Marines Buy Mobile Mortar

FacebookXPinterestEmailEmailEmailShare

Marine Corps EFSS
 

Turning to Marine Corps procurement, the Marines are requesting
$9 million next year to buy 62 120mm towed mortars along with the small jeep like
vehicle that hauls them around and accompanying ammo trailers. The total
package is called the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) and includes the
mortar, the hauler, ammo trailer, fire control equipment and an ammunition
supply vehicle.

Built by General Dynamics, the rifled mortar can send rounds
out to 8 kilometers, and more than 13 kilometers if they use the rocket
assisted round. The mortar package and vehicle is designed to be light enough
to fit inside the Marine's big lifters, the CH-53 helicopter and the MV-22
Osprey tilt rotor. Agility and lethality were key design parameters. The mortar
isn't new, in fact its in use by a number of NATO countries.

The Marines say the EFSS is a key piece of their
"distributed operations" puzzle. That's the new operating concept that calls
for small, highly mobile teams, usually company or smaller, to operate
independently over a large battlespace. The concept is still being fleshed out,
but recent exercises show promise.

For those who are familiar with the military's 1980s-90s
love affair with "maneuver warfare," think of distributed operations as the same
idea just with infantry as the basic unit of maneuver instead of tanks and
armored personnel carriers.

I'll have to do some asking around and see if the EFSS has
been sent over to Afghanistan
and if so find out how its performing. Any readers out there who might know
whether these mortars are being used in Helmand
province give me a shout.

Story Continues
Marine Corps Topics KitUp KitUp