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The Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW)
The Objective Individual Combat Weapons (OICW) was designed to be incorporated in to the Army's new Brigade Combat Team (BCT), a specialized, highly mobile (of course!), light infantry unit expected to be fully operational in 2025. Some of the really young pup's may actually be in to see the CBT become a reality. Thankfully, most of us should see the inception of the OICW, since they are looking to field this weapon system in 2009.
Experiences in peacekeeping in Kosovo and other places, sometime not so peaceful, have provided the Army with the need for a weapon with a little more versatility and, according to the articles, lethality as well. With a tracking laser site, a selectable, above-ground bust capability, and supposed increased precision, the Army might just have something.
A Marine's Opinion
When I review all the information, this weapon appears to be a marriage between the lower receiver of a Shoulder fired, Man portable, Assault Weapon (SMAW) and an M16/M4. Although this weapon is based on the M203 most infantry units carry today, there are some huge differences.
Advantages
First off, if looks could kill, this stocky, tough-looking weapon would win, hands-down. Thankfully, the Marine Corps has never relied upon looks alone to win, but I think this weapon might fall right into our line of thinking anyway.
Take, for instance, the 20 MM grenade launcher capability. I consider this the to be the preeminent part of this system. This weapon uses a laser range finder to pinpoint the target range and delay burst fuse which will place the bust directly overhead of the intended target. Talk about making something grunt-proof!
I can see the Squad Leaders of the future saying, "Look, Joe-bag-of-doughnuts, just point the range finder at the enemy, hit the 20 MM button and watch for the pink mist." And to top that off, you can do this in the day or night thanks to a fancy, rocket-scientist, "uncooled IR sensor technology for night vision," at twice the range of the current M203. How's that for some stand-off distance?
Additionally, this weapon's sighting system boasts the ability to track moving targets and to identify the closest enemy threat for you. Next thing you know we will be mounting this thing on unmanned tracked vehicles, sending them remotely into the battle area while we all sit in some protected rear area with virtual reality helmets on working this whole battle like a video game.
Now, really looking at the weapon statistics, I see that the recoil is a little more then the current M16 recoil, which is no big deal. It is still a whole heck of a lot less then the M14 or automatic shotgun. I really could see the advantage of a system such as this. It would provide increased stand-off and more precise detonation of rounds, therefore creating a more efficient use of ammo, meaning I would potentially shoot less, but my kill ratio would not suffer. I was worried there for a moment.
Another advantage I see immediately is the ability to separate this weapon system. (Yes, I know you can take the tube off the M203, but then your forward hand guard is gone for support). This weapon breaks down into two logical weapons that would allow one Marine to pick it up and attach it to his weapon without having to loose his personal weapon in the trade. The disadvantage is that it appears you can not fire the 20 MM grenade launcher independent of the rifle. Now that would be good to go, but, alas, they didn't get that far.
Disadvantages
The final advantage I see to this system, is also a drawback. The 20 MM grenade launcher uses a 6 round magazine. Now, from the reloading point of view, I like the idea of having 6 rounds, ready to rock-and-roll when I need them. Heck, I would rather have a few more magazines on the front of my Load Bearing Vest (LBV) then the current plethora of explosives I see on my Marines.
The weakness to this particular idea is the idea itself: a magazine. Anyone who has fired any type of weapon knows the problem you can have with magazines. They get dirty, the bend out of shape, the spring fails. All things which lead to a malfunction in the operation of the weapon, and ultimately makes a Marine a less efficient warrior.
To counter this slightly, I assume the manufacturer thought of this. But from viewing the picture I can not tell if there is a manual feed for this system or not. (I will write the manufacturer to find out if that is an option or not. I will post an update when I hear something).
Another drawback, coming from the ground-pounder-point-of-view, is the weight of this system. According to the specifications provided by Alliant Techsystems Inc, this weapon currently weights up to19 pounds, and about 14 stripped of the fancy gear. The manufacturer's response to the weight was simply to point out the M230 would weigh about that much if all the sighting and night vision gear was attached to it. They may have a point, but I still think they could shave a few pounds off here and there.
The final drawback is that this weapon has a lot of high-speed, low-drag technology associated with it, and I wonder about its durability in the field. I have problems with Marines forgetting batteries for their night vision goggles and squad radios, I can't image going to the field and finding out they forgot the battery for their weapon. I can hear it now, "But SSgt. Savage, I know I recharged the battery before I put it into the armory. I bet the armorer switched my batteries!" or, "I can't fire at that target SSgt, I don't know how far it is because my laser range finder is on the fritz."
One thing I truly believe in a weapon system, as well as computer systems; the more moving parts there are the more problems you are likely to have. Unfortunately, we will not have the number of people using this weapon that use the windows operation system, and the bugs we identify probably won't get fixed any faster.
The key capabilities of the OICW
(According to the manufacturer, Alliant Techsystems Inc.)
- Precise target range which is automatically communicated to the 20mm HE (High Explosive) bursting ammunition. Soldier lases, aims and fires.
- Five times more lethal than the M16/M203, at more than twice the range
- Full defilade target capability
- Day/night fire control; weapon interface, iron sight backup
- Laser ranging accuracy: ±1/2m out to 500m; ±1m out to 1000m
- Moving target tracking capability ... identification of closest enemy threat option
- Rate of fire with KE (Kinetic Energy) ammunition: >850 rounds/min; with HE >10 rounds/min
- HE ammunition functional modes: airburst, MOUT short arm, point detonation, point detonation delay, and self-destruct
- KE semi two-round burst; HE semi automatic
- Recoil level: only slight more than M16
- Ruggedized composite weapon housing
- Separable HE/KE weapons
- Easily field strippable in less than two minutes
The Authors' Questions to the Manufacturer
Q: The Author Asked
"Does
the 20MM launcher allow the user to load the rounds independent of the
magazine? The reason for this question is that if the magazine (s) are some how warped, or inoperable for whatever reason, I want to be able to single load the rounds. I could not tell from the pictures if that was possible or not.
A: Karen.Engelbret, ATK responded
"If the 20mm magazine gets damaged or is inoperative in any way, the soldier will still be able to load 20mm rounds individually. Thanks for contacting ATK.
Works Cited
OICW
Pictures and Key Capabilities
Alliant Techsystems. "No Place to Hide," <http://www.atk.com/>
National
Defense Magazine. Virginia Hart Ezell, "New Weapons Being Developed for
Infantry,"
<http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org.>. M203 Photos courtesy of Chief Skrdlant P.W.
Mortar, Ch53 and Gas Chamber photo courtesy of Chief Skrdlant P.W.
A More Traditional Method
E Company 2/24 Marines Cpl. Ashby and Cpl. Wood employ the M60 mm mortar at a range in Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin.
Pre-Flight Brief
The Marines of E Company 2/24 receive a safety briefing prior to boarding the CH53 Super Sea Stallion while at annual training at Camp Pendleton, California.
All Suited up
The Instructor-Inspector staff of E Company 2/24 prepares for the gas chamber at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, IA
.