Why was HIMARS rocket artillery transferred back to the US by Ukraine?

Why was HIMARS rocket artillery transferred back to the US by Ukraine?

Thursday, February 15, 2024 18:14 PM (GMT+7)

New images released by the US media show two damaged Ukrainian HIMARS rocket artillery systems being transported by Ukrainian transport planes to the US for repairs.

On February 12, US media released a video at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pennsylvania, showing two M142 HIMARS rocket launchers being unloaded from a transport plane. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The transporter transporting the M142 HIMARS artillery gun was the Ukrainian Air Force An-124 Antonov. It can be seen that the M142 HIMARS complex was most likely hit by a mine and suffered heavy damage. The right front wheel and part of the cockpit floor were blown off, forcing technicians to rest the axle on wooden blocks to keep balance. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The second M142 HIMARS complex appeared to have been hit by shrapnel from a Russian shell. It had at least 16 holes in its hull and a flat front tire, while both bulletproof glass panels in front of the cockpit were also damaged, but the vehicle did not appear to have suffered serious damage. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

These are the first, most convincing images of Ukraine's HIMARS system damaged and out of action. Most likely they are being brought to the factory for repair," writer Thomas Newdick commented. Currently, the US Department of Defense and the Ukrainian military have not commented on the above information. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The US has been providing HIMARS rocket artillery to Ukraine since late 2022, with a total of 39 launchers having been delivered. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

They quickly proved their worth when Kiev used them many times to raid and destroy important enemy equipment on the front line. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The US M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket system is considered one of the most dangerous rocket launchers today. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

This is a compact variant of the M270 rocket artillery. They use a 6x6 wheeled chassis instead of tracked ones. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket system consists of two main components: the launcher vehicle and the ammunition truck. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The launcher vehicle is equipped with a 6.6-liter Caterpillar 3115 ATAAC diesel engine with a capacity of 290 horsepower for a maximum speed of 85 km/h; operating range of 480 km. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The vehicle has very good maneuverability when climbing a 60% slope; overcoming 0.6 m high obstacles; crossing 1 m wide trenches; wading through 0.9 m deep water. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

Each launcher carries a container containing six rocket launchers, and when needed this container can hold and launch an MGM-140 missile. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The M142 has great damage, taking only 20 seconds to launch 6 M26 rockets, creating a damage area of ​​78.5 hectares. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

Each M26 rocket carries 644 M77 sub-warheads, fired from a distance of 30 km. The US Army considers this a bombing option without the help of air force aircraft. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

During Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991), multiple rocket launchers showed their power even though they only used basic M26 ammunition. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

At that time, the US began developing a rocket model with a range of up to 45 km, but still used the M77 warhead. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

Soon after, this warhead was replaced by a newer M85 variant, which had the same destructive power but a technical failure rate of only 1% compared to 5% of the M77. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

However, their weakness is that the projectiles do not have a guidance system, making them very inaccurate, easily causing unintended damage on the battlefield. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The US later released a version of the M30 rocket equipped with a homing head and 404 M85 sub-bombs, reducing lethality but significantly increasing accuracy against small targets. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The latest variant of the M31 rocket is considered an effective solution for destroying targets in mountainous and urban areas with maximum accuracy. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The M85 cluster warhead is replaced with a 100 kg high explosive, allowing the destruction of a single target without causing collateral damage to the surrounding area. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The missile is equipped with an inertial guidance system and satellite positioning, allowing it to hit within a 10-meter radius of the intended target. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The firing range is increased to about 70-80 km, beyond the counter-battery capabilities of most conventional rocket artillery systems, ensuring the survivability of the M142 system's launcher. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

The M142 HIMARS is a rocket artillery system currently in service with NATO countries and other countries including Japan and Israel. According to War Zone, Zvezda.

PV (According to ANTĐ)

Source: https://danviet.vn/vi-sao-phao-phan-luc-himars-duoc-ukraine-chuyen-nguoc-ve-my-20240215181254931.htm