Royal Artillery/Royal Horse Artillery future developments

[RunningStrong]

If the Army have a braincell they'll purchase 2 Decoy systems for every Real one...

Counter-intelligence batteries have been discussed recently by a few people with experience.

[new guy]

If the Army have a braincell they'll purchase 2 Decoy systems for every Real one...

Counter-intelligence batteries have been discussed recently by a few people with experience.

It should be a question everyone is asking.

If the RAF aren't contacting the people who made the F-35 replicas for the deck handling school at RNAS Culdrose and ordering 20 for RAF Marham, for peanuts, they're daft....

[Chris Werb]

Probably old news to everyone here, but an FOI request I recently put in revealed that both BONUS and the SGR77 HE shell entered British Army service with Archer. Another request revealed that MLRS AT-2 and all other AT mines (including off-route) had been retired and that RAAMS was not used by the British Army. A request about Excalibur, M454 Super HE and PGK revealed that they had no information on these systems within the MoD, nor of any intention to adopt them.

[RunningStrong]

1RHA on Facebook stating that E Battery has retrained onto L118 and that AJAX conversion begins later in the year.

Interesting times!

[Chris Werb]

1RHA on Facebook stating that E Battery has retrained onto L118 and that AJAX conversion begins later in the year.

Interesting times!

When they say conversion to AJAX, are they giving up the towed 105mm or operating the AJAX alongside it? Any idea how that works, doctrinally? It seems like an odd combination to have wheeled guns in a battery equipped with tracked AFVs. I can, however, remember 40 Field Regiment having some Alvis Sultan(?) when they were equipped with FH70 at Colchester, but that might just have been for trials.

[RunningStrong]

1RHA on Facebook stating that E Battery has retrained onto L118 and that AJAX conversion begins later in the year.

Interesting times!

When they say conversion to AJAX, are they giving up the towed 105mm or operating the AJAX alongside it? Any idea how that works, doctrinally? It seems like an odd combination to have wheeled guns in a battery equipped with tracked AFVs. I can, however, remember 40 Field Regiment having some Alvis Sultan(?) when they were equipped with FH70 at Colchester, but that might just have been for trials.

I think the AJAX conversion was a 1RHA regimental change, not a E battery change. Sorry if I confused. I assume. AJAX will be utilised by the FST team/troop within the SPG batteries.

[Chris Werb]

You worded it the same as on their Facebook, so any confusion isn't your fault. Thank you for the clarification.

[sol]

Archer is process of clearing for transport via C-17



According to Gabriel, apparently original Archer does not fit into A400, but he don't know if version mounted on MAN maybe can do it.

[RunningStrong]

Archer is process of clearing for transport via C-17



According to Gabriel, apparently original Archer does not fit into A400, but he don't know if version mounted on MAN maybe can do it.

Wikipedia page on Archer would suggest HX2 version is heavier and I imagine the Centre of Gravity also comes into play near the limit, especially as there's little space to adjust when loaded due to length.

[Ron5]

Thought it had wheels so it could self deploy

[Jackstar]

British Gunners take aim and fire Swedish Archer for the first time.

https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events ... Innovation

[Jackstar]

The harsh winter of Swedish Lapland is the ideal location for:

3 Ranger to conduct Arctic training
Royal School of Artillery training on Archer
Ajax testing in wintry conditions

[leonard]

For the Archer system the British Army has joined the club of the Bonus Mk 2 155 mm shell users.
https://x.com/ForcesOperation/status/17 ... 09365?s=20

[RunningStrong]

Tracks versus Wheels fundamentally is a strategic mobility decision....

[RunningStrong]

[SD67]

Merthyr Tydfil is the UK's home for armoured vehicles???

Gimme a break.

[sol]

Driver training on Archer

[SD67]

Merthyr Tydfil is the UK's home for armoured vehicles???

Gimme a break.

Was thinking the same...

[sol]

Seems like UK, together with Germany, might go with Boxer RCH 155 as a MFP solution

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin today [Wednesday] to deepen our defence and security cooperation.

As an initial step, the UK and Germany will announce plans for a joint endeavour to develop Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155), which will be fitted to Boxer vehicles.

The joint programme is expected to create hundreds of British and German jobs, while equipping our armed forces with battle-winning capabilities for future ground warfare.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-u ... artnership

[wargame_insomniac]

Seems like UK, together with Germany, might go with Boxer RCH 155 as a MFP solution

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin today [Wednesday] to deepen our defence and security cooperation.

As an initial step, the UK and Germany will announce plans for a joint endeavour to develop Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155), which will be fitted to Boxer vehicles.

The joint programme is expected to create hundreds of British and German jobs, while equipping our armed forces with battle-winning capabilities for future ground warfare.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-u ... artnership

Seems pretty nailed on now. BAE wins either way. Have to say I think Archer might be a better system, but BAE's industrial offer on it was fairly derisory in comparison to RCH155.

Personally I'd be looking more at the MAN based version than Boxer and even the original DONAR programme on an Ajax chassis over a Boxer one...pity we can't get all 3...(mind you I'd also have moved M270 over to an Ajax chassis or a truck solution to try and achieve some commonality rather than operating a Bradley chassis version).

[jedibeeftrix]

Full confirmation...RCH155 it is.

[Mr Carrot]

Would I be incorrect in presuming the RCH turrets can be moved between boxer platforms?

Could we shift these specific turrets over to tracked boxer in future (presumably just with firmware updates)?

That solves the wheeled and tracked issue overnight....

[Timmymagic]

Would I be incorrect in presuming the RCH turrets can be moved between boxer platforms?

Could we shift these specific turrets over to tracked boxer in future (presumably just with firmware updates)?

That solves the wheeled and tracked issue overnight....

To be honest I'm not sure how 'modular' the RCH155 installation on Boxer is.

[Poiuytrewq]

Have to say I think Archer might be a better system, but BAE's industrial offer on it was fairly derisory in comparison to RCH155.

What’s the cost difference?

Is this another gold plated solution?

Boxer hull plus RCH155 module looks like it could have a very high unit price.

[BB85]

There is more to it than just the unit price. If we consolidate the fleet around boxer we are benefitting from reduced logistics, training, servicing costs, there will also be more UK content from an industrial perspective.
K9 and Archer would have been foreign orders with UK assembly, requiring bespoke parts for servicing and maintenance.