JGSDF Kamifurano Garrison 60th Anniversary Special Stamp Issue 陸上自衛隊上富良野駐屯地創立六十周年記念特殊切手

Chanced Encounter

A week ago, while travelling in Hokkaido, Japan, I found an interesting stamp sheetlet on sale at the Sounkyo Onsen Post Office. It consisted of a set of ten self-adhesive stamps on a minisheet issued by Japan Post ( 日本郵便 Nippon Yubin ) commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Kamifurano Garrison of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( JGSDF ). The total face value of the ten stamps of ¥82 each came up to ¥820 but the sheet sells for  ¥1230 ( US$10.23 at today's exchange rates ). The stamps depict the various weapon systems of the garrison including tanks, howitzers, multiple launch rocket system, anti-ship guided missile and its search radar and the mountain rescue team. As an avid stamp collector, I immediately grabbed it. I had wanted more but the post office counter staff told me it was the last piece on sale. I am somewhat familiar with the special stamp issues by Japan Post since the schedule is published at its official website but knew nothing about this particular stamp sheet. Today, after some research, I discovered that this commemorative issue is a limited edition release of only 1000 sets by the Hokkaido division of Japan Post. It is only available for sale at various major post offices in Hokkaido from 8th Jun 2015. It also prompted me to want to learn more about the JGSDF and its activities in Hokkaido.




The JGSDF Kamifurano Station 60th Anniversary Limited Edition
Stamp Minisheet by Japan Post

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

The Japanese Self-Defense Force is formed after Japan's defeat in World War Two to provide a self-defense capability against foreign aggression. The post-war constitution only allowed the formation of a self-defense force and specifically prohibited the military from acquiring any form of offensive capability. Even the Japanese defense industry is not spared from such restrictions such that they can only manufacture and sell their weapon systems to the self-defense forces and cannot export them to foreign nations. Only now, on the brink of a potential submarine sale to Australia that some of these regulations are being revised.

As usual, the Japanese self-defense forces are made up of the three services equivalent to the air force, navy and army of other nations - Japan Air Self-Defense Force ( JASDF ), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ( JMSDF ) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( JGSDF ).

In the Japanese language, JGSDF is known as the 陸上自衛隊 ( Rikujo Jieitai ). They are a formidable force with advanced weaponry and career soldiers who are professionally trained. They have garrisons all over Japan and such camps or stations are known as Chutonchi ( 駐屯地 ), literally meaning a place where troops assemble and where materials are stockpiled. Such military camps are usually named after the ward or town where they are located. So in this case the JGSDF Kamifurano Station is located in the Kamifurano Ward ( 上富良野町 ), Sorachi County ( 空知郡 ), Hokkaido ( 北海道 ).

In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Kamifurano Station, an open house with drills and ground maneuvers was staged. Concerts and other celebratory events were also organized through summer

Furano : Navel of Hokkaido

First a little introduction on the Furano ( 富良野 ) region of Hokkaido, the northern most part of Japan. Furano City ( population 23017 ) is actually located right at the centre of Hokkaido such that it is also known as the Navel of Hokkaido. It is an extremely picturesque area of broad rolling farmlands with winding rivers surrounded by a series of mountain peaks including the Tokachi Range ( 十勝連峰 ) of the Daisetsuzan National Park ( 大雪山国立公園 ). The Furano area is most famous for the melons and lavender flowers that are grown in many of the flower farms. Every summer, throngs of tourists visit Farm Tomita and other nearby flower farms in Nakafurano ( 中富良野 ) to witness the flowers in full bloom. It is also a wine producing region with the Furano Winery researching and producing Furono Wines since 1972 and the Ikeda Grape and Wine Research Station producing the equally famous Tokachi Wines. In winter, the Kitanomine ski fields adjacent to Furano City becomes a winter sports paradise. Kitanomine is much smaller than Niseko and have yet to be invaded by foreigners.



The flower fields of Farm Tomita ( 富田ファーム ) in Nakafurano
in full bloom in early summer. Photo Farm Tomita



Kitanomine ( 北の峰 ) Ski Slope overlooking Furano City with the
Tokachi Mountains in the far background. Photo : Furano Tourism Association

Furano is also known as the Navel of Hokkaido.
Hokkaido is the northernmost of Japan's 4 main islands.
Top right is Sakhalin Island of Russia.

