According to US-based Military.com, the US Army intends to withdraw a total of 139 105-mm M-1128 MGS (Mobile Gun System) by the end of 2022. In total, the US Army has acquired 142 vehicles based on Stryker (LAV III), but three are missing.
Deliveries began in 2002 and were completed in 2010. The service said in a news release that the 105 mm calibre cannon no longer meets the Army"s operational requirements. The automatic loader has systemic issues.
The M-1128 was the first US Army vehicle to be equipped with an autoloader, a major innovation. However, now the cost of supporting the system has increased significantly.
This Stryker model is an eight-wheeled infantry support vehicle with a 105mm tank gun, based on Canada"s LAV III armoured vehicle. The Army developed it in the early 2000s.The main mission of the M-1128 is to provide support fire to Battalion level units (2-3 per Battalion in the US Army). It is not designed to engage tanks, especially with a 120 mm cannon. The Army said this Stryker model was developed with a flat-bottom chassis and was never upgraded to deal with improvised explosive devices or anti-tank mines. It is designed to support the Infantry in battle. The maximum firing rate is ten rounds per minute. It can use four types of ammunition: M-900 (kinetic energy), M-456A2 (high explosive), M-393A3 (high explosive crushed warhead) and M-1040 (anti-personnel).
