HIMARS to be tested shipboard -- US 'Balikatan' exercise director

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 14): HIMARS to be tested shipboard -- US 'Balikatan' exercise director

The American military is planning to test its HIMARS weapons platform aboard ship.

This was disclosed by US "Balikatan" exercise director Lt. Gen. John Toolan Thursday shortly after the successful live-fire exercises involving American and Filipino military units in Crow Valley, Capas, Tarlac Thursday.

"We (going) to test it off the deck of a ship," he added.

Toolan said HIMARS has good range as its rockets can reach targets up to 300 kilometers.

HIMARS is short for "M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System", a US light multiple rocket launcher mounted on a standard Army medium tactical vehicle truck frame.

Around six HIMARS practice rockets were fired during Thursday's live-fire exercises which also demonstrated the American's M-777 towed 155mm howitzers.

It is the second time HIMARS was fired in Crow Valley with the first being on April 4. Six reduced-range practice rockets were also fired during that date.

HIMARS can fire six rockets or one MGM-140 ATACMS missile on the US Army's new family of medium tactical vehicles five-ton truck, and can launch the entire multiple launch rocket system family of munitions.

It is interchangeable with the MLRS M270A1, carrying half the rocket load. The launcher is C-130 transportable.

Each HIMARS platform is worth over USD5 million.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=876476