitions
  to all M777 operations. EFSS returned to
  amphibious shipping.
• Batteries are not currently manned or equipped to
  conduct simultaneous M777 and EFSS operations.  

14
EFSS Employment Considerations/ Training

• Expeditionary Mindset
• 72 hour mission profile
• Small vehicle no more taking the kitchen sink
• Similar Artillery Procedures
• Section chief verification / FDC
• Burning powder
• Laying (same as M198)
• Convoy ops/ Towed load safety
• New Considerations
• Advance Party / Local Security
• RSOP
• Who should man and lead the system in action?

15
EFSS Limitations / Employment Considerations

• Min Range 1200m with Rifled Ammo
• No direct fire capability
• Mission and positioning
• Duel Caliber Operations
• Battery TO supports sustained 24 hour operations
  for one system (EFSS or M777)
• Mission and duration of operations

16
Shipboard Considerations

• MTVR Bed
• 1 PM and Mortar/Trailer fits onto 7-ton bed
• 2 Trailers
• 2 Mortars
• (4) EFSS (1) 7ton w/M777
• (4) LSVs (1) MTVR
• (2) MTVR w/ M777 4 EFSS and 4 LSV

17
120mm RTM Ammunition
18
120mm RTM Ammunition

• Spin stabilized projectile provides improved
  accuracy and range
• A tail boom carrying the propellant is attached
  to the base of the projectile and detaches after
  firing.
• Improved IM signature
• Can be cleared for overhead fire
• US type classified suite includes HE, WP, Illum
  and Practice.

19
Standard 120mm Rifled Ammunition

• French 120mm Standard Ammunition Suite in
  production since 1972
• TNT loaded High Explosive (HE)
• Practice 0.5 kg of black
• Illumination 1.9 kg flare
• Obscurant/Incendiary (Smoke) 2.8 kg of White
  Phosphorous
• HE RAP
• IR Illumination (2007)
• All types of ammunition share the same Tail
  Charge Assembly

20
Initial US Qualification

• Key elements were identified and incorporated to
  ensure better insensitive munitions
  characteristics and to meet US Navy type
  qualification requirements
• Replace sensitive energetic materials with Navy
  approved IM equivalents
• Provide a venting path to release pressure within
  the projectiles and containers
• Equip with Navy approved IM fuzes
• Package containers with supporting materials that
  separates and falls away for the round with
  extreme heat and meet Navy shipboard
  environmental requirements

21
EFSS Ammunition Packaging

• Modifications/Integration into US packaging
• Integrate PA117 container
• Added venting paths for cook-off environments
• Design Constraint
• Integration into ammunition trailer
• Type classification testing
• PoP requirements

Blow-Out Panels
22
EFSS HE Ammunition Upgrade

• Modifications to HE Projectile
• Replace TNT fill with PBXN-114 (HMX based)
• Equip with an M767A1 fuze utilizing a PBXN-5
  booster
• Add a fuze venting liner between the projectile
  body and the fuze
• Design Constraint
• Maintain equivalent lethality
• Similar ballistics

23
EFSS Practice Ammunition Upgrade

• Modifications to Practice Projectile
• Equip with an M767A1 fuze utilizing a PBXN-5
  booster
• Add a fuze venting liner between the projectile
  body and the fuze
• Design Constraint
• Maintain spotting ability
• Same ballistic to EFSS HE

24
EFSS Smoke Ammunition Upgrade

• Modifications to Smoke Projectile
• Equip with an M767A1 fuze utilizing a PBXN-5
  booster
• Replace Comp B burster with PBXN-9
• Design Constraint
• Maintain obscurant ability
• Similar ballistics

25
Ammunition Current Status

• US Ammo Suite was type qualified in March 2008
• Army smoothbore ammunition is compatible with
  120mm RTM can be used to supplement quantities
• WSESRB Approved
• Safety release in place
• In-theater use of French ammunition is possible
• WSESRB Approved
• Safety release in place
• Production contracts/delivery orders are in place
• EBAD and US Government facility currently
  filling HE loaded projectiles for GD-OTS
• Transitioning purchasing and in-service
  management to PMAM

26
(No Transcript)
27
QUESTIONS?