Lockheed Martin/BAE M142 HIMARS

     Notes:  HIMARS (High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a light rocket launcher mounted on an M-1083 MTV 5-ton truck chassis.  The rocket launcher uses one module of the same rockets as the MLRS, on a lightweight launcher assembly.  The HIMARS, however, mounts only one pod of launchers instead of the two of the MLRS. The system was designed to be transported aboard C-130 aircraft, or sling loaded below heavy-lift helicopters.  In addition to US Army use (mostly in light, airborne, and air assault divisions), the US Marines have also adopted the HIMARS.  Singapore, UAR, Poland, and Romania use the HIMARS, and Canada, Qatar, and the Philippines are considering its use.  The British are also considering use of the HIMARS, though theirs are being tested using the chassis of the Supacat 600 truck. The US Army began fielding them in 1998, while the Marines began fielding them in 2007.  The Taliban in Afghanistan are known to have captured at least one HIMARS launcher and an unknown quantity of 227mm rockets, and have used them in one attack on US and British units in Kandahar in 2010.  The US has deployed a number of HIMARS launchers to provide fire support to US forces in Northern Syria and Iran.  The HIMARS are also known to be supporting PKK forces as well as the forces of Syrian Democratic Forces.

     The fire control computers, command and control system, and launcher module are all the same as on the MLRS, but the entire system is much lighter, with many of the components being of newer technology and miniaturized.

     Being an FMTV variant, the HIMARS uses a Caterpillar C7 330-horsepower engine turbocharged diesel engine with an automatic transmission. It also has power steering, with additional boosting on the front wheels. Suspension uses leaf springs, assisted by pneumatic shock absorbers and an anti-roll bar on the rear wheels. The cab and rocket pod have a modicum of armor, as well as metal shutters to close over the windshields when firing, to avoid damaging the windows. The cab has NBC Overpressure protection and an air conditioner with NBC filters, as well as a BMS including GPS navigation, self-surveying capability, and no need for an FDC. The crew does not need to leave the vehicle to launch its rockets, and with special reloading vehicles, the HIMARS crew and the reload crew do not need to leave their vehicles to reload the HIMARS.

     The HIMARS has also been tested on ships, mounting the launchers directly on the amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage. Tests have also been conducted with the entire HIMARS truck firing from the flight deck of amphibious assault ships. The HIMARS’s fire control software was modified to allow accurate fire from a rolling and moving ship. The HIMARS has also been tested as a SLAMRAAM platform (Surface-Launched AMRAAM), with the addition of a radar set and modification of the fire control system.  The SLAMRAAM HIMARS can also fire regular 227mm rocket pods. The HIMARS system may also fire a single ATACMS missile from a special pod instead of a normal MLRS pod.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon system was deployed to the 82^nd and 101^st Airborne Divisions in early 1997, as well as to some light infantry divisions and separate brigades; the Army gave the Marines 20 of these launchers and an ample number of rockets.  Note that the Marines did not have the ATACMS missile, though they did have the SLAMRAAM system.  Later in the war, with AIM-120 missiles in short supply, the SLAMRAAM system was modified to use SL-Sparrow missiles and SL-Sea Sparrow missiles. 

     Merc 2000 Notes: By 2012, deployment of the HIMARS began to exceed that of the MLRS.

Vought/Boeing M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System)

     Notes:  When this vehicle entered US Army service in 1983 after a lengthy development period; the initial request for such a vehicle was issued in 1974.; The M270 was the first multiple rocket launcher used by the US military since the late 1950s.  12 other countries around the world, mainly in NATO armies, also used it, with Israel being the first export order. In combat, the main users of the MLRS have been Israel, the US, The basic HE rocket was used with great success in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, along with DPICM,.but since then, a plethora of new and improved rockets have been devised, including the guided 227mm rockets recently devised.  One arms expert stated that a full ripple from an MLRS has the effectiveness of 33 155mm cannon artillery guns, and at a much longer range.

     The M270 (generally referred to by the troops as the “MLRS”)  is mounted on a lengthened Bradley chassis, and carries two pods with six 227mm rockets each.  The barrage of rockets was known in the US Army as a “Grid Square Weapon,” able to bombard an entire 1000x1000 meter 4-digit grid square found on NATO military maps with one ripple of rockets.  The MLRS is normally resupplied from modified MLRS chassis which uses a crane and stabilizing equipment to reload the MLRS without the crew of the launcher or the resupply vehicle having to leave their vehicles Sometimes, logistics carriers or special trailers towed by HEMTT trucks carry the reloads, and the reload crew must leave their vehicles to do the reloading.. 

     The M270 is capable of operating without the assistance of an FDC, needing only coordinates from a FIST team, and able to fire accurately within 30 seconds (6 phases) of a halt.  Its integrated GPS and mapping computer enables this.  This capability also allows the individual MLRSs in a battery may spread out over long distances and still bombard the same target.

     Being based on an M2 Bradley chassis, the M270 has a multifuel turbocharged engine developing 600 horsepower, with power automatic transmission and power brakes.  The engine can run off of diesel (used by most countries using the MLRS), or JP8 jet fuel (used primarily by the US).  An alcohol/diesel combination of up to 20% ethanol may be used without modification or hurting performance, but the use of pure alcohol requires considerable changing of engine parts.  The M270 and its specialist loader vehicle have 12kW APUs to allow the system to function to operate with the engines off; this APU runs off vehicular fuel and is protected by the MLRSs (modicum of) armor.  The cab houses the entire crew, and has shutters which can be closed over the windshields and windows to protect them during rocket launch.  The pods themselves are disposable, though the empty pods may be returned to rear areas for refurbishment and reloading.

     The ATACMS (Army TACtical Missile System) is a large, guided missile that has more range and precision than the MLRS.  This was introduced with the M270 IPDS upgrade, and was not applied to all MLRSs. The ATACMS can be fired from any properly-equipped MLRS vehicle, from a two-missile box.  The ATACMS is fired using Average: Heavy Artillery at a +4 modifier, or may be fired using Easy: Guided Weapon skill.  The ATACMS is used only by the US, Greece, South Korea, and Turkey.

     Other modifications and versions include the M270A1, which has an upgraded fire control system and an improved launcher able to elevate and depress a little more. In addition to allowing for longer and shorter-range shots, the reloading time was somewhat shortened.  The M270A1 modifications allowed for the firing of newer ammunition types. The M270A1 can also fire the then-new (in 2005) GMLRS GPS-guided missiles.

     The M270B1 is used by Britain; it has a bit more armor, especially in the cab and vehicle floor. It also upgrades their MLRSs to the M270A1 standard.

     The M270 MARS2/LRU uses a European designed (largely by Airbus) enhanced fire control system.  It is capable of firing the full range of MLRS rockets and missiles (except ATACMS).  It can also mount pods containing 110mm LARS rockets. Note that while the MARS2/LRV is capable of using DPICM, warheads, the Germans, Italians, and French have elected to abide by the new Convention on Cluster Munitions and do not employ DPICM warheads, though they have devised an enhanced HE/FRAG warhead. It otherwise has the M270B1 improvements.

     The M270D1 further improves the FCS and its ability to fire and guide GMLRS and ATACMS missiles, as well as fire the full range of MLRS rockets.  Current operators include the US, Britain, Bahrain, and Finland. These later M270s are also equipped with a BMS and vehicle state system.

*The “turret” in this case refers to the launcher and the erector mechanism; no crew members can come to harm as a result of hits on the launcher, and such results are considered misses.

**The cab is essentially in an armored capsule of sorts, with an AV of 3 from all angles.