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Portee is comprised of a 155mm/39 calibre M777 towed
lightweight artillery system and a purpose-built portee 8x6 version of
the Supacat high mobility cross country vehicle. The gun is carried on
the rear of the vehicle. The Supacat's High Mobile Truck (HMT) family
is entering service with US and British forces in a two and three
axels configurations.
M777 is already in low rate initial production for the
US Marine Corps. With additional orders from the US Army and National
Guards the total US bound production of M777 is expected to top 600
guns.
In the traveling mode the M777 is carried in the rear part of the
chassis, while the ammunition is stowed at the front, between the
armored, NBC protected split cab. On reaching the combat area the
howitzer is quickly dismounted an onboard mechanical handling system,
allowing it to be towed rapidly into and out of action and up to 3
ammunition containers can be carried in its place allowing a total of
over 70 readily available rounds.
Equipped with a fully integrated digital fire control
system the M777 howitzer can be brought into action in less than one
minute, and moved to an alternative firing position in less than three
minutes. Portee was privately developed at BAE Systems in an
anticipation of future British Army requirements for up to 45
Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System – Gun (LIMAWS (Gun). In a
series of tests, Portee fired over 350 rounds demonstrating its
flexibility as a medium weight, highly mobile artillery system. The
main advantage of Portee is the fact that the unit can be split into
two loads slung under a transport helicopter. The complete M777 Portee
System weighs about 12.3 tons and can be carried inside a C-130
Hercules transport aircraft. The British Army evaluates other
alternatives, including Giat Industries CAESAR 155mm/52 calibre system
based on a 6x6 truck chassis, and the standard 155mm M777 lightweight
artillery system.
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