Rick DeBay

Does anyone know what it costs to develop a new, dumb artillery round? I looked for costs for the M795 as that's recent (relatively) but the only thing I could find was the costs for extended range versions ($5M to $15M).

Rick DeBay

Can anyone point me to Army budget resources that might list this? Was the round developed under a different program name?

Gun Grape

Havn't checked these numbers but here you go.

Attached Images

M795_COMP.gif (7.5 KB, 56 views)

Rick DeBay

Thank you, are these publicly available?

BTW, my kids love your "avatar." Unfortunately, they won't give me peace because they want to see Ang. My answer is to take them "air-bending" when our neighbor launches rockets over the Glades farms every Spring :-)

Last question, most resources say that an artillery battery is eight guns. Does that mean a Marine Expeditionary Force Artillery Regiment is 96 guns (12 x 8)?

Thanks, Rick DeBay

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Gun Grape

Yes, it is public data, or I wouldn't have posted it. I would give you the link but I cannot remember where I got it.

As for 96 guns in a Regt, The one true answer is, "It depends".

Each MarDiv is configured differently. If you went by T/E then you are close to the number in 10th Mar.

However a MEF is mission configured. So stateside, the 2 MEF commander has 2d MarDiv, 2d FSSG and 2dMarAirWing under his command. However if called to war(and I'm assuming that you want to know what the MEF has in combat), He may detach elements from his command and add elements from other commands. An example, Due to mission requirements (mountain terrain, no road network) He may decide to leave Tank and AAV Bns behind. Now he is a MEF(-). Then he picks up 3d Mar Regt (grunts) and MAG 24(Helos) from Hawaii because he needs the helos for transportation and more grunts because of the terrain. So now 2d MEF has become 2 MEF(-)(Rein).

Have I confused you yet?

I'll be happy to clear up any questions so that you are "Totally" confused.

Rick DeBay

OK, let me pose this in multiple questions.

Does a US Marine artillery regiment NORMALLY have more ACTIVE elements than twelve batteries? MLRS? Trebuchet?
Is a US Marine battery eight guns?

I should have been more succinct, when I asked about public sources, I didn't mean classified. I didn't know if it was from Jane's or some other subscription site.

Here's another random question. I've been trying to figure out time-of-flight, but the annoying atmosphere is getting in the way. Do you know of a rule of thumb that will apply even for long range artillery? The only one I could find was one second for every 500 yards, and that doesn't work with what I could find for the Paris gun in WWI.

BTW, kudos for your service. One of my friends commands some mortars in the Florida National Guard. During happy hour when we used to biatch and moan about our jobs, he would always win. "So what happens then" (I would ask after he explains that a hang-fire may happen after a heavy fire-mission). "We have some gloves like oven mitts". Everyone around us would wonder why he looked so calm, and why my expression fell flat. And then I would once again politely refuse his offer to enlist :-)

Rick DeBay

Ignore my previous message, I missed the part where you said that the 96 was close to the correct number.

Also, feel free to expand on your posts, they're always interesting and informative. I'll do my best to not become confused :-)