Photo By Spc. Joshua Kramer | Spc. Jordan McCord, cannon crew member assigned to 2nd Section, 1st Plt., Btry. B, 4th...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas - In the age of digital technology and futuristic weapon systems, the “Iron Thunder” battalion conducted two consecutive platoon air assault raids north of McGregor Range, New Mexico, during Network Integration Evaluation 14.2.
Preparation training began in February for the howitzer crews of Battery B, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, which operate the M777A2 towed howitzers capable of being airlifted.
Crews went through basic helicopter boarding drills as well as rigging and hookup drills for the howitzers. This allowed the Soldiers to become familiar with the safety and potential dangers involved with this type of air movement. The unit is no stranger to air assault raids, as they have performed multiple air maneuvers within the last year.
“What we’ve come to be used to (in artillery) is digital operations. Our guns have the Chief of Section Display, which gives the crew immediate information to train their tubes on a target, quickly fire, and adjust from there,” said Capt. Matthew Gregor, Battery B commander.
The artillery unit put special emphasis on conducting the air assault missions without the assistance of digital operation and positioning components.
“As we move to degraded operations, we utilize the optics and mechanical pieces of the gun as opposed to the digital (instruments),” Gregor explained, referring to how they went back to the fundamental elements of field artillery. “I like to think of shooting degraded as an art. It allows our crews to hone their skills as field artillerymen by receiving a mission by radio, adjusting the gun to the proper aiming points, and responding by (manually) putting rounds on target.”
“It’s good for the crews to have manual, degraded training,” said Sgt. Leon Meek, an air assault certified cannon crew member with 2nd Section, 1st Platoon.
“If our (digital) equipment were to break down, we’d have to rely on this training to be able to work efficiently under those conditions,” said Meek.
“I actually prefer degraded operations,” agreed Spc. Jordan McCord, a cannon crew member and gunner for 2nd Section, 1st Platoon. “Anyone can use the digital system. It’s taken a lot of extra training and time for me to really learn this piece, but after this (air assault mission) I can put another tool in the tool box with the knowledge I’ve gained.”
Another element that was added to the training was the movement of ammunition which was sling loaded beneath a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. This was done prior to the howitzers that were sling loaded to the CH-47 Chinook helicopters. The purpose was to pick up ammunition and advance party personnel, so the air assault location could be properly marked, secured, and ready for the guns to be dropped off.
Overall, the unit was able to successfully complete two artillery air assault raids that were split between two platoons, fire 16 high explosive rounds between four guns, carry ammunition and advance party personnel ahead of the weapon systems, and operate their howitzers in high winds, thick sand, and without the use of any on board digital instruments.
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2014 17:41 |
| Story ID: | 133561 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Back to basics for Iron Thunder Air Assault, by SPC Joshua Kramer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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