Photo By Staff Sgt. Andy Martinez | U.S. Marine Capt. Sean O. Graham, a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot, speaks to a U.S. Army...... read more read more
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A pair of U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallions emerge from a cloud of dust armed and ready to carry over 9,000lbs of artillery along with the U.S. Army Soldiers needed to rapidly deploy the massive weapon systems and provide supporting fire.
U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 ‘Wolfpack’ and Combat Logistics Battalion 4 supported an artillery raid exercise of the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment to test their proficiency and readiness during Exercise Cobra Gold 2018 at Phu Lamyai in the Kingdom of Thailand, February 20, 2018.
“It was awesome to work with another branch of service,” said Capt. Sean O. Graham, a CH-53E pilot and operations officer for HMH-466. “We were limited by communications with the Army but it ended up going pretty smooth. This training was one of the highlights to my trip to Thailand.”
During the training, the Helicopter Support Team would rush under the Marine Corps’ primary heavy-lift aircraft, a CH-53E Super Stallion, to attach the 9,300 pound M777 Howitzer and 4,690 pound M119 Howitzer to the helicopter while it hovers a few feet above the team’s heads.
The aircraft would then lift the artillery unit and fly it to the landing zone, tactically positioning the Howitzer with precision.
“The Army artillery crew would get aboard the CH-53E so they can initiate security operations once we drop them off by their Howitzer,” said Graham from Slidell, Louisiana. “We would drop off the M777 then sidestep to land the aircraft dropping off the crew. Then they would immediately rush out to get the weapon ready to fire to simulate the live fire.”
The mission of the HST was to secure the cargo and communicate with the crew chiefs and pilots aboard the helicopter to properly conduct the lift as swiftly and securely as possible.
“CH-53Es can quickly insert vital equipment into landing zones to support the ground combat element but we can’t do it without the HST,” said Graham. “The HST plays a very important role to us. We can’t do these lifts without them.”
The training event gives helicopter squadrons and HST Marines the training proficiency needed to conduct heavy lifts with the CH-53E Super Stallion in forward deployed environments when gear and supplies, such as vehicles, cargo, and food, need to be transported.
“HMH-466 mission statement is to support the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commander and provide assault support transport of heavy equipment, combat troops and supplies, day or night, under all weather conditions during expeditionary, joint or combined operations. These training evolutions are utilized to maintain proficiency and combat readiness,” said Graham.
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2018 09:04 |
| Story ID: | 266769 |
| Location: | PHU LAMYAI, TH |
| Hometown: | SLIDELL, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 199 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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