Three Generations of Main Battle Tanks 三世代戦車




三世代戦車 Sanseidaisensha : 3 Generations of MBT in the snow

The JGSDF currently has in its inventory three different generations of main battle tanks ( MBT ) beginning with the Type 74 which was produced from 1975, the Type 90 which was produced from 1990, and the latest 4th generation Type 10 which was produced beginning in the year 2010. The first generation Type 61 MBT had already been retired from service in the year 2000.

Incidentally, all three types of MBTs are stationed at the Kamifurano Garrison. They form the JGSDF 2nd Tank Regiment ( 第2戦車連隊 Dainisensharentai ) whose parent unit is the JGSDF 2nd Division Northern Army ( 第2師団 Dainishidan ) based in Asahikawa. The Regiment has five squadrons with Squadrons 1,2,3 and 5 fielding the older Type 74 and Type 90 MBTs while Squadron 4 is the sole operator of the newest Type 10 MBT.

Of the three MBT types, the Type 74 is the most numerous with a total of 893 built. The Type 90 came in second with 341 units built, the production run being cut short due to the end of the Cold War and budgetary constrains. The Type 10 had just entered production 5 years ago and numbers are still building up with 66 units completed by 2014. It is meant to be the replacement for both the Type 74 and 90. The broad open rural areas of Hokkaido offers the armour regiments lots of maneuvering spaces unlike the other regions of Japan which are either too mountainous or highly urbanized. This is the main reason why all three MBT generations are found at the Kamifurano Station.




A second generation JGSDF Type 74 MBT on display in a photo dated 2007.
Note the rounded turret common during the sixties similar to the Soviet T-62.
Source : Wikipedia.



Third generation JGSDF Type 90 MBT of the 72nd Tank Regiment,
7th Armoured Division, based at the Kita-Eniwa Station, Hokkaido,
in maneuvers. They are also known as the White Horse Regiment.
Photo : JGSDF

 

Fourth generation JGSDF Type 10 MBT during the
Self Defense Forces Day parade 1st Nov 2013. Photo : JGSDF 

Type 90 Main Battle Tank 90式戦車



The Type 90 MBT of the 2nd Tank Regiment, JGSDF 2nd Division Northern Army.

Also known as the Kyu-Maru Shiki Sensha ( 90式戦車 ), the Type 90 MBT was meant to counter the Soviet T-72 MBT. It was designed and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and has a licence produced Rheinmetall L44 120mm smoothbore cannon with automatic loader. This same gun system is found in the German Leopard 2, the South Korean K1A1 and the US M1A2 Abrams MBTs. It is also armed with a 0.5 caliber M2 Ma Duece Browning heavy machine gun and a co-axially mounted 7.62mm general purpose machine gun. The Type 90 weighs about 50 tonnes and is rather boxy looking. It is the central pillar of the JGSDF armoured divisions until enough of the newer Type 10s are available. The older Type 74s were already obsolete even before the Type 90 was produced.



The JGSDF Type 90 Main Battle Tank in winter camouflage. Photo : JGSDF 

Type 10 Main Battle Tank 10式戦車



The Type 10 MBT of the 4th Squadron, 2nd Tank Regiment, JGSDF 2nd Division Northern Army.

The Type 10 MBT is also known as the Hito-Maru Shiki Sensha ( 10式戦車 ) in Japanese. It is Japan's latest generation MBT manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries that is constructed from nano-crystal steel and has composite armour. It has a newly developed 120mm smoothbore main gun by Japan Steel Works and weighs 44 tonnes. It is powered by a 1200hp V8 diesel engine and has continuous variable transmission that allows the tank to achieve maximum speeds of 70km/h both forward and in reverse! It is fully equipped with day and night sights and its C4I system is vital for the sharing of information and intelligence in today's network-centric warfare.




The 4th generation JGSDF Type 10 Main Battle Tank with its
120mm smoothbore gun, 12.7mm HMG and electro-optical sensors. Photo : JGSDF

M-110A2 203mm Self-Propelled Howitzer 203mm 自走榴弾砲



A battery of M-110A2 203mm Self-Propelled Howitzers of the JGSDF
neatly lined up in the snow with the Tokachi Mountain Range in the background. 

