Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS)

United States Marine Corps

Maj Douglas Dudgeon

Patrick Freemyers

Fire Support Systems

28 Oct 2009

PM Fire Support Systems Mission Statement

Program Manager (PM), Fire Support Systems (FSS) provides system design, development, testing, production, fielding and life-cycle support to assigned systems. Currently assigned systems are:

Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS)

High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)

Targeting

Laser Designators (PLDR)

Laser Range Finders (CLRF – Vector 21)

Survey/MET

Ground Counter Fire System

Marine Corps Fire Support“The Triad”

M777 HIMARS

“We have atrophied our Marine ground fires inventory to a dangerouspoint….So I am fixing the artillery-bringing robustness back to Marine artillery.”

“Now, the final system of the land-based fire support triad…will be the verylightweight expeditionary fire support system [EFSS].”

Gen James L. Jones, CommandantMarine Corps Gazette, December 2000

What is EFSS?

• EFSS’s mission is to serve as the direct support weapon system for

the vertical assault element of the Ship to Objective Maneuver force.

• A critical element of the Marine Corps ground fires triad, EFSS will

provide increased speed, tactical agility, and vertical transportability

to ranges that mirror that of a vertical force, with minimal tradeoffs

in lethality.

• EFSS will be manned by and supported by the Marine artillery

regiment within the Marine division as part of the Marine Air-Ground

Task Force (MAGTF)

• Fielded to batteries that will deploy with MEUs

• Batteries will be dual caliber (LW-155 and EFSS)

• Most likely deployment set: 4 x LW, 4 x EFSS

Drawn by:LtCol Chris Wagner

Chris Wagner

LW155 18K

HIMARS 60K

EFSS 8K

(Rein)

110 NM +-

….it is the conduct of combined-arms maneuver through and across the water, air, and land of the littoral battle space directly to inland objectives. - STOM Concept of Operations

Transportability KPP

Cargo Space & Weight Limitations- 60” high x 60” wide x 200” long-17 psi on cargo deck-2450lbs max per axle

Transportability:

110 nm lift internal to the MV-22 and CH-53E; Launcher, Prime Mover, Portion of the Basic Load and Crew in a single aircraft

• V22 is driving factor for EFSS/ ITV design.

The challenge is to maximize both

Transportability and Mobility.

One EFSS (Gun Section)

• 120mm Rifled Towed Mortar (RTM)

• Ammunition Trailer

• Two - Prime Movers

• Five Marine Crew

(Two MV-22 sorties)

Battery Equipment

• 6 Gun Sections

• 5 Light Strike Variants

• 4 Marines per LSV

Total of 50 Marines for EFSS “Fly-in” Btry with all 6 Mortars

EFSS Battery Set

Rifled Towed Mortar• Rifled Ammo Range: 1200 – 8000 m

• Smoothbore Range : 500m – 6700 m

• Emplacement: 3 min

• Rate of fire: 2 rpm sustained / 4 rpm max (Minimum

Requirements w/ lanyard fire) 6-8 rounds per min possible with well trained crew.

• Ammo: HE/ Illum/ WP/ Army Smoothbore

Ammunition Trailer

• 30 Round HE/ Illum in horizontal position

• 20 WP in vertical position. 30 Total canisters, 20 WP rounds, 10 canisters with 2 Tail Charges each.

Vehicles• 2 ITV Variants – Prime Movers and Light Strike Vehicles

• 2 Prime Mover ConfigurationsCapabilities

•Same engine and components

•Run Flats

•Central Tire Inflation System

•Air Ride suspension w/ variable ride height

•JP-8 Fuel, 300 mi range

“Limitations”

