Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Shannon Massie, a field engineer from Company B, 3d Battalion, 238th Aviation...... read more read more
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By Spc. Sam Beavers
Ohio National Guard
CAMP GRAYLING, Mich.—Flying at speeds up to 110 knots door gunners blasted 1000 rounds downrange from a moving CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
The training was part of an annual aerial gunnery qualification for Soldiers from Company B, 3rd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, June 11, during annual training at Camp Grayling, Mich.
"This is something fun and out of the ordinary," said Sgt. Shannon Massie, a field engineer with the unit.
The qualification is an annual requirement for crew chiefs, gunners, and flight chiefs.
The targets on the qualification range were objects such as barrels and tanks, and Soldiers engaged the targets at speeds ranging from a hover to 110 knots.
Troops had 10 seconds to engage targets with their M-240H machine gun; scores were tabulated by number of hits as well as how many seconds it takes them, said Staff Sgt. Gary Sarver, flight engineer instructor for the company.
The M-240H machine gun is the primary way to defend the aircraft during combat, said Warrant Officer 3 Brian West, aviations standards officer for the unit.
"Our job is to suppress the enemy and then continue on with the mission," West said.
The CH-47 Chinook has three firing positions—the two door gunner positions as well as a rear ramp position.
Massie said firing from the air is more challenging than firing from the ground and the best technique is to walk the bullets up to the target.
The Chinook is the most modernized and fastest helicopter in the U.S. Army inventory, Sarver said.
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2008 17:32 |
| Story ID: | 20571 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 213 |
| Downloads: | 81 |
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