 The US M-110A2 203mm Self-Propelled Howitzer ( SPH ) is a Cold War relic that could be used to fire conventional as well as tactical nuclear shells ( W33 and W79 ). It has been retired from service by the United States and most of its NATO allies after the end of the Cold War but is still in the inventory of a few countries like Greece, Israel, Egypt and Japan. Its advantage in range over smaller caliber artillery pieces have largely been superseded by advancement in technology. They might be old but can still pack a tremendous punch especially when laying down barrage fire. They are known as the 203mm Jisouryuudanpou (  自走榴弾砲 ) in Japanese.





JGSDF M110A2 203mm Self-Propelled Howitzer during the annual
Fuji Firepower Exercise at the East Fuji Maneuvering Grounds
near Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture. Photo : JGSDF

Multiple Launch Rocket System 多連装ロケットシステ​ム



The M270 MLRS of the 4th Artillery Group, 1st Artillery Brigade, JGSDF Northern Army.

The JGSDF's multiple launch rocket system ( MLRS ) is basically the US M270 tracked multiple rocket launcher licence produced by IHI Aerospace of Japan. Since 1992, the JGSDF had progressively acquired 9 launchers annually until 2001 after which the acquisition rate fell to 3 vehicles per year till 2004 for a grand total of 99 M270 MLRS. The M270 can fire either 12 unguided 227mm M26 rockets with various warheads or the GPS guided M31 GMLRS rockets which Japan started to procure in 2008. The MLRS stationed at Kamifurano belongs to the JGSDF 4th Artillery Group ( Machanized ) ( 第4特科群 ) whose parent unit is the JGSDF 1st Artillery Brigade ( 第1特科団 ) based at Kita-Chitose. In Japanese, the MLRS is known as Tarensou ROKETTO SHISUTEMU ( 多連装ロケットシステム ).





The JGSDF M270 MLRS fully loaded with 12 227mm rockets. Photo : JGSDF

Type 88 Surface To Ship Missile ( 88式地対艦誘導弾 )



The JGSDF Type 88 SSM Transporter-Erector Launcher.



The Type 88 SSM being fired from its TEL vehicle.



The Type 88 SSM search radar.

Evolved from the air launched Type 80 ASM-1 anti-ship missile developed for the JASDF in the eighties, the Type 88 SSM-1 is the ground launched version for the JGSDF. Manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, this sea-skimming subsonic surface-to-ship missile has a range of 180km. It utilizes two solid fuel booster rockets during launch and a turbojet engine ( Mitsubishi TJM-2 ) for cruising at mach 0.95. The missile weighs 661kg, has a length of 5.08m and a diameter of 35cm. It carries a 225kg high explosive ( HE ) warhead. Guidance system is by inertial guidance ( INS ) with terminal active radar homing. A total of 6 missiles are being carried by each of the Type 74 heavy truck transporter erector launcher ( TEL ). They are usually fired from concealed locations within 100km from the coast against an invading enemy naval task force. The JGSDF has 54 TELs in its inventory. The Type 88 has a similar capability as the Harpoon missile. An improved vertical launched INS/GPS guided version known as the Type 12 is currently being procured.

Also shown above is the JTPS-P15 Sentry Radar System mounted on a Type 73 1/2 Ton light truck. It is the search radar for the missile batteries. The Type 88s at Kamifurano Garrison belong to the 3rd Surface to Ship Missile Regiment ( 第3地対艦ミサイル連隊 ) whose parent unit is again the JGSDF 1st Artillery Brigade ( 第1特科団 ) of the 2nd Division Northern Army.





JGSDF Type 88 SSM-1 TELs with 6 missiles each erected and ready to fire. Photo JGSDF.



Type 88 SSM-1 search radar JTPS-P15 on a Type 73 light truck. Photo : Wikipedia

 Type 96 Multi-Purpose Guided Missile System ( 96式多目的誘導弾システム )

 

 

The Type 96 Multi-Purpose Guided Missile System of the 2nd Ground to Ship and Anti-Tank Company, JGSDF 2nd Division Northern Army.



