Counter fire platoon keeps terrorists on toes

Photo By Spc. Kelly McDowell | "Strike" Soldiers from the Counter Fire Platoon, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, quickly adjust the position of their Howitzer after counter fire was called over the radio April 25, in Mahmahdiyah, Iraq. The Counter Fire Platoon Soldiers have been supporting 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, and 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, since their arrival in Iraq seven months ago.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.04.2006

Courtesy Story

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BAGHDAD --For 18 hours a day, the Soldiers work through the heat, wind and rain, waiting patiently for the two words that are music to a Field Artilleryman's ears to be called over the radio. The platoon works throughout the day performing daily maintenance, reorganizing the ammunition bunker and completing daily tasks that range from guard duty to picking up mail as they wait, ready to react.

It is relatively quiet in the operations center. The sound of tapping on computer keys softly fills the air in the tent, but the silence is broken with those two words repeated over and over.

"Counter fire, counter fire, counter fire."

Suddenly the dance begins. The door to the operations center flies open as a Soldier yells out to the gunners: "Counter Fire!"

The Soldiers drop their tools, grab their helmets and move in an organized fury to their positions. Measurements, degrees and azimuths are called from the radio operator and the Soldiers lift the Howitzer and rotate it to its ordered position.

In less than three minutes the rounds are ready to fire and the anticipation fogs the air as they await the final command to fire.

This is a normal day for the Soldiers of the Counter Battery Platoon of 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment. The platoon, stationed at Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah, supports the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, and more recently, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment.

"Some days are pretty boring," said Sgt. Kevin Hoople, gunner for 1st Platoon, 1-320th FA. "We stand on call 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week. As soon as we get a counter fire, the adrenalin starts pumping."

In the past seven months, the Counter Battery Platoon has fired more than 100 missions to help deter terrorists. The platoon fires the most counter battery in the Baghdad area. Some days, the Soldiers have conducted up to five missions in an 18-hour period and fired as late, or as early, as 3 a.m.

"This is one of the hottest spots in Iraq right now," he said. "Most of the artillery units are in Mosul, Striker and really big crowded cities. There are a lot more open spaces out here and more opportunity for the mortar guys to shoot " and a lot more opportunities for us to shoot."

The Soldiers work tirelessly through 18-hour shifts and, even on their time off, stand ready to answer the call 24 hours-a-day. Throughout their shifts, they never know what to expect and when to expect the action. Because of this, they have to be on their toes.

"When we first started this mission, I wasn't really sure how it was going to go," said Hoople, who works in one of three sections with in the platoon. "We were told we weren't going to be doing a lot here. So far, it has turned out we actually have been doing a whole lot. We managed to shoot almost more rounds than our entire battalion did in the beginning of the war."

He said since 1st Platoon arrived in Mahmudiyah, mortar attacks have decreased by 50 percent due to the counter fires and area-denial missions. The terrorists are not getting enough time to launch multiple rounds and are not as accurate due to the pressure the Counter Battery Platoon puts on its targets.

"I believe we have been making a difference through area denials," said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Brown, platoon sergeant, 1st Platoon, 1-320th FA. "There are a couple of areas out there that are heavy in insurgent activity. We have shot some area denials into that area and the activity ceases for a while. It slows (the terrorists) down and makes (terrorists) stop and think about attacking Coalition Forces because we know where they are."

Area denial missions target known insurgent mortar sites, Brown said.

"What that is doing is limiting the terrorist's advancement into that area," he said. "Our platoon shoots rounds into that area to let the terrorists know we know where they are. It lets the terrorists know we are here " and we are able to reach that area. It disrupts their movement."

The Soldiers are doing great, Brown said. Every day, the platoon 'tweaks" something. The Soldiers take a look at their counter-fire drills. They rehearse, and after every mission, the Howitzer Section conducts an after-action review to see if there is anything that can be done to make the team's time faster and the drill more efficient.

"I think our platoon has done excellent," Hoople said. "This mission has been a god-send for these guys. This is the real dream of field artillery. You get the real effect of field artillery getting to shoot anywhere at anytime. This is what artillery is all about."

• Date Taken: 05.04.2006
• Date Posted: 05.04.2006 14:36
• Story ID: 6272
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