Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Devin Nichols | A landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Cold winds brought a chill over the Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, as they waited in the muck and water saturated Davis Airfield, N.C., March 19.
The wind was nothing compared to what was coming in from above: “the Hurricane Maker.”
Landing support specialists with CLR-2 stood their ground and braced themselves against the downwash of the CH-53E Super Stallion. The engines provide the heaviest lift of any helicopter in the Marine Corps with a sling load capability of 36,000 pounds.
On the ground, at the center of the gusts, is a battle to see and stand.
“When the wind is blowing and those hooks start swinging around it’s an adrenaline rush every time,” said Cpl. Bradley W. Casterline, an Orange City, Fla., native and team leader with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, CLR-2.
The LS specialists were conducting a Helicopter Support Team exercise, assisting a Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 lift a M777 howitzer.
“I enjoy doing [it],” said Lance Cpl. Eric M. Uribe, a Chicago, Ill., native and LS specialist with the unit. “I have never done it with the M777, and it’s good that we are doing this because it’s a lot better than normal training blocks.”
When a helicopter approaches the HST, the inside and outside directors give the helicopter signals to make sure it is positioned over the load perfectly. The static man makes sure no one gets shocked from the static electricity generated by the rotor blade. He grounds the bird with a static hook on the apex, allowing the rest of the team to work.
The leg men ensure the cables don’t get caught on any of the gear according to Casterline.
“Teamwork is a big part,” said Casterline. “It feels good looking over all of the [Marines] knowing that I’m trusted and keeping them safe.”
Marines with 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment supported 2nd MLG’s HST by bringing two M777s.
“It’s a [multi]million dollar piece of gear so we make sure it’s our number one priority,” said Casterline.
The Super Stallions have the heaviest lift capability of any helicopter in the United States military. They have a sling load lift capacity of approximately 32,000 pounds. The M777 weighs roughly 7,000 pounds.
“The best part about all of this is doing the actual lifts,” said Uribe. “My first time I was a little scared, but doing it over and over again just gets me excited.”
Each team took turns with the HSTs, the ground finally calmed and the winds dissipated. The crew chief waved from above as the bird turned for home.
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2014 11:10 |
| Story ID: | 122358 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | ORANGE CITY, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 100 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Artillery in the air: Landing support specialists test lift capabilities, by GySgt Devin Nichols, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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