XM2001 Crusader: История американской самоходной артиллерии.

American 155 mm self propelled artillery project

The XM2001 Crusader was to be the United States Army's next generation self propelled howitzer (SPH), designed to improve the survivability, lethality, mobility, and effectiveness of the artillery as well as the overall force. It was initially scheduled for fielding by 2008. United Defense was the prime contractor; General Dynamics the major subcontractor. In early May 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld canceled the US$11 billion program because he considered it neither mobile nor precise enough. The prototype SPH vehicle is on display at the cannon park at Fort Sill.

The Crusader was conceived as the Advanced Field Artillery System (AFAS), part of a family of vehicles built around a common chassis in the Armored Systems Modernization program. In October 1992, the Army canceled Armored Systems Modernization due to changing budgetary priorities caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 1994 AFAS was renamed "Crusader." Caterpillar Inc. proposed a diesel engine, as did a joint venture of General Dynamics and DaimlerChrysler. In September 2000, the Army selected Honeywell's LV 100 turbine engine. The Army was to procure as many as 3600 of these, including 2845 for the Abrams and 846 for the Crusader. Using the same chassis, the resupply vehicles (RSVs) would deliver automatic, reciprocal transfer of ammunition, data and fuel to the SPH or another RSV.

1QFY95 Approved to commence program definition and risk reduction (PDRR) phase. 2QFY98 In process review completed and manufacture of the PDRR prototype systems begun. 3QFY99 Delivery of first RSV prototype. 2QFY00 Delivery of first prototype howitzer SPH 1. 1QFY02 Successful preliminary design review. 1QFY02 More than 4000 rounds fired from SPH 1. 2QFY02 Program discontinued.

SPH RSV T (tracked) RSV W (wheeled) Curb weight 40 tons 36 tons 33.3 tons Length 7.53 m 7.53 m 11.03 m Width 3.31 m 3.31 m 2.44 m Height 3.00 m 3.00 m 3.59 m Road mobility 67 km/h Cross country mobility 39–48 km/h 39–48 km/h 64 km/h Armament Cooled 155 mm none none Maximum range Over 40 km Rate of fire/resupply 10 12 rounds/min 48 rounds in 10 min 48 rounds in 10 min Crew 3 3 3

In October 1999, Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki outlined a future that envisioned transforming heavy brigades into lighter brigades outfitted with wheeled Interim Armored Vehicles, later renamed "Stryker." Shinseki said the priority of a lighter, more mobile army could shift resources from heavier armored vehicle acquisitions. The following month Shinseki said the vehicles were too heavy: the howitzer and its resupply vehicle would weigh a combined 110 tons, more than could be carried by any of the Air Force's aircraft, including the C 5 Galaxy if flight rules aren't waived. Shinseki spoke with contractor United Defense about bringing down the combined weight of the two vehicles by 20 tons, which United agreed was possible. In April 2001, a panel convened by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recommended canceling the Crusader and other defense modernization programs. An official involved called the Crusader "a wonderful system for a legacy world." As of 2002, the Army planned to acquire 480 Crusaders at a program cost of $11 billion. In February 2002, President George W. Bush allocated $475 million for the Crusader program in the White House's 2003 budget proposal, which also proposed increased Pentagon spending by $48 billion. In April, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, whose concerns about defense modernization overspending had intensified, met with Pentagon officials including Army Secretary Thomas E. White to discuss defense spending cuts to free funding for more essential modernization programs. The officials discussed cuts to the Crusader, RAH 66 Comanche helicopter, and F 22 Raptor. Some officials questioned whether the howitzer was redundant given the parallel development of a lighter howitzer for the Future Combat Systems modernization effort. The investigation culminated with the resignation of the Army official who had distributed the talking points. After being absolved himself of wrongdoing in the matter, Army Secretary White assured that he supported Rumsfeld's decision and said the Army was analyzing alternatives to the Crusader including the M982 Excalibur 155 mm guided artillery shell. The House Appropriations Committee responded, after rejecting a measure that would have sustained the program until the fall, asking the Pentagon to delay plans to cancel the Crusader. Later that month President Bush asked Congress to reallocate the Crusader's budget towards other Army developmental weapons including $310 million for Future Combat Systems in the proposed 2003 Pentagon budget.