Watervliet Arsenal ramps up artillery production amid high demand
Americans have decided to expand the Watervliet Arsenal despite a significant increase in production. It is the only manufacturing facility for artillery and tank barrels, supplying not only the USA but also Ukraine. Here's what they produce.
The Watervliet Arsenal in New York is the sole producer of artillery barrels in the USA. In recent years, it has increased production to levels not seen in 40 years. Major General Michael Lalor, the commanding officer of the Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, informed Breaking Defense that over the past three months, the facility has significantly ramped up its production of artillery barrels, but it's still not sufficient.
This production increase is in response to growing demand that emerged in 2022 when the USA began supplying howitzers to Ukraine. General Lalor emphasized that the use of M777 howitzers highlighted their precision, durability, and longer-than-expected barrel lifespan.
Current production is not enough in light of findings from Ukraine
To meet the growing demands, the US Army is modernizing supply processes and considering creating an additional barrel factory. General Lalor highlighted that while the Watervliet Arsenal still has potential for expansion, alternative sources are needed to mitigate risks associated with centralized production in one location.
The Army has begun searching for new manufacturers who could start barrel production within 12 to 18 months if they receive the appropriate technical data. General Lalor emphasized that although barrel production is a specialized capability, it can be accelerated in crisis situations.
Experiences from the war in Ukraine highlighted weaknesses in the industrial base and the need to diversify production sources. General Lalor stated that the US Army must be prepared for future conflicts that may require a rapid increase in production.
Systems for which the Watervliet Arsenal produces barrels
The Watervliet Arsenal produces barrels for M1 Abrams tanks, M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzers, and light M777 howitzers. In the case of the M256 120 mm caliber gun for the Abrams, it is a licensed version of the German Rheinmetall Rh-120 L44 gun known from Leopard 2 tanks up to version A5.
The gun, along with the recoil mechanism, which is slightly modified compared to the German original, weighs about 1,900 kg, and its force when loaded with modern ammunition allows it to destroy any Russian tank.
Conversely, for M777 howitzers and M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzers, the core is a 155 mm caliber gun with a barrel length of 39 calibres. This makes American artillery lag behind European artillery such as the German PzH 2000 or Polish Krab with a barrel length of 52 calibres. When firing, for example, the most economical base-bleed shells, the maximum range of American guns is approximately 26 km, while for European systems, the range is 31 km.
Conversely, using M549A1 rocket-assisted projectiles, the range of American systems increases to 31 km, while European competitors exceed 50 km in range.
