The CROWS: Gaining Combat Effectiveness

Mounted soldiers count on the safety that layers of armor and high speeds provide; however, these advantages disappear as soon as they dismount. This is especially true for soldiers who operate machine guns mounted on combat vehicles. To address high-risk exposure for soldiers and enhance and expand the capabilities of vehicle-mounted machine guns, the U.S. Army developed the common remotely operated weapons station (CROWS).

The CROWS consists of a weapons station, which is attached to the vehicle’s exterior. The weapons station is controlled and fired from within the safety of the vehicle, allowing soldiers to engage targets without being exposing. The system provides the defensive and operational capabilities of an externally mounted machine gun, while protecting soldiers from threats such as snipers, indirect fire, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and rollovers. From within the vehicle, an operator aims and fires the CROWS with a joystick, using a video feed from either the day camera or thermal camera to aim the system. This allows soldiers to accurately engage enemies in day or night conditions. A laser range finder provides accurate range to the target for accurate first-hit engagement. The three axis stabilization of the CROWS provides both stationary and on-the-move target acquisition and engagement. Four weapons can be mounted to the CROWS system: the MK19 grenade machine gun, the M2 .50-caliber machine gun, the M240B machine gun, or the M249 squad automatic weapon. The system has been fielded in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) on the Buffalo and RG31 route clearance vehicles, as well as the M1151 high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV). There will soon be more than 400 systems fielded in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). All of which are fielded by Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, the Army acquisition agency that develops, acquires, and fields nearly everything soldiers wear or carry. The improvements to soldier safety, as well as increased capabilities afforded by the CROWS, are indicative of PEO Soldier’s commitment to troops on the ground. The first CROWS system, the XM101, has been upgraded to the XM153, which is lighter and more reliable than its predecessor. Featuring enhanced stabilization, auto tracking, auto focus, and auto lead, the XM153 builds on the successes of the XM101 by expanding the capabilities of the system. The improved safety of the mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle made an obvious pairing with the CROWS system. The combination of the CROWS and the MRAP provides a high degree of protection for soldiers while expanding their ability to acquire, engage, and defeat the enemy. CROWS will be used primarily on MRAP vehicles, but other platforms are planned as well. Because of the CROWS’ success and popularity on wheeled vehicles, the system is also being modified for use on the M1A2 Abrams tank, which is expected to be complete in early 2010. As a component of the tank urban survival kit (TUSK), the CROWS will replace the tank commander’s gun mount. Without the CROWS, tank commanders are exposed to enemy fire when providing machine gun support. Attempting to operate the machine gun could be especially dangerous in urban situations, such as those experienced during OIF, where tanks were fired on from close proximity without warning. As with all new technology, soldiers require new equipment training (NET) to make the most of the CROWS’ capabilities. The training takes up to 40 hours to complete and consists of a mix of classroom, simulator, practical exercise, and range-fire training. The classroom portion of CROWS training covers maintenance, troubleshooting, weapons interfacing, boresighting, and comprehensive hands-on use. To better prepare soldiers, a device called the “appended trainer” is being used to supplement classroom training. Unlike stand-alone simulators, the appended trainer is attached directly to a CROWS system mounted on a vehicle. With the appended trainer, neither the weapon nor the vehicle move during training. Instead, simulated video is piped to the CROWS, allowing the soldier to become familiar with the operations and capabilities of the system without the need for live fire. The ability to conduct this type of training in the natural environment and confinement of the vehicle significantly improves the effectiveness of the training. The appended trainer is especially helpful when access to live-fire ranges is limited, as is the case in Iraq and Afghanistan.