• Thanks for stopping by. Logging in to a registered account will remove all generic ads. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Inauguration of the M777 gun in Valcartier

daftandbarmy

Army.ca Dinosaur
Reaction score
25,795
Points
1,160
Attention News/Assignment Editors:

Media Advisory - Inauguration of the M777 gun in Valcartier
    VALCARTIER GARRISON, QC, Jan. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - Wednesday, January 17,
from 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M., gunners will proceed with the first live
shooting exercise of the new artillery gun M777 to qualify the crew for the
use of this gun.
    For the occasion, media will have the opportunity to meet the gunners of
the 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada who will shoot live ammunitions
with the M777. These soldiers are actually in preparation for the deployment
in Afghanistan scheduled for August 2007.
    The 155 mm calibre M777, purchased recently by the Canadian Forces, is
presently used in Afghanistan. Canadian troops were the first worldwide to use
this model of gun in an operational theatre.
    This artillery gun, using leading edge technologies, is a light and
precise gun on the battlefield. Regular ammunitions allow effective and
precise fire up to 24 km.

    Medias interested in covering the live firing of the M777 gun are
encouraged to contact Captain Vincent Bouchard, at the numbers available
below, to confirm their presence. Reporters must be at the front gate of the
Valcartier Garrison at 8:30 a.m., on January 17, to follow the only escort
leaving for to the training area.



For further information: Captain Vincent Bouchard, Public Affairs
Officer, Valcartier Garrison, (418) 844-5000, ext 4429, Pager: (418) 627-6993



 
I might be wrong but I am pretty sure that when they say "with the first live shooting exercise of the new artillery gun M777 " they mean these particular ones that we just got as the First Canadian M777s fired were fired behind the officers mess in Shilo last Sept I beleive,  is it just me or did that press release seem to make it sound like this is the first time M777s have been fired at all?
 
241 said:
I might be wrong but I am pretty sure that when they say "with the first live shooting exercise of the new artillery gun M777 " they mean these particular ones that we just got as the First Canadian M777s fired were fired behind the officers mess in Shilo last Sept I beleive,  is it just me or did that press release seem to make it sound like this is the first time M777s have been fired at all?

For LFQA yes  ;D
 
Ah...Guess everyones gotta parade the new equipment in front of the press  ;)
 
The first M777s were fired 2 Dec 2005 at CFB Shilo Man, as stated earlier out back of the officer's mess.
2 of the guns being used by 5e are brand new.
 
Are the barrels on the new guns engraved with the Royal cipher?
 
Muskrat, I'm not sure about the recent additions to the family, but the guns that were deployed last year definitely have the Cipher on them, I would imagine these new ones will as well.

On a slightly different tangent last fall the PPCLI presented A Battery 1 RCHA with crests to be worn on each of their guns, in respect for the outstanding fire support and the skill with which they did it.
 
Thanks Petard. I was hoping that this wasn't a tradition (requirement) that fell by the wayside. Interesting about the PPCLI crest as well
 
If 5RALC is going to handle the M777s on an ongoing basis it warrants their losing the "L" in their designation..... given that the "L" dates back to when they were 1st equipped with the italian L5 Pack howitzer.

As far as I know, the 5e is kitted out pert much the same as all the other Reg Arty reg't... no?
 
Ahh, I've picked up on someone talking about my old sweetheart, the L5

Actually the M777s do not permanently belong to any of the Regt's. Each must take their turn in holding the baby before having to pass it on to the next deploying unit.
The M109's have not been replaced by anything, yet. Far as I know the only guns 5e have are LG1s, "borrowed" C3s and 81mm mortars. All of which fall in the "light" category I'd say.
BTW the M777 is considered a Light Weight Howitzer relative to other 155mm

A long way to say that 5e ought to hang onto their L, (IMHO they ought to of hung onto their L5's too!)

 
L5s were carried in the back of 2 1/2 trucks... we're talking really light.  They were subsequently sent to the Airborne battery before being cast into oblivion.

While there are only a limited number of M777s. I believe there are something like 12+ more on order from BAE.  How many will make their way to KAF and how the remainder are distributed to the various brigades in Canada will be interesting BUT, I would contend that, in the long run, there will be a need to maintain continuous gun proficiency in all areas, not just prior to deployment.

M777s being light for a 155 gun, yup, but 155 is still a heavy calibre in the greater picture of things. 

WRT the 5e RALC being a light unit?.... no lighter than the other Field Artillery Regiments.
 
???

So, will PPCLI need to give up their "light" designation at some point?  I'm sure there are militia units that have names that are "technically" inaccurate as well. Are Regimental names based on tradition, or technical accuracy?
 
Ouch.... touché!
Recent wave of name changes within the CME recently.....
10e Génie has become 35 CER/RGC
3FER & 9EG have become 34 CER/RGC
3FES is becoming 33 CER..... etc....

(it is not in my perview to recommend changes to the PPCLI)
(it is not in my perview to discuss poultry with the RCR)
(it is not in my perview to discuss math with the R(21+1)R)

 
geo said:
Ouch.... touché!
Recent wave of name changes within the CME recently.....
10e Génie has become 35 CER/RGC
3FER & 9EG have become 34 CER/RGC
3FES is becoming 33 CER..... etc....

(it is not in my perview to recommend changes to the PPCLI)
(it is not in my perview to discuss poultry with the RCR)
(it is not in my perview to discuss math with the R(21+1)R)

Don't forget also that all Field Engineer Squadrons are now Engineer Squadrons (hmm... since when did we become Air Farce  ;D ) later on we will change to CER's or so I've been told.
 
LOL - and I wasn't being sarcastic - I was genuinely curious. How far do they go, regarding names? What happens if the BC Dragoons aren't really Dragoons anymore?
 
BCDs?
Hmmm.... toughie... oh I know!
(they might drop one of the "O"s & become a west coast street gang)
BC Dragons!
 
A couple of nice arty vidoe's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7urY4BGiKis&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ttto8r0SR0&mode=related&search=

 
Back
Top