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provides command and control during ship-to-
shore and subsequent operations. The LVTR-7
provides mobile repair and retrieval facilities for
disabled vehicles.
ARTILLERY
Marine artillery weapons consist of towed and
self-propelled howitzers and self-propelled guns.
The M198 155-mm towed howitzer is the
standard artillery weapon of the Marine Corps.
Mounted on a wheeled carriage, it fires a 97-pound
high-explosive (HE) shell to an effective range of
22,000 meters (30,000 meters with a rocket-
assisted projectile). It can also fire white
phosphorous, illumination, smoke, antitank and
antipersonnel mines, laser-guided, chemical, and
nuclear rounds. The CH-53E helicopter transports
the M198.
The Vietnam-era 105-mm howitzer remains in
service with selected Regular and Reserve units.
Mounted on a wheeled carriage, it fires a 33-pound
HE shell to an effective range of 11,400 meters. It
can also fire white phosphorous, illumination,
smoke, and “beehive” (tiny darts used for repelling
human-wave attacks) rounds.
The 155-mm self-propelled howitzer is mounted
on a tank-like body propelled by tracks. It fires a
97-pound HE shell to a maximum effective range
of 18,000 meters (24,000 meters with a rocket-
assisted projectile).
The 8-inch, self-propelled howitzer is the
Marine Corps’ most accurate artillery piece. It
fires a 200-pound HE round to an effective range
of about 22,000 meters (28,000 meters with a
rocket-assisted projectile).
LIGHT ARMORED VEHICLES
(LAVs)
The Marine Corps began receiving LAVs in the
early 1980s. Currently, the Marine Corps has
three light armored infantry battalions. One is
stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, one at
Camp Pendleton, California, and the other is
deployed in the Western Pacific (WESTPAC). The
LAV can travel more than 70 miles per hour. It
contains mortar; air defense; tube-launched,
optically-tracked,
wire-command
(link-guided)
TOW missiles; and 25-mm chain gun variants.
MISSILES
In addition to conventional ground weapons,
Marines have light antiaircraft missile (LAAM)
battalions. These battalions are organized and
equipped to provide air defense for a Marine
landing force. The LAAM battalion is equipped
with Hawk surface-to-air missiles, medium- and
low-altitude acquisition radar, and fire control
radar. These weapons systems provide defense
against low- and medium-altitude air attacks (fig.
14-4).
134.50
Figure 14-4.-In addition to conventional weapons, Marines use surface-to-air missiles for ground defense.
14-7
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