Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Edge | Killer Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, pose for a troop photo at...... read more read more
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FORT IRWIN, CALIF. – In the dry, almost burning summer day of June 2, 2016 at the National Training Center and Fort Irwin, plumes of smoke could be seen rising out into the sky on range 22. Echoing claps of muffled thunder quickly followed these deformed clouds, before silence fell on the High Desert once more. As the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles crept towards the source of these monstrous giants, a sharp crack and whistle snapped the attention to the firing line. This was Killer Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment’s Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missile live-fire exercise.
The TOW missile is an anti-tank missile, which was first utilized by the United States Army during the Vietnam War in 1972 to destroy North Vietnamese tanks. The missile system has remained in service ever since, and is frequently employed for the Army’s training and combat operations. The missiles are fired on both mounted and dismounted platforms, currently with the Improved Target Acquisition System.
Pfc. Anthony Avalos has been with the 11th ACR for nearly two years and this would be his first time firing the BGM-71 TOW missile using the ITAS. “I was a gunner for four rotations, and had just missed out on the previous TOW range,” said Avalos “I finally got the chance to shoot this time.”
While the Soldiers were training on these systems, 1st. Lt. Victor Guevara, the executive officer for Killer Troop was happy to see them given the opportunity to fire live TOW missiles on the range. “It’s a very rare occasion when we receive actual missiles, and have our guys fire, and get practice sending live rounds down-range,” said Guevara
As Killer Troop continued with its iterations, the vehicles and dismounted systems were lined up perfectly against the firing line and began to load their TOW missiles into the launchers. With each startling hiss and flash, the missiles soared across the desert until they met their targets with bursts of smoke and groundbreaking explosions.
Killer Troop’s leadership observed the exercise, each with their own expressions of approval once the targets were struck.
“The exercise is going really smooth, I think the Soldiers are enjoying themselves,” said 1st Sgt. Aldo Gonzalez, Killer Troop 1st Sgt.
The long and hot day was concluded with a Troop Photo, after displaying their proficiency firing the TOW missile with the ITAS on the range.
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2016 19:45 |
| Story ID: | 200572 |
| Location: | FORT IRWIN, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 464 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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