Ukrainian brigade's M777 Howitzer takes out 5 Russian targets

A brief video showcasing soldiers from the 44th Artillery Brigade of the Operational Command "West" surfaced on social media. As confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, these soldiers destroyed "two BM-27 Uragan artillery systems, two self-propelled guns, and one additional significant target" in just one day.

The M777 (English: M777 Ultralightweight Field Howitzer) is a British 155 mm howitzer initially designed for the American army and has been in production since 2002. Eventually, this type of weapon was also incorporated into the arsenals of several other countries that have been supplying it to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion.

The howitzer used by the soldiers of the 44th Artillery Brigade of the Operational Command "West" originates from the United States, as indicated by the inscription "From America with Love" on it. About 100 M777 units were sent from the USA to the front lines in Ukraine, with allies supplying an additional 100.

This equipment weighs approximately 8,320 pounds and measures about 31 feet long in the transport position and over 33 feet in the combat position. A crew of seven soldiers is required to operate it. The shipments to Ukraine were mainly justified by its relatively considerable firepower, proven in skirmishes with Russian forces.

Designers selected a 39-caliber barrel, allowing a range of about 15 miles using standard explosive shells. Ammunition equipped with an additional rocket booster extends the range to about 19 miles while using M982 Excalibur shells enables the elimination of targets up to 25 miles away. The M777 howitzer has a maximum firing rate of five shots per minute.

The eliminated Russian BM-27 Uragan systems are self-propelled artillery units that use 16-guide launchers and are mounted on ZIL-135LM truck chassis. These units can move at speeds of about 40 mph.