M270/HIMARS MLRS-style launcher pod reload

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by dcarson

The US launchers actually have cranes built in. If a pod is sitting there on the ground they can unload the old and load the new. Apparently in Ukraine they pre position pods at planned points so a system can shoot and scoot to the next dropoff site. Swap pods and move to the next planned firing location. So the logistics truck and the launcher are not at the same location to be targeted and you can pre load a days supply without having to run steady and trackable supply runs during the fighting.

Sorta the high tech version of the trope of hiding a bunch of muskets around an ambush point and then just moving from one to the next. Makes it look like there are more of you than there actually are, makes it difficult to determine where you're at, and lets you reload (New York style) without having to haul everything from place to place. Not sure if it was ever used historically, but it shows up in stories and movies from time to time (I think there was a notable instance of it in The Patriot).