M777 howitzer

M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzer
M777 Light Towed Howitzer in service with the 10th Mountain Division in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Logar Province, Charkh District, Afghanistan
Type	Howitzer
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	2005–present
Used by	United States Marine Corps United States Army Indian Army Canadian Army Australian Army
Specifications
Weight	4,200 kg (9,300 lb)
Length	Combat: 10.7 m (35 ft 1 in) Travel: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
Barrel length	5.08 m (16.7 ft)
Crew	7+1
Shell	M107, M795, ERFB, M982
Caliber	155 mm (6.1 in)
Carriage	split trail
Elevation	0° to +71.7°
Rate of fire	Normal: 2 rpm Maximum: 5 rpm
Effective firing range	M107: 24 km (14.9 mi) ERFB: 30 km (18.6 mi) base bleed Excalibur: 40 km (25 mi)

The M777 howitzer is a towed 155mm artillery piece, since 2005 successor to the M198 howitzer in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army. The M777 is also used by the ground forces of Canada and Australia. It made its combat début in the War in Afghanistan.

The M777 is manufactured by BAE Systems' Global Combat Systems division. Prime contract management is based in Barrow-in-Furness in the UK as well as manufacture and assembly of the titanium structures and associated recoil components. Final integration and testing of the weapon is undertaken at BAE's facility in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The M777 began as the Ultralight-weight Field Howitzer (UFH), developed by VSEL's armaments division in Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom. This company was bought by BAE which ended up responsible for design, construction and assembly (through its US-based, BAE Systems Land and Armaments group). The M777 uses about 70% US-built parts including the gun barrel manufactured at the Watervliet Arsenal.

The M777 is smaller and 42% lighter, at under 4,100 kg (9,000 lb), than the M198 it replaces. Most of the weight reduction is due to the use of titanium. The lighter weight and smaller size allows the M777 to be transported by the MV-22 Osprey, CH-47 helicopter or trucks with ease to provide increased mobility and more compact storage over the M198. The minimal gun crew required is five, compared to a previous nine.