Photo By Sgt. 1st Class William Howard | The crew stands in a safe location while the first 155 mm artillery round is fired...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo.—The echo of the howitzer’s blast drowns out the shouted commands of gun crews racing to fire eight successive 155 mm artillery rounds during operator new equipment training April 16, 2014.
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted a maintenance test fire to ensure that the gun crews and the M777A2 howitzers are ready to enter future qualification training.
The training marks an important milestone in the brigade’s transition from a heavy Armored Brigade Combat Team to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
“We’re firing the M777A2 howitzer as part of our conversion to strykers and to learn how to use this weapon,” said Staff Sgt. Kyle Graff, howitzer section chief, C Battery, 2nd Bn., 12th FA Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “Now we’re more mobile because we can do air assault missions instead of being stuck on the ground in the M109A6 paladin.”
The M777A2 howitzer can be internally transported in an aircraft or slung under a helicopter allowing Soldiers to perform missions in less than ideal conditions.
“The switch from the M109A6 paladin to the M777A2 howitzer gives Soldiers the opportunity to train on a different weapon platform, perform air assault operations and shoot degraded operations,” said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Thrasher, platoon sergeant, A Battery, 2nd Bn., 12th FA Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “This will help them in their career by making them more versatile.”
Spc. Frank McGhee, cannon number one man, C Battery, 2nd Bn., 12th FA Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., pulled a cord to fire the M777A2 howitzer after the members of his cannon crew rushed to clear, lubricate and load each heavy round.
“It was awesome,” said McGhee. “I could feel the boom in my feet and the power was just amazing.”
From an overlook positioned atop a nearby hill, 2nd Lt. Jay Sims, fire support officer, B Troop, 2nd Bn., 1st Cav. Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., and his team maintained constant radio communication with the crews firing below.
“We’re making sure that all the rounds land safely and that the M777A2 howitzers are accurate,” said Sims.
At the end of the training, Lt. Col. Allan Selburg, commander, 2nd Bn., 12th FA Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., stood amongst the leaders of his formation in a small semi-circle.
“This is what we’re going to take to war so your team chiefs need to own their pieces,” said Selburg. “Relay to your Soldiers that this was a great day; a great day for them and for the battalion.”
| Date Taken: | 04.16.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2014 12:59 |
| Story ID: | 128245 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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