For the first time in combat, the Marine Corps fired a round in anger through the 120mm mortar system dubbed the Expeditionary Fire Support System, or EFSS.
In support of the International Security Assistance Force, Marines with F Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 2, fired the new 120mm mortar system from Combat Outpost Ouellette, Helmand province, Afghanistan.
The first rounds fired from EFSS in support of combat operations was a M1105 illumination projectile, used to light an area occupied by snipers attached to Company I, BLT 3/8. Illumination denies any enemy concealment in darkness and deters nighttime emplacement of improvised explosive devices.
I’ve been covering the Marine Corps long enough to remember the genesis of this program back in 2001 when the Corps’ 15th MEU established the first FOB in Afghanistan at Camp Rhino. At the time, and for a long time after that, Marine planner complained that they had no substantial expeditionary heavy artillery. Thus the EFSS was born — a compromise between a 155mm Howitzer and a 60mm mortar.
But then the poobahs took control and tied the future of the EFSS with the then-troubled MV-22, requiring that the mortar system be part of this whole trailer doohicky that attached to little jeep like thing that could all fit in the belly of an MV-22. So the delays began.
Nearly a decade later, the Corps finally has its 120 mortar in Afghanistan — three years before we’re supposed to be out of there. Meanwhile the Army has had a 120 as their primary combat outpost artillery support weapon for years. They’ve had the simple, lightweight M120 since 1991.
Well, better late than never, huh?
Happy President’s Day weekend folks!
{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
Speaking as a former Marine, I read with sadness and some disgust your comments about how this system was so long delayed. There was a time when the Marine Corps was synonymous with defense value for our country. What has happened to the Marines? It now seems every time I read about some weapons system being over budget and behind schedule it is some program for the Marines. The V-22 Osprey, the EFV, the F-35B and now it seems the Marines can't even get a "small" project completed without making a mess out of it.
Dude, don't just read the Marine stuff. The Air Force is making some of the most expensive blunders in the DOD: CSAR-X, Tanker-X, Presidential-X, Bomber-X, F-35 management, etc. And how about those ABU's, huh?
What's up with the article title? "Their Their"? Come on, "Kit Up," get it together.
My bad…I’d like to chalk it up to a software glitch but that would be a copout. Thanks for the catch…
I saw this system of the military channel. Based upon that presentation, this thing weighs about 3000 pounds, not counting the prime mover. It is also very complicated, and automated. I always thought mortars were relatively, lightweight, simple, but effective weapons. This monster is neither simple or lightweight. For that much wight and complexity, the Marines could have a 105 howitzer. What ever happened to KISS?
Absolutely right.
You are mistaking the Dargon Fire EFSS, with what they actually got around to fielding. This mortar is basically a French Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1 (MO-120-RT-61) and weighs in around 1300lbs
French!?!?! sigh
<insert lame overused French joke that strokes our egos here>
Never fired, once dropped?
Seriously, bailed them out in two world wars and DeGaulle kicks NATO out in thanks, feared terrorists so wouldn't let us fly over their country when we bombed Libya (so we had to fly by way of Gibralter) and they got bombed by terrorists a few weeks later anyway, had to fight French weapons in Desert Storm and the follow ons (that might have been a plus, actually), didn't want to be part of the coalition in the fight on terrorism but whined when they didn't a piece of the pie when it came to rebuilding contracts.
French!?!?! sigh
The Army already has a proven 120mm, been using it for years. Oh, I forgot, our military branchs can justify their budgets by constantly reinventing the wheel.
Speaking as a former 11C. Strange how long it took. Should have used our 120. Cheaper and proven. JMHO.
"Shot over"
This is actually a proven system, and has been used by a number of countries, including many of the US's allies.
Gotta love how we no longer make our own weapon systems (E.g. small arms etc)
That's what happens when the bean counters and the drug store commandos get together. Finally, some one with a little sanity stepped in. This gun is way over due for the grunts, who have needed this a long time ago.
pure ignorance is what you speak, devil pup. All branches serve their purpose and are excellent at the jobs they perform.
Don't blame the Corp blame the politicians. All the chiefs need a week of lets get it together in seclusion away from the media and thier political crony bosses somehow I believe we need to have oe get a way to bypass some of the bickering, back room dealing and get whats needed to the front to keep our valuable troops alive and the enemy grave yard dead and to hell with everything else from an old hc7seadevil.
You're certainly representing your favorite branch in a dignified and mature way.
Devil pup…..its guys like you that give the Corps a bad rep.
I agree. I’m glad his recruiter got him so amped up, but he sounds like the type of ***** that would show up to the yellow footprints with an EGA tattoo already emblazoned upon his chest.
Did the marines opt for the smooth bore or rifled variant?
Its (french towed mortar) a combat proven system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTp_ppJN4j0
Grow up, don't denigrate others until you have been there and have done that. To learn from here you must open eyes, ears and keep mouth shut; unless you seek clarification of what is said.