 

 

The Type 96 Multi-Purpose Guided Missile is a medium range infra-red homing, optically guided missile for use against amphibious landing crafts and tanks. It can even be used against helicopters. Developed by the Kawasaki Heavy Industries from 1986, it took ten years before its first deployment in 1996. The missile is 2m long and has a diameter of 16cm. It weighs 60kg and is mounted in sets of six on a light utility vehicle as it is too heavy to be man portable. Its range is classified but is believed to be in excess of 10km and possibly up to 25km. Each battery will have 6 different vehicle types, an Information Processing Unit ( IPU ), a Fire Control Unit ( FCU ), a ground guidance unit ( GGU ), several launcher units ( LAU ), forward observation unit ( OPU ) and loaders ( LDU ). The unit at Kamifurano is the 2nd Ground To Ship and Anti-Tank Company whose parent unit is the JGSDF 2nd Division Northern Army. In Japanese it is known as the Kyuurokushiki Tamokuteki Yuudoudan SHISUTEMU ( 96式多目的誘導弾システム).

 

 

 

The Type 96 MPMS LAU during the annual Fuji Firepower Exercise
at the East Fuji Maneuvering Grounds near Gotemba,
Shizuoka Prefecture. Photo : JGSDF.

 

 

The Type 96 missile being fired from a camouflaged LAU vehicle. Photo : JGSDF 

 

 

Mountain Rescue Team ( 冬季遭難救援隊 )

 

  

 

The Alpine Rescue Team of the Kamifurano Station during winter exercises. 

With the greater Furano region flanked by the active Tokachi Volcanic Group which included high peaks like Furonodake ( 富良野岳 1912m ), Bieidake ( 美瑛岳 2052m ) and Tokachidake ( 十勝岳 2077m ) and also Hokkaido's highest peak Asahidake ( 旭岳 2291m ) aka Daisetsuzan ( 大雪山 ) a little further to the northeast, it is only a matter of time before a serious incident occurs in the mountains especially during the winter season. In fact, the JGSDF Kamifurano " Winter Disaster Rescue Team " was formed in 2008 following an avalanche accident that killed 4 people on Mt Kamihoromettoku (上ホロカメットク山 ) in 2007. Members of the rescue team train all year round to prepare themselves for the winter season. In Japanese, they are known as the Touki Sounan Kyuuentai ( 冬季遭難救援隊 ).




Snow probes to look for buried survivors. Photo : JGSDF



JGSDF Kamifurano is located right at the door steps of the Tokachi Volcanic Group with peaks of 2000m or higher.



Bird's eye view of JGSDF Kamifurano Station.

The World of Philately

It is amazing how much we can learn from a postage stamp, especially if one is willing to invest in a little extra research into the background and history of the stamp issue. The internet has made such efforts a lot easier. Writing about Kamifurano Station's 60th Anniversary had broadened my knowledge on the JGSDF and its activities in Hokkaido. In time to come, this limited edition stamp sheet will also appreciate in value, making its collection even more worthwhile.

If you are interested to find out more about Japanese postage stamps, please visit Japan Post's website https://www.post.japanpost.jp/kitte_hagaki/index.html ( Japanese only ).





JGSDF Kamifurano Station 60th Anniversary Logo. 



JGSDF Kamifurano Station side entrance looking east with Tokachi Mountains behind.

Multiple Rocket Launcher Duel : M-142 HIMARS vs ASTROS II

Lockheed Martin M-142 HIMARS and Avibras ASTROS II

 

 

For the uninitiated, these are multiple launch rocket artillery systems made by the USA and Brazil respectively. They have been exported to many other countries, including Malaysia ( ASTROS II ) in 2002 and Singapore ( M-142 HIMARS ) in 2009.

Malaysia became the second country in South East Asia to operate rocket artillery systems when it procured the ASTROS II. The honour of being the first goes to Thailand. By nature, rocket artillery are more suited for offensive operations rather than for defence. So it will not be easy to justify such a purchase unless your neighbour does it first. It came as no surprise therefore that once Malaysia has acquired that capability Singapore also ordered rocket artillery systems to boost the firepower of its Army. The US government would not have approved the sale if Singapore's neighbours had not acquired that capability first anyway, as they have always been reluctant to allow the introduction of a new capability into any region.

M-142 Himars at Bagram Air Field Afghanistan ready to execute fire support mission. Photo via wikicommons

HIMARS battery live firing exercise code named Ex. Daring Warrior
by 23rd Battalion Singapore Artillery at Fort Sill,
 Oklahoma, USA, Nov 2010 Source : MINDEF

 

A Brief History of the Rocket and the Multiple Rocket Launcher

Illustration of Korean Rocket Launcher of the 1500s ( source : Wikipedia )

 

Ever since its invention by the ancient Chinese scientists sometime around the 13th century, the rocket, in its various forms, had been deployed as a weapon of war. The Chinese and Koreans had their own primitive version of the multiple rocket launcher which fired one or two hundred blackpowder projectiles upon ignition. For centuries since then, the rocket had remained largely for ceremonial use in fireworks and such.

