Expeditionary Fire Support System (M327)
The Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) is the final system of a land-based fire-support triad that includes the LW155 and HIMARS. It will accompany Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs) in any type of expeditionary operation. Transportable by helicopter and tilt-rotor aircraft, it will be the primary indirect fire support system for the vertical assault element of the ship-to-objective maneuver force.
U.S. Marine mortarmen from 120 mm mortar platoon, Bravo Battery 1/10, attached to Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct fire missions with the EFSS during the 24th MEU’s Realistic Urban Training at Camp Atterbury, Ind. Sept. 29, 2009. USMC photo by Sgt. Andrew J. Carlson.
Expanding and updating the description in his recent Posture Statement overview, Conway explained, “The Expeditionary Fire Support System is a rifled 120 mm mortar, internally transportable 110 nautical miles by both the MV-22 Osprey and the CH-53E helicopter. This will be the primary indirect fire-support system for helicopter-transported elements of the ground combat element. A platoon equipped with these new mortars recently deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.”
“In artillery we can’t support the initial phase of the amphibious assault,” Banfield said. “We can’t shoot howitzers from the ship. Now, with this mortar system, we can fly it into a location and create 72-hour sustainment operations allowing everyone else to get off ship and on shore.”
The system is comprised of a pair of prime mover vehicles, a 120 mm M327 mortar weapon, a family of four IM [insensitive munitions]-compliant munitions and an ammunition trailer.
The 120 mm towed rifled mortar, which can fire smoothbore or rifled ammunition, rotates the round as it exits the barrel to provide greater flight stability and range over current smoothbore ammunition.
The EFSS family of spin-stabilized, 120 mm munitions consists of four type-classified rounds – high explosive, smoke, illumination, and practice – and has an effective range out to 8.2 kilometers. In addition, a GPS-guided Precision Extended Range Munition, in development, holds the promise of extending ranges out to 17 kilometers.
Support elements include a prime mover vehicle designed to meet the maximum width requirements for transportability within an MV-22B, a Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) that can be equipped with a variety of machine gun options, and an ammunition trailer capable of carrying up to 30 120 mm rifled mortar rounds, designed specifically for the EFSS to fit internally within the MV-22 while hitched to the prime mover.
As of this writing, EFSS prime contractor General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has delivered two batteries of six systems for a total of 12 systems.
While Conway’s testimony reflected that a platoon equipped with EFSS deployed in early 2010 with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, that unit was detoured from its originally planned Southwest Asia destination to support humanitarian assistance/disaster relief following the earthquake in Haiti.
Meanwhile, as that humanitarian assistance mission continued to unfold, additional Marine Corps units qualified with the new mortar system.
Mid-February 2010, for example, saw a Marine Corps release announcing that Marines with Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, had qualified with the EFSS, preparing them for their upcoming attachment to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the fall of this year.
“Any artillery battery that locks on to a MEU is going to get trained on the M327 EFSS,” said Gunnery Sgt. Robert K. Banfield, battery gunnery sergeant for Fox Battery. “We are the third artillery unit in the Marine Corps to be trained on this system.”
“In artillery we can’t support the initial phase of the amphibious assault,” Banfield said. “We can’t shoot howitzers from the ship. Now, with this mortar system, we can fly it into a location and create 72-hour sustainment operations allowing everyone else to get off ship and on shore.”
“We just got certified today, so this is the first time we get to shoot these bad-boys and see how they kick back,” echoed Cpl. Brad P. Schultz, section chief for gun one with Fox Battery. “I’m excited. This system is so much easier than the howitzer. Just the maneuverability in itself is huge. With this system we’re able to hook it up to the back of our truck in minutes and move if we have to. It’s perfect for the mission it’s designed for.”
“This system has a 50-meter kill radius,” he added. “The enemy wouldn’t even know what hit them. They might hear a little whistling noise but by that time their game is over!”
This article was first published in Marine Corps Outlook: 2010-2011 Edition.