The new howitzer is fitted with a 155mm tube capable of firing the same family of munitions as the M198, including the rocket-assisted projectiles. But firing munitions designed for a 16, 000-pound howitzer from one that weighs 9,320 pounds presented several challenges. Any excessive rearward movement of the howitzer caused by firing not only degrades accuracy but also can be dangerous for the crew. Moreover, the stress placed on the metal welds, howitzer trails, and spades can cause cracks in the carriage and trails. The solution was to use titanium, an extremely light but very strong metal.
Titanium is a high-tech strong metal, but it flexes.
The Marine Corps learned about titanium s flexibility in testing when crews tried to operate the howitzer s projectile cradle at a 10-degree cant. To counter the flex, metallurgists and engineers redesigned the cradle, giving it more weight and stronger welds. The result of all the designs, evaluations, and tests came to fruition this June, when prime contractor BAE Systems delivered the first of eight howitzers to the Corps for testing. The delivery capped more than a decade of studies and demonstrations and about three years of actual program development, McConnell said. Another seven test guns will be delivered this winter.