Dr. Robert H. Goddard and a liquid oxygen-gasoline rocket
in the frame from which it was fired on March 16, 1926,
 at Auburn, Massachusetts ( source : Wikipedia )

 

It was not until the 20th century that modern rocketry was founded, with the American scientist Robert Goddard attaching a supersonic nozzle to the combustion chamber of a liquid-fueled rocket engine, increasing the efficiency of the rocket engine from 2% to 64%. He was also the first to launch a liquid-fueled rocket in the year 1926.

 

Replica of A WWII German V-2 Missile ( source : Wikipedia )

 

Since then advancement in rocket science has been rapid and relentless. With World War II came the production of new weapons such as the anti-tank rockets, tank, truck or ship mounted multiple launch rocket systems, air-to-ground rockets, rocket powered fighter planes, and the V-1 and V-2 missiles.

Post World War Two saw the development of multi-staged rockets that would evolve into launch vehicles for nuclear weapons. Eventually, these ballistic missiles were modified to launch artificial satellites into earth orbit and beyond, leading ultimately to the moon landing in 1969 and allowing for unmanned exploration of the inner solar system.

Modern Rocket Artillery

 

The first iron-cased metal cylinder rocket artillery were developed by Tipu Sultan, the Indian-Muslim ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, and his father Hyder Ali, in the 1780s. He successfully used these rockets against larger forces of the British East India Company during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. These Mysore rockets were more advanced than anything the British had at that time mainly because the iron tube that held the propellant powder allowed for a higher internal pressure to develop during combustion and achieve a higher thrust and therefore longer range.

The rocket was lashed with leather thongs to a long bamboo stick and had a range of perhaps three quarters of a mile ( 1.2km ). They were hurled into the air after being lighted or were allowed to skim along the surface of the dry ground. Although individually they were not in anyway accurate, their effect when deployed in mass numbers can still be devastating. They were particularly effective against the cavalry.

During the Battle of Seringapatam in 1792 and 1799, these iron rockets were used to considerable effect on the British. The eventual defeat of Tipu meant that the British captured a number of the rockets which deeply influenced subsequent rocket development, ultimately inspiring the Congreve Rocket which was used during the Napoleonic Wars, including the Battle of Waterloo, and other wars during the 19th century.



Russian Soldier Firing a Congreve Rocket. Source : Wikipedia

 

You can read about the fictionalised Battle of Seringapatam in Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's Tiger : Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Seringapatam (1799) where a young British Redcoat by the name of Pte Richard Sharpe fought the Tippu Sultan Army and eventually killed Tippu and horded some of his treasures.

Cover art of Sharpe's Tiger by Bernard Cornwell.

German 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 launcher while reloading, 1943. ( source : German Archives / Wikipedia )

 

During World War II, it was the Germans and the Russians who developed and deployed large numbers of rocket artillery. The Germans had the Nebelwerfer series of towed rocket artillery although some were self-propelled ( Panzerwerfer ) and the Russians had their Katyusha series which were usually vehicle mounted and therefore more mobile. The Americans and British were late to develop their rocket forces with the US Army eventually mounting rocket launchers on top of modified M-4 Sherman Tanks. These were known as the T-34 Calliope rocket tanks. The US Navy however, made extensive use of rockets fired from warships and landing crafts during the Pacific War to soften up Japanese-held islands before an amphibious landing.

 

The T-34 Calliope Rocket Tank of the US Army during WWII. Source : Wikipedia

 

Since World War II, having seen the destructive firepower of rockets deployed in masses on area targets and the terrifying psychological effects the rockets bring about on the enemy, many nations have developed their own rocket artillery systems.

The Avibras ASTROS II

Saudi Arabian Astros II SS-30 launch during Operation Desert Storm ( source : Wikipedia )

 

The ASTROS II ( Artillery SaTuration ROcket System ) is made by Avibras Aerospatial SA of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Avibras has been manufacturing MLRS since the 1960s. In the early eighties, a middle-eastern country, believed to be Iraq, requested Avibras to develop a mobile modular MLR system and the result was the ASTROS II. It was used against Iran during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War. Currently it is in operation with the Brazilian Army, Saudi Arabian Defense Force, the Malaysian Army, and the defense forces of Bahrain, Qatar, Angola and soon Indonesia. The ASTROS II is a battle-proven system which was also deployed by the Saudi Arabians during the first Gulf War in 1991 and by Angola in their civil war against the UNITA forces.

