US Army artillery vehicles M109A6 Paladin 155mm howitzers and M992A2 deployed in Romania 11004173

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Defense & Security News - United States
 
U.S. Army artillery vehicles M109A6 Paladin 155mm howitzers and M992A2 deployed in Romania.
Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment of U.S. army will train in Romania with mix of M109A6 Paladin 155mm Self Propelled Howitzers and M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles. The first artillery vehicles arrive by train with other other military vehicles like the Palletized Load System Vehicle and the Humvee.
     
Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment of U.S. army will train in Romania with mix of M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzers and M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles. The first artillery vehicles arrive by train with other other military vehicles like the Palletized Load System Vehicle and the Humvee.
U.S. soldiers from Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment connect jumper cables from an M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer to a M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle. (Source U.S. MoD)
     
These artillery vehicles are earmarked for the combined U.S. and Romanian forces as they train side by side during Operation Atlantic Resolve, a NATO mission between the U.S. and its European Allies and partners that promotes regional stability and deters aggression throughout Europe. This training will provide both countries with the unique experience of learning how to become a cohesive fighting force as they both share and operate many similar models of equipment.

The downloading of vehicles was hardly a new experience for the Soldiers and they were able to carry it out with relative speed and ease. Bruce spoke on the team's familiarity with the task and how that contributed to the day's success.

The transport of the vehicles also served as a unique learning opportunity for the battery. With the artillery being moved through different countries, delivery was no simple task. Capt. John Burke, battery commander of 3-29 FA explained further.

The artillery unit will soon begin combined training alongside U.S. and Romanian infantry. This mostly will be providing support for ground troops during live fire exercises. Burke spoke on how these exercises will aid in the teamwork between both countries.

The M109A6 Paladin is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer mounted on a tracked chassis manufacture by the Company BAE Systems. The M109A6 Paladin is armed with a 39-calibre 155mm M284 cannon, which is fitted with an M182A1 gun mount, and has a range of 24 km using unassisted rounds or 30 km using assisted rounds.
     
Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment of U.S. army will train in Romania with mix of M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzers and M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles. The first artillery vehicles arrive by train with other other military vehicles like the Palletized Load System Vehicle and the Humvee.
An M109A6 Paladin 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer, part of the artillery from Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment makes its long-awaited arrival to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base on April 7, 2017. (Source U.S. MoD)
     
The M992A2 is a Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle (FAASV) based on the chassis of the M109-series howitzer. The M992A2 is the loading vehicle for ammunition of M109A6 Paladin able to carry 5,454 kg ammunition payload.

The M992A2 is basically the chassis of a standard M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzer with the turret replaced by a fully enclosed superstructure. The ammunition can be loaded into the superstructure by a front-mounted crane and is fed from the vehicle along a conveyor to the recipient self-propelled howitzer; this crane was not fitted to US Army M992 vehicles but is offered for export. A total of 93 (90 conventional and 3 Copperhead) 155 mm projectiles, 99 propellant charges and 104 fuzes may be stored inside the vehicle.

In use, the M992A2 backs up to the user M109A6 and the conveyor delivers the 155 mm ammunition at the rate of up to 8 rds/min to the M109 bustle or lower hatches. The M992A2 can have a crew of two plus six passengers and the weight fully loaded is 25,900 kg. Intended primarily for use with M109A6 field units, the M992 variantt can also be used by units with 175, 203, 120 and 105mm self-propelled weapons. With 203 mm units the M992 can carry 48 203 mm projectiles, 53 charges and 56 fuzes.