• Max off-road speeds

• 10-25 MPH semi-improved

• 5-10 MPH cross country

• No armor

• Limited storage capacity for supplies and personal gear

Ammunition Support VehicleRTM Prime Mover

Vehicles (cont)• Battery Support Vehicles

• Command and Control, Fire Direction and Communications personnel and equipment

• 2 Vehicle Radio Mounts

• Ring mount for .50 cal/MK-19/M-240G; Guns up < 1 min after exiting A/C

• Speed: Hwy - 45; Off-road - 35; Cross Country - 25

EFSS Fielding Plan

• EFSS will be manned by and supported by the Marine artillery

regiment within the Marine division as part of the Marine Air-Ground

Task Force (MAGTF)

• No additional force structure

• Fielded to batteries that will deploy with MEUs

B 1/10 24th MEU

C 1/10 26th MEU

Concept of Employment• Supports the vertical assault element of the STOM force

• Short duration operations ashore in support of foot mobile infantry

• Scenarios– Portion of the battery equipped with EFSS inserted from ship via

V-22/CH53 to provide fires in in support of short-term operations ashore (up to 72 hours) then returns to ship with the supported force

– Portion of the battery equipped with EFSS inserted from ship via V-22/CH53 to provide fires in in support of vertical assault element. As force transitions to sustained operations, the remainder of battery, with the M777s, closes with the EFSS Marines and the battery transitions to all M777 operations. EFSS returned to amphibious shipping.

• Batteries are not currently manned or equipped to conduct simultaneous M777 and EFSS operations.  

EFSS Employment Considerations/ Training

• Expeditionary Mindset– 72 hour mission profile

– Small vehicle… no more taking the “kitchen sink”

• Similar Artillery Procedures– Section chief verification / FDC

– Burning powder

– Laying (same as M198)

– Convoy ops/ Towed load safety

• New Considerations:– Advance Party / Local Security

– RSOP

– Who should man and lead the system in action?

EFSS Limitations / Employment Considerations

• Min Range – 1200m with Rifled Ammo– No direct fire capability Mission and positioning

• Duel Caliber Operations– Battery TO supports sustained 24 hour

operations for one system (EFSS or M777) Mission and duration of operations

Shipboard Considerations

• MTVR Bed

– 1 PM and Mortar/Trailer fits onto 7-ton bed

– 2 Trailers

– 2 Mortars

• (4) EFSS ~ (1) 7ton w/M777

• (4) LSVs ~ (1) MTVR

(2) MTVR w/ M777 ~ 4 EFSS and 4 LSV

120mm RTM Ammunition

• Spin stabilized projectile provides improved accuracy and range

• A tail boom carrying the propellant is attached to the base of the projectile and detaches after firing.

• Improved IM signature

• Can be cleared for overhead fire

• US type classified suite includes HE, WP, Illum and Practice.

120mm RTM Ammunition

Standard 120mm Rifled Ammunition

French 120mm Standard Ammunition Suite in production since 1972

• TNT loaded High Explosive (HE)• Practice – 0.5 kg of black• Illumination – 1.9 kg flare• Obscurant/Incendiary (Smoke) –

2.8 kg of White Phosphorous• HE RAP• IR Illumination (2007)All types of ammunition share the

same Tail Charge Assembly

Initial US Qualification

Key elements were identified and incorporated to ensure better insensitive munitions characteristics and to meet US Navy type qualification requirements

• Replace sensitive energetic materials with Navy approved IM equivalents

• Provide a venting path to release pressure within the projectiles and containers

• Equip with Navy approved IM fuzes• Package containers with supporting materials that

separates and falls away for the round with extreme heat and meet Navy shipboard environmental requirements

Ammunition Current Status

• US Ammo Suite was type qualified in March 2008• Army smoothbore ammunition is compatible with 120mm

RTM can be used to supplement quantities • WSESRB Approved• Safety release in place

• In-theater use of French ammunition is possible• WSESRB Approved• Safety release in place

• Production contracts/delivery orders are in place• EBA&D and US Government facility currently filling HE

loaded projectiles for GD-OTS• Transitioning purchasing and in-service management to

PMAM

QUESTIONS?