Courtesy Photo | An M1A1 Abrams tank from Charlie Company, 1-252 Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Armored...... read more read more
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POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, N.C. – Tech. Sgt. Louis Gyurkovics contacted soldiers of the North Carolina National Guard’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, in early May with a plan for a loadmaster challenge.
Gyurkovics planned to use the 252’s M1A1 Abrams Tank as part of the loadmaster training for the Joint Operational Access Exercise 13-03, at Pope Army Airfield in late June.
The mission was simple enough: the two units would work together to load their tank on the U.S. Air Force C17 Globemaster III aircraft.
JOAX was a seven-day joint effort between the 82nd Airborne Division and the Air Force. The overall end state was to synchronize planning and execution of large-scale logistical movement of equipment and personnel into a hostile area. The 252’s role would play a role in this exercise by helping to train on securing large and heavy equipment for aero transport.
This mission was extremely important for the Air Force’s loadmasters, as it gave the technicians an opportunity to train hands on property load armored equipment on an aircraft. Loadmasters are experts organizing and safely loading cargo on a wide variety of U.S. Air Force air frames.
“The loadmasters have been training on loading and dropping various types of equipment, but most have never worked with a tank,” said Gyurkovics. The training was deemed to benefit both units and the two agreed to support each other.
The Abrams, due to its size, poses several issues for even a veteran loadmaster. It is tall, long and wide with a typical height of 8 feet, a width of 12 feet and a length 32 feet.
Not to mention it is one of the heaviest pieces of Army equipment on the battlefield. Even with just a half of a tank of fuel, it weighs nearly 68 tons. That weight equals three quarters of the payload capacity of the C17 Globemaster III.
Another challenge of the loadmasters was to secure the massive payload properly. The C17, while airborne, will make turns up to three times the force of gravity. The loadmasters had to secure the tank with 45 tie-down devices, which ensured that the equipment would not move an inch while the aircraft maneuvered in flight.
After many weeks of planning and coordination by the Air Force and NCNG Army logistical leaders, the mission was ready to begin.
On the day of the exercise, soldiers of the NCNG’s 1452nd Transportation Company, 113th Sustainment Brigade, using a heavy equipment transporter with trailers, prepared to haul the M1A1 across Fort Bragg to Pope Army Airfield. The 1452nd soldiers displayed their expertise, by loading and chaining the 68 ton Abrams tank in less than 20 minutes.
After the equipment was secured, the JOAX – loadmaster challenge officially began. The loadmasters could not arrive early at Pope Army Airfield in order to achieve the unknown element of what type of equipment they would be loaded.
When the M1A1 came into view, the veteran Air Force loadmasters did not seem to be fazed one bit at the task they now had to accomplish. They lowered the C17 ramp and, along with the rest of the aircrew, got to work immediately.
The loadmasters gathered around the M1A1with their iPads, notebooks and pens and began measuring the tank and plane, asking various questions to the NCNG units. The tankers from C Company watched with proud smiles, as the airmen clambered around their massive machine.
Once all calculations were completed, checklists checked, and ground guides assigned, it was time to put their knowledge to the ultimate test. Would the plane’s cargo decking hold a 129,000 lb tank? The calculations were correct as the tank came to a rest in the aircraft with a foot and a half of space left on each side.
Soon after the engines were shutdown and master power switched off, the soldiers and airmen had the opportunity to tour each other’s “offices." The guardsmen learned about the C17 and the airmen got a rare chance to climb into and sit inside one of the greatest battle tanks the world has ever seen.
The loadmasters and guardsmen earned positive marks in all categories at the conclusion of the exercise reinforcing their skills in joint operations, and together, remaining “always ready” for any mission.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2013 00:49 |
| Story ID: | 109664 |
| Location: | POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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