Photo By Jason Ragucci | A driver of a Mortar Carrier Vehicle exits through the hatch during the calibration...... read more read more
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EL PASO, Texas -- The 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment calibrate their new mortar carrier vehicles at Range 59 on Fort Bliss, Texas, Oct. 24, 2011.
“Blackhawks” soldiers start the calibration process by going over the importance of misfire procedures should one of the 120mm rounds not go off as planned.
“The importance of having misfire procedures is to take care of any rounds that don’t fire and you won’t hurt anybody,” said Spc Chris Dorn, a gunner assigned to 6-1 Cav. Regt.
The benefits of the MCV is that it is more mobile, and faster, enabling it to move to more places, said Dorn. The vehicles tend to lose a little bit of range due to the shocks in tires, but they can still always hit the target to reach out and touch somebody.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division had other Battalions besides the Blackhawks at Range 59 to calibrate their new MCVs, as well.
“The MCV uses the 120mm mortar, which is an effective way to suppress the enemy,” said Spc. James Mullins, a gunner for 6-1 Cav. Regt. “The gunner lays the azimuth and elevation, then he has the assistant gunner take and hang the rounds to fire.”
“The MCV is basically a Stryker designed for the Infantry Mortar Man,” said Pvt. Kyle Overholt, an assistant gunner for 6-1 Cav. Regt. “I hang the rounds that are given to me by the Ammo Bearer. I check the rounds and see if the charges are right. I have the easiest job out here. I just hold the round up there and then drop it.”
The precursor of the MCV carried a mortar that could only be used dismounted, whereas the MCV is fully capable of firing its weapon from the mounted position within the vehicle.
The first MCVs were put into service in the spring of 2005, with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The 172nd SBCT deployed to Iraq in August 2005 and was the first unit to fire the MCV in theatre.
| Date Taken: | 10.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2011 12:28 |
| Story ID: | 79674 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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