05-10-2012, 03:56 PM
I think a unit needs to have the flexibility to Tailor the Force for the operational environment. For example, the Afghan AOR might justify a 50/50 mix of 5.56 and High Performance Intermediate Caliber carbines, but an urban environment would not, nor would a densely-wooded environment.
Additionally, riflemen would need to receive more training in engaging targets at distance, since every infantryman's weapon is equipped with an optical sighting system nowadays. Some of the new 1-6x Variables would make a great optic for a Grendel carbine that would be used from CQB out to 600m, but the Joes would need training on making hits at 600m.
I really think a new shorter 60mm martar/smart warhead system needs to be open to being used as a Platoon-level asset, since a Platoon in-contact could immediately bring that level of firepower to the front, without having to wait for the chain of custody radio gaggle that happens from the Platoon>>to the>>Company to the>>mortar section. The lightweight mortar would be a Weapon's Squad Asset, along with AT weapons like the Javelin, so they would be in the rear of a Platoon order of movement formation.
The major change in this TO&E concept is that the 7.62 NATO GPMG gun teams are gone, with the introduction of a Grendel LMG to replace the SAW's in every Fire Team. It would also require Teams to understand the importance of using the LMG as a crew-served weapon, where another experienced soldier spots for the LMG for distance engagement, but the constant recoil mechanism will allow the LMG gunner to do most of that himself.
If a Platoon Leader had that asset in his quiver, and could literally delegate indirect fires to his lead squad in-contact, with the mortar on Platoon-internal freq, there would be some serious suppression of enemy, allowing the lead squad to lay down a well-aimed base of fire, while the next squad actually maneuvers on the enemy, rather than engaging in a stand-off, which typically allows the enemy to either break contact, or hunker down as is the case currently.
For the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan, where Muj/Taliban prefer to engage from far distances, this Platoon smart warhead mortar system would turn the tables quickly, as no shoulder-fired weapons can effectively engage enemy at 1.5-2km.
With the Land Warrior/Future Force/Objective Warrior concept, the lead element could laze the enemy, which would automatically send a polar plot to the mortar section's warhead management system, and they could literally drop a round immediately, with a GPS grid guiding the fins of the projectile to target.
In forested terrain, they could fire through a clearing, and drop a round through tree cover on the target with such a system, since the GPS coordinate would be 3 axes-based.
Introducing this type of small unit mortar system combined with a Grendel LMG with a slow cyclic rate and constant-recoil operating system would make much of the caliber debate go away, because units would just go to the mortar more often than not, and lay waste to any contact. The maneuver elements would arrive to clean up the mess really.
Additionally, riflemen would need to receive more training in engaging targets at distance, since every infantryman's weapon is equipped with an optical sighting system nowadays. Some of the new 1-6x Variables would make a great optic for a Grendel carbine that would be used from CQB out to 600m, but the Joes would need training on making hits at 600m.
I really think a new shorter 60mm martar/smart warhead system needs to be open to being used as a Platoon-level asset, since a Platoon in-contact could immediately bring that level of firepower to the front, without having to wait for the chain of custody radio gaggle that happens from the Platoon>>to the>>Company to the>>mortar section. The lightweight mortar would be a Weapon's Squad Asset, along with AT weapons like the Javelin, so they would be in the rear of a Platoon order of movement formation.
The major change in this TO&E concept is that the 7.62 NATO GPMG gun teams are gone, with the introduction of a Grendel LMG to replace the SAW's in every Fire Team. It would also require Teams to understand the importance of using the LMG as a crew-served weapon, where another experienced soldier spots for the LMG for distance engagement, but the constant recoil mechanism will allow the LMG gunner to do most of that himself.
If a Platoon Leader had that asset in his quiver, and could literally delegate indirect fires to his lead squad in-contact, with the mortar on Platoon-internal freq, there would be some serious suppression of enemy, allowing the lead squad to lay down a well-aimed base of fire, while the next squad actually maneuvers on the enemy, rather than engaging in a stand-off, which typically allows the enemy to either break contact, or hunker down as is the case currently.
For the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan, where Muj/Taliban prefer to engage from far distances, this Platoon smart warhead mortar system would turn the tables quickly, as no shoulder-fired weapons can effectively engage enemy at 1.5-2km.
With the Land Warrior/Future Force/Objective Warrior concept, the lead element could laze the enemy, which would automatically send a polar plot to the mortar section's warhead management system, and they could literally drop a round immediately, with a GPS grid guiding the fins of the projectile to target.
In forested terrain, they could fire through a clearing, and drop a round through tree cover on the target with such a system, since the GPS coordinate would be 3 axes-based.
Introducing this type of small unit mortar system combined with a Grendel LMG with a slow cyclic rate and constant-recoil operating system would make much of the caliber debate go away, because units would just go to the mortar more often than not, and lay waste to any contact. The maneuver elements would arrive to clean up the mess really.