If it wasn't for the ARMY you'd be British son!
You said a compromise between a 105mm and a 60mm. What happened to the 81 mm? As a former Mortar Section Ldr that was our compromise. If our 60's were a little to lite, we ask for the heavy 81's for some xtra distance. Hell there were even sometimes we carried a single 81 out into the field with our 60's for xtra insurance just in case we didn't want to wait. We not showing the 81 some love anymore? Was a good gun..
"… a compromise between a 155mm Howitzer and a 60mm mortar."
120mm mortars are 105 howitzer replacements. The M777s + HIMARS are light and mobile enough that 105s aren't needed.
Devil Pup Poolee- sounds like you have pre-enlisted and are waiting for Paris Island. We can chalk off your remark to youthful enthusiasm, IF you recieve the Anchor, Globe and Eagle you will be joining one of the mightiest fighting units the world has ever seen, the US Armed Forces. Semper Fi and best of luck to you.
In the meantime, KEEP IT ZIPPED!
For the record, it's Parris Island, with two Rs and not one like the capital of France. And it's Eagle, globe, and anchor.
It's "EAGLE, GLOBE, and ANCHOR" meatball! OOOOHHH RAHHH!!!
All I gotta say is: Who turned Iraq? and Who turned RC South Afghanistan? HOOOOORAH.
Small wars is what we're about, No better friend, No worst enemy. And I'm not going to Parris Island, I'm going to San Diego!!! HOOOOORAH. California is where Marines are perfecting their desert and mountain warfare killing skills.
All the branches played a role, simple as that.
You're not going to San Diego bc that's where desert and mountain warfare skills are perfected, you're going there bc you're west of the Mississippi River! Desert and mountain warfare skills are honed in combat, so until you pop your little cherry watch what you say, young pup.
I'm happy you're moto but it's time for you to learn (obviously you're great at being indoctrinated) to burst your bubble the Air Force is there dropping bombs well before we ground pounders are taking lives…and another fact the ARMY had SF team's in full control of the country well before the USMC had the RC South (101st ABN from the Army currently has main effort), and those SF Teams are calling in the air strikes w/ USAF JTAC's or by themselves…not ANGLICO. Also, unfortunately, MARSOC has been kicked to the side or out completely twice already. The Green Berets are small wars…USMC is big smash.
I love your enthusiasm, have fun in the Recruit Depot…Eyes and Ears open – mouth shut, young pup!
pretty sure Petraeus turned Iraq around, pup. And not with violence either, he earned the hearts and minds of a great majority of the population with good deeds.
and stop talking like you're a Marine, until you actually get in you're still a wannabe, which makes all of your opinionated bullshit invalid.
3 years served, discharged on medical as a broke dick that trashed his knees for life. I earned my Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. I served proudly till I was told to go home, even volunteered to fly a desk just to stay. Don't talk about my beloved corps like you know it you little bag of crushed asshole. Lock it up, respect th Marines that served by raising your little dick skinner to volunteer to try to become part of my marine corps. Save that enthusiasm for your first month in hell. Maybe, just maybe you'll realize just how nasty you are, straighten your act up, and I won't have to talk to you like a fucked up poolee/recruit that doesn't rate. Maybe I will call you Marine, and maybe I'll call you brother. Till then learn our values, learn our lifestyle, and pour out your soul fighting through the pain with all the blood sweat and tears you can muster. Write suzy rotten crotch a letter back home to keep you going and never quit.
Semper Fi, devil pup poolee.
Get that EGA and stay away from sh*tbirds.
I'd say that was record time for development of a new system. The recently cancelled AAAV/EFV was in continuous development from 1989 until last month. It took so long that the Marines wore out the "Amphibious" part of the name Advance Amphibious Assault Vehicle and had to order a name change to Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. Brilliant move, by the way, to tie development of a piece of cargo to the aircraft it might ride in. That's like delaying a new service rifle until we get the Advanced Expeditionary Leather Personnel Carrier (aka "combat boot") sorted out. God Bless the Marines, but they ought to relieve their whole acquisition establishment and send them to work at Bass Pro Shop for a couple of months.
So why couldn't they adapt the M120 mortar to this role?
I agree, it would have been a lot easier to just inherit the Army's 120mm Mortar. Sure, it's heavy…but it works.
I remember when I was with 1st Bn, 10th Marines from '79-'81… we were a (towed) direct support arty bn – three 105 batteries and a 155 btry. When getting ready for a NATO deployment, we established a provisional 4.2" mortar ("Whiskey") battery (really a platoon – I don't think they had 6 tubes) that was drawn from the whole bn. The mortars showed up looking like they'd been in storage since Korea. The Marines who were assigned had a lot of fun learning and doing something new – and for our timeframe – unique. As I recall, they did well operationally, too.
