"French army will deploy four 155mm wheeled ..." Topic

…self-propelled howitzers CAESAR in Iraq.

"According a statement from the Commission of national defense and armed forces of July 26, 2016, published on the French National Assembly official website . The French President Francois Hollande has confirmed the deployment of four 155mm self-propelled howitzer Caesar in Iraq, near the Iraqi Air Force base of Qayyarah…"

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Amicalement
Armand

FOUR whole howitzers, huh?

In the mean-time, ISIS is firing mustard gas tipped rockets at their opponents.

155s can fire nukes, Mako. Not sure if the French have any, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

Still, I doubt they will, since it would be far easier to send an aircraft over to drop a bomb. Lots of B-61 tactical nukes in Turkey, just waiting for use.

I guess three howitzers would be too few, and five too many, since we don't want to be accused to overkill in the conflict. "Proportionate use of force" seems to be in favor these days, in various wars, for some reason.

No doubt, ISIS can scrape together at least four SP howitzers of their own to keep the conflict balanced.

Four howitzers (which I'm sure are capable of firing guided munitions) is likely far more then they need. I'd be surprised if there is a lack of 'throw weight.' I'd be willing to bet there is a lack of targeting data that will result in acceptable collateral damage.

There are likely several times when a 155mm howitzer firing a guided munition (and/or firing accurately from precisely located firing positions) can be 'cleared' to engage certain targets more effectively then most aviation assets. Most aviation delivered munitions are more lethal, and thus have a larger likely hood of collateral damage then 155mm rounds.

The USMC has developed a guided version of the 2.75' zuni rocket. It is both cheaper and has a smaller blast radius then the Hellfire with blast sleeve.

Thanks Apache 6. Informative post.

Interesting FA vehicle, Wheeled generally are less maintenance. But generally don't have the cross-country mobility of tracked. I'm sure they'll be useful targeting Deash. They may chalk on the sides of the rounds, "Remember Paris", etc.

Yes, very good intel Apache 6. Thanks !

ISIS can scrape together at least four SP howitzers of their own to keep the conflict balanced.

Last year the Iraqis abandoned 52 M109 155mm SPFA to Daesh. But they just looted them, from what I understand. Primarily took the MGs. But they were a bit too high tech for the Daesh savages to use … fortunately …

They have to deploy the French Foreign Legion… (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

They'd only do that if they were going to attack Daesh directly … I don't think the FFL would be "happy" training the Iraqis …