When Gen. James L. Jones, 32nd commandant of the Marine Corps, directed a review of Marine Corps field artillery, one resulting idea was the Expeditionary Fire Support System. “In the past 10 years or so, we have decreased our fire support systems too far,” said Jones in a September 2000 interview with Field Artillery Journal. “We got rid of a lot of our artillery weapons in the name of efficiency -- in the name of mobility -- and we hinged ourselves to one field artillery system – the M198 towed 155 mm howitzer. The M198 is a wonderful artillery piece, but it’s not very mobile. ... We have atrophied our Marine ground fires inventory to a dangerous point. We’re outgunned and out-ranged by just about everyone. So I am fixing the artillery – bringing robustness back to the Marine artillery.”
“Marine expeditionary unit commanders and their staff officers clearly stated the need for a lighter, more mobile and lethal organic fire support system that can be vertically transported, is well suited for missions requiring speed and provides close-in fire support to enhance the commander’s tactical agility,” according to the combat assessment team in a 2002 Operation Enduring Freedom summary report.
“The Marine Corps has studied a triad of indirect fire systems comprised of a lightweight 155 mm howitzer, a high mobility artillery rocket to support a need for an expeditionary fire support system,” said Wagner. “The MAGTF will have the EFSS on all types of expeditionary operations. It will serve as the primary indirect fire support system for the vertical assault element of the ship-to-object maneuver. For units requiring speed, tactical agility and vertical transportation, EFSS is the answer.”
“The mortar is currently being used by 24 countries to include four NATO countries,” said Wagner. “Initial operational capability is scheduled for fiscal year 2007.”
With better vehicles and more capable weaponry, the Marine will become an even more efficient and lethal fighting force and EFSS is just one example of a Marine Corps concept that has been brought to reality to make the Marine Corps even better.