The ASTROS II is basically a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher mounted on an all-terrain 6x6 wheeled vehicle. It features modular design and employs rockets with calibre ranging from 127mm to 300mm. It is usually deployed in batteries consisting of 6 launcher vehicles with 6 ammunition resupply vehicles and a radar equipped fire control vehicle, all mounted on the same Tectran 6x6 chassis. Each resupply truck carries 2 complete reloads.

Malaysia bought 18 ASTROS II launchers in 2002 and another 18 in 2007. This will enable it to form 6 batteries in total.

The trucks can reach a maximum speed of 90km/h on the road and 40km/h over rough terrain. They are largely unarmoured, therefore do not provide much protection against enemy fire. They also do not provide protection against nuclear, biological and chemical agents. A 0.5in heavy machine gun is mounted on the roof of the cab for self-protection. They are equipped with 6 smoke grenade launchers. The entire system is air-portable on the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft which the Royal Malaysian Air Force also operates.

Saudi Arabian ASTROS II with SS-30 multiple rocket systems
 on Tectran 6x6 AV-LMU trucks, 1992. Photo via Wikicommons

Saudi Arabian ASTROS II firing SS-30 rocket, 1992. Photo via Wikicommons

ASTROS II TECTRAN AV-UCF fire control vehicle, Saudi Arabia, 1992 Photo : wikicommons

The ASTROS II launcher is capable of firing rockets of different calibre with different warheads. The SS-30 variant consist of 127mm rockets packed 32 rounds to a launcher and has a range between 9km to 30km. The SS-40 variant is made up of 180mm rockets packed 16 rounds per launcher with a range of 15km to 35km. The SS-60 and SS-80 variants pack 4 300mm rockets per launcher and have ranges of up to 60km for the SS-60 and 90km for the SS-80.
The warhead options include the traditional high explosive - fragmentation warheads, cluster munitions with multiple dual purpose ( anti-personnel , anti-armour ) bomblets, high explosive white phosphorous incendiary warheads, smoke deploying and mine deploying warheads, runway denial warheads and also chemical warheads.

The M-270 MLRS and Lockheed Martin M-142 HIMARS

 

US Army M-270 MLRS

 

 

Lockheed Martin / Vought Systems M-270 MLRS

The M-270 MLRS is an armoured, self-propelled, fully-tracked multiple launch rocket artillery system that was designed in the late 70's and in service with the US Army and several of its NATO and non-NATO allies since the early 80's. Production had ceased since 2003 when the last batch had been produced for Egypt.

It fires 227mm guided or unguided rockets packed 6 to a pod, 2 pods to each launcher. It can also fire the long range ATACMS ( Army TACtical Missile System ) ballistic missile one to each pod. It is a versatile weapons platform designed to supplement traditional tube artillery by delivering massive volumes of firepower in a short span of time against high value, time sensitive enemy targets under all weather conditions across the entire depth of the tactical battlefield. Some of these targets include enemy forward air defences, armoured units, artillery placements and personnel.  

Effective as it is, the M-270 is rather heavy at close to 25 tons. It can only be air lifted by the C-5A Galaxy, the C-17A Globemaster or the C-141 Starlifter heavy transport. Hence the development of a lighter wheeled version - the M-142 HIMARS ( High Mobility Artillery Rocket System ).

Danish M-270 MLRS in the rain and mud, 2003. Photo via wikicommons.

British Army M-270 firing practice rounds at Otterburn 2015. Photo via wikicommons.

German M-270 MLRS firing in 2013. Photo via wikicommons.

Awesome South Korean Army 5th Artillery Brigade M-270 night firing. Photo via wikicommons.

Awesome South Korean Army 5th Artillery Brigade M-270 night firing. Photo via wikicommons.

 

US Army MLRS Logo

Lockheed Martin M-142 HIMARS

The M-142 HIMARS is essentially a M-270 Lite. It shares many commonalities with its heavier cousin, using the same command, control and communications system, fire control system and launcher module. It carries one instead of two launcher pods and at about 11 tons is only half as heavy as the M-270. It is transportable by the C-130 medium transport ( roll-on roll-off ) and can be operationally deployed within 10 mins of landing.



