Photo By Sgt. Richard Daniels Jr. | Spc. O'Neil Davis, a light-wheeled mechanic with Company B, 426th Brigade Support...... read more read more
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FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team readied their tool bags as they prepared to learn and work on the M1200 Armored Knight vehicle Jan. 10 at their motor pool here.
The three-week course, which started on Jan. 5, gave blocks of instruction to the soldiers of Company D, 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, and 426th Brigade Support Battalion, and was taught from a company based out of St. Louis.
The M1200 Armored Knight is the evolved version of its predecessor and uses the M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle as its base. According to the DRS Technologies’ website; the Knight is a precision targeting system consisting of a laser designator/rangefinder, day/night electro-optic sensor, digital command and control, blended inertial/global positioning system navigation and targeting and a self-defense weapon.
“This has two blocks of instructions,” said Michael Fulton, an Instructor from [Tactical Army Command] Material Fielding and Training out of Detroit. “There is a maintenance class and an operator’s class. The maintenance class gives familiarization with the vehicle, familiarization with the system on the vehicle and then the maintenance requirement for both. The operator’s class not only goes into the ASV chasse because that is new equipment for the Army, but the mission equipment package as well, which has been developed over time through the [M7 Bradley Fire Support Vehicle] and the M707 Knight into the Armored Knight.
“The original vehicle in 2007, being the original production, has since had armor upgrades, software upgrades and it’s continuing to develop as the Army’s needs increase,” said Fulton. “For example its got a higher armor capability than the original vehicle allowing it to go more places, particularly Afghanistan, where the [improvised explosive device] threat is greater.”
The civilians teaching usually host small classes in order to promote participation and allow soldiers to have the maximum time possible for hands-on. This also allows the soldiers to absorb more of the material.
“Usually for the hands on we keep it less than nine people,” said Fulton.
For some soldiers, this was the first time working on any model like the Armored Knight. Learning the new system presented a unique challenge to both veterans and inexperienced soldiers.
“I’ve seen them in pictures and that’s about it,” said Cpl. Eric Imamura. “I mean it’s kind of cool learning about a vehicle completely new to me. It’s different than a Humvee. I’ve been a mechanic all my military career. I have worked on Humvees, family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Vehicles, even the [M88 Recovery Vehicle], which is a tank recovery vehicle but nothing like this.”
Even the veteran mechanics enjoyed many of the aspects of the vehicle.
“It looks like a great system,” said Spc. Peter Brousseau, a light wheeled mechanic with 426th BSB. “Me personally, I wouldn’t mind rolling around in it. We did driving yesterday. It’s a little bit harder for me to get used to. I’m used to driving LMTVs with wider [turns], but with this it’s a low turning radius so its almost like driving a big huge car.”
Brosseau explained that the vehicle is more of a scout vehicle. One that can lay a target, call an airstrike and “blows stuff up.”
Fulton also mentioned the vehicle was first fielded here in 2007.
“That was the first new release of the vehicle to the big Army and we’ve been fielding it ever since,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 01.11.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.11.2012 19:35 |
| Story ID: | 82292 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 421 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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