Article

2023-04-26 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

US has shipped over 1.5 million rounds of 155 mm munition to Ukraine. Here's why the ammo is so crucial.

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Posted by Skidmark 2023-04-26 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#1 The US, as I recall, currently has a single source for 155mm. IIRC it's Kilkenny Arsenal in Scranton, where evey single building is on the National Historic Buildings list, and as such cannot be modified. The Steel bodies are machined in Scraton, and then shipped by rail to a site in Iowa for explosives and sealing.
Single source. One not so big plant.

Posted by ed in texas 2023-04-26 09:50|| 2023-04-26 09:50|| Front Page Top

#2 ...We're paying the price now for the destruction of the Cold War infrastructure thirty years ago. The intelligent - I know, I know - option would have been to cold-storage the plants. But that would have cost money, and we had so many other things we needed to spend it on (sarcOFF).

It should be mentioned that there are a couple other plants that are going to be converted to 155mm production, but it will be a very optimistic 24 months before they can stand up, and I'd bet the house payment that the NIMBYs will be crawling out of the woodwork momentarily.

And if they don't. I'm sure there's some PLA accountant in Beijing figuring out just how much Yuan they need to rustle some up.

Mike

Posted by MikeKozlowski 2023-04-26 11:30|| 2023-04-26 11:30|| Front Page Top

#3 /\ No ammo or strategic oil reserve left for the defense of Taiwan....(as planned).

Posted by Besoeker 2023-04-26 11:33|| 2023-04-26 11:33|| Front Page Top

#4 155 mm, or 6.1 inches

For you Tiktokrs, that is half an adolescent ferret.

Essentially, the 155 mm round is a very big bullet, made up of four parts: the detonating fuse, projectile, propellant and primer.

Kind of a clunky way to describe things.

Posted by swksvolFF 2023-04-26 11:55|| 2023-04-26 11:55|| Front Page Top

#5
#4 155 mm, or 6.1 inches

For you Tiktokrs, that is half an adolescent ferret.

Essentially, the 155 mm round is a very big bullet, made up of four parts: the detonating fuse, projectile, propellant and primer.

Kind of a clunky way to describe things.
Posted by: swksvolFF 2023-04-26 11:55

swksvolFF,

It'll do for the Munitions Challenged(TM).

Mike

Posted by MikeKozlowski 2023-04-26 12:12|| 2023-04-26 12:12|| Front Page Top

#6 155mm shells are made in other places too.

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-04-26 12:12|| 2023-04-26 12:12|| Front Page Top

#7 #3
Almost as if the Puppet Show was listening to the Actual Administration's principal leadership's wishes. Perhaps the next step will be to recall the entire Pacific Fleet back to San Francisco for a Fleet Gay Pride Week?

Posted by NoMoreBS 2023-04-26 12:27|| 2023-04-26 12:27|| Front Page Top

#8 Guns are fun ways to reach out and touch
The ones you don't like very much,
But mysteries abound...
"Bitch, an iPhone ain't round!"
"And that's not gonna fit in my clutch."

Posted by Shush Jones9850 2023-04-26 13:01|| 2023-04-26 13:01|| Front Page Top

#9 1.5 million rounds to Ukraine. I wonder who the Ukrainians sold all that to.

Posted by DooDahMan 2023-04-26 13:10|| 2023-04-26 13:10|| Front Page Top

#10 I wonder who the Ukrainians sold all that to.

The South Koreans? There was a blurb the other day about the US "leasing" artillery shells from SKor. Makes for a nice closed loop system as long as the Ukies don't waste too many shooting at the Russians.

Posted by SteveS 2023-04-26 14:11|| 2023-04-26 14:11|| Front Page Top

#11 I don't think the Ukies have the shipping/logistics to sell them distant elsewhere

Posted by Frank G 2023-04-26 18:47|| 2023-04-26 18:47|| Front Page Top

#12 Sometimes, stuff just falls off a truck.

Posted by SteveS 2023-04-26 20:52|| 2023-04-26 20:52|| Front Page Top

23:14 trailing wife
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