Photo By Sgt. Barbara Ospina | An 81mm white phosphorus mortar round bursts on impact after being fired by Soldiers...... read more read more
By: Spc. Barbara Ospina
1st BCT Public Affairs
Shortly after the sun broke through the morning sky on January 7, indirect fire infantrymen (mortar men) and fire support specialists from 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment started setting up outside Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warrior for an opportunity to advance their skills.
Rain fell sporadically, growing steady as the up-armored humvees rolled out to the range, leading the Soldiers to joke "if it ain't raining, we ain't training."
Knowing that an impact area can be full of unexploded ordinance, the forward observers immediately cleared their observation point; meanwhile the mortar men were busy positioning their 81 mm "guns."
More than 100 white phosphorus, illumination and high explosive (HE) rounds meant plenty of ordinance to launch down-range; filling the day, and much of the night, with countless explosions.
"Training exercises allow us to remain proficient at indirect firing, and forward observer skills," said Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Barton, the Battalion Fire Support Non-Commissioned Officer.
Back at Fort Campbell, Ky., the "No Slack" Battalion would conduct similar training exercises at least once every quarter. According to Sgt. 1st Class Jason Sager, the Battalion's Mortar Platoon Leader, they are trying to keep that pace while deployed.
In preparation, the Soldiers spent the week prior to the live-fire exercise conducting misfire rehearsals and gun preparation.
"They did well in rehearsals," Sager commented. "They were prepared today."
Soon after placed their targets, small foreign trucks so rusted that they blended in with vast dirt area, the first mission ripped over the radio.
After receiving the elevation and distance to the center of the impact area, the mortar men responded by adjusting their gun and sliding the first of many rounds to come down the mortar tube.
With the first blast, the forward observers closely watched for the familiar impact, knowing their mission also requires them to be the eyes of the firer, relaying their observations back.
Rain fell periodically throughout the exercise, but the dark clouds persistently hovered overhead, as rounds hurled through the gray sky, sending a cloud of dirt and smoke into the mix upon impact.
As the last round burst high in the night sky, and the dark yellow light slowly trailed off providing sight in the darkest of nights, the Soldiers packed up their gear and scraped sticky clay mud off their boots as they climbed into the trucks eagerly anticipating hot chow that would bring their day to close.
| Date Taken: | 01.11.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.11.2006 18:57 |
| Story ID: | 5082 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 167 |
| Downloads: | 22 |
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