Soldiers from Charlie Battery, 3/27 Field Artillery Regiment out of Fort Bragg, N.C., get ready to aim their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) as part of the Rapid Force Projection Initiative field experiment (RFPI). This experiment is being used to test new equipment and its usefulness with the light forces in the field. Photo : US DOD

Himars : Preparing a rocket pod for undocking. Photo via wikicommons

M-142 Himars at White Sands Missile Range, 2005. Photo : Wikicommons

 

 

Two US Marines Himars. Photo : Wikicommons



Himars firing : Second Platoon, Battery B, 5th Bn, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment
 at Yakima Training Centre, Washington State, 2009. Photo : Wikicommons

Tennessee Army National Guard 1/181st Field Artillery Battalion's
 Himars on ANG C-130 Hercules. Photo via Wikicommons

Himars of the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment loading onto
C-17 Globemaster Ex HI-RAIN 2014. Photo via wikicommons

 

It is mounted on a standard US Army Medium Tactical Vehicle which is actually a 6x6 all-wheel drive 5-ton truck and it can launch the entire Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions. Some of these include :

M26 Unguided 227mm rocket with 644 M77 DPICM* bomblets range up to 32km 

M26A1 Extended range with 518 M85 ( improved M77 ) bomblets range up to 45km

M30 GMRLS GPS guided rocket with 404 M85 submunitions range up to 60km

XM31 GMRLS guided rocket with unitary ( single warhead ) high explosive warhead range up to 70km

MGM-140 ATACMS precision tactical missile with up to 300km range

* DPICM = dual-purpose improved conventional munitions

 

The HIMARS has an armoured cabin and can travel at speeds of up to 94km/h on paved roads. It is usually operated by a crew of 3 but the automated fire control system can be managed by even a single crew member if necessary.

 The HIMARS is in service with the US Army, US Marines, UAE, Jordanian and Singapore Armed Forces. Singapore has acquired 18 launcher units with 32 XM31 unitary high explosive pods making the Singapore Armed Forces the first HIMARS operator outfitted entirely with GPS guided MLRS.

Himars of Delta Battery, 2nd Bn, 14th Marine Regiment
assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force gets ready to fire
during Ex Ssang Yong 14, South Korea. Photo via Wikicommons

 

As above, Himars fires reduced range practice rounds. Photo via wikicommons

 

 

As above, the aftermath. Why you should avoid firing MLRS
 near vegetation and how every MLRS artillery corpsman
 had better be expert firefighters. Photo via wikicommons 

 

  

HIMARS vs ASTROS II

So in a head to head duel, which system will prevail?

There are plenty of similarities between the two MLRS. Some common features include :

Battle proven systems adopted by several countries

Wheeled chassis mounting for high mobility
Air portable by the C-130 Hercules / Embraer KC-390 or equivalent tactical transport planes
All-weather day and night capability
High volume of fire effective against area targets
Short ripple time reduces shoot to scoot interval

The ASTROS II's modular nature allows for rockets of different calibre to be deployed according to target type and range, in contrast to the HIMARS which fires rockets of fixed calibre, not counting the ATACM tactical missile.

The unmatched advantage of the M-142 HIMARS over the ASTROS II is the availability of GPS guided rockets. The GMLRS has a range of up to 70km and an improved version the GMLRS+ up to 120km. GPS guidance significantly increases the accuracy of the rocket and for the unitary version reduces collateral damage and civilian casualties. GMLRS has been nick named the 70km sniper for this long range precision capability.

At the end of the day, one must realise that the ASTROS II is an older system dating from 1983 and fires unguided rockets, though it is still a formidable artillery system at this day and age and should not be underestimated in anyway.

Until the ASTROS 2020 upgrade is completed and the system acquires the capability to fire the precision strike missile AV/MT-300 which has a range of 300km and a payload of 200kg not unlike the ATACM, I would consider the HIMARS a more advanced system.

Update

Seems like 2016 is upon us and the world has moved on. The Avibras ASTROS 2020, sometimes known as the ASTROS III, is now a reality with the Brazilian Army. Unless otherwise stated, all ASTROS 2020 photos below were taken in June 2014 by Jorge Cardoso via Wikicommons.