I was with 5thBn. 10Marines H.Q.Batt.77 thru 80 and was 2144 and we still had good guns we had 55's 75's and 8 inch what happened to those we had 90% online that was better than Army in those days 10% deadline ruled 120mm illum.round cant hold a candle so to speak to a 175 fired out there a few miles up to 30 And 8 inch HE's were impressive as were beehives. I miss my Marine Corps RV and multi fueled v-12 M-88 fully fitted with coleman stove and swamp cooler and for those chilly nights I threw my cot over the fan towers(radiators) and they put off heat all night if not we fired her up for an hour or two…I was just a diesel tech but I pulled the lanyard twice on an 8 inch and busted myshins with the gunnes seat both times 5bag charges 200lb HE's thats 35lbs of propellant pretty violent……But Fun ….Semper Fi Brothers
Was in 1st Bn 10Marines 1957 105 has good range.
Question – Is this to be assigned to the regiment to compliment the 60's at company and the 81's at battalion?
I worked on the EFV from 2005-2006 as the one of the Comm guys testing the communications system. I can tell you, it truly is a shame it was canceled, because it was truly an impressive piece of machinery. Going 33 knots in a 80,000 aluminum box is scary cool. Unfortunately, some "intelligent individuals" spent too much on wrong parts and tried for years to make a square peg fit in a round hole. R.I.P. AAAV.
Sgt of Marines 2007
Hi Jeff. Can you spare any more details on what wrong over the years? In it's final form the EFV certainly seemed impressive but hadn't that program started sometime in the 1980s?
One of my bigger concerns was how much fuel the EFV would use. I imagine it's fuel consumption would be comparable to a main battle tank with that engine.
i say bring back the 106 mm anti tank gun it can handel any thing !!!!!!!!!!
In Vietnam we had 155 howitzers, towed and self-propelled, 155 guns with 50ft. lanyards (yep, you read that right), 105 howitzers, 4.2" mortars and howtars (you read that right, too), and the 8" howitzer.
Am I forgetting something?
What happened to all that diversity of firepower?
In Vietnam, however, most of our equipment was broke down and held together with chewing gum and bailing wire.
Still, the Marine Corps did more with less and in that regard, nothing seems to have changed.
Hell, reactivate the "ONTOS"!
Marines,
If you are near DC on April 6th, join the DC chapter of the National Marine Corps Business Network at the Army/Navy Club for lunch with guest speaker Lt. Gen. (Ret) Jack Klimp. You won't want to miss this one! http://dcmarines.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/nmcbn-q…
EFSS is not automated. It's a rifled 120mm mortar on wheels with a baseplate. Not a bad system, good range.
my math was bad 5 -5lbs bags is 25 lbs of powder before somebody jumps me for being an imposter
Jim/Sgt USMC Retired
Hahahahah. You retired a Sgt? or you did 6 yrs and got out, you mean this don't you?
The article jumped from the 60mm to the 120mm. As an old retire former grunt her there is the 80mm morter that we used in Vietmam and over the years. Didn’t see it mentioned.
Probably because we used a 60mm or an 81 mm mortar. NVA used 61 and 82 mm mortars so they could use our ammo but we couldn't use theirs. I was an 0311 assigned to 60 mortars when I arrived in Dec 67. Carried 10 rounds on patrols. Was sure glad to get back to bein' an 0311.
As mentioned, where is the "81"? I was an 0341 in Viet Nam .. we humped those around and provided lots of support for the "grunts", and they appreciated it! and the "Four-Duce" where's that? That new wheeled unit looks to cumbersome, but what does an old (0341) mortorman know.
Retired Marine, Gunney "Z"
Gents, this is not true. We have had 120mm Mortars in use in Afghanistan since 2/7 was there in 07 and 08. The systems were being used by the unit because they had no Marine artillery to support them so their mortar men stepped up to the 120mm. This is a fact. It may be just like the article topic reads it is the first time it was fired after being deployed out of and Osprey.
We still have the 60 and 80 we are good gents. I think the writer was putting the unit on the map and did a great job but these guys are not the pioneers they are being made out to be. The land that they work now has seen the 120mm and marines before. 2/7 had to claim it and worked those 120mm along with 60mm, 80mm close air and etc.
The Demoncrats, headed by the Fuher Obumble, would delay every weapon, if possible, so they can grab the money and send it to lazy no account illegals and lazy welfare people. They could care less about our military and it's needs. Actually, they only care about their own future and giving things to undeserving lazy asses, like themselves.
As an 0811 from the 1960s I applaud this weapon. Long needed.
@Marine1967
Actually it's the Tea Baggers who want to cut DoD, DoS and CIA funding, not Obama. Betta' check yo'self befo' you wreck yo'self, Marine!
No true Devil Pup,
Only Democrats cut Military Budgets and decrease security on our Southern Boarder. Why you ask? Because poor, uneducated, ignorant people who stand no chance of supporting themselves and require a Government to do it for them vote Democrat – they are willing to see out America for their job security.