Photo By Capt. Eric-James Estrada | The M777 howitzer was transported to Combat Outpost Chamkani from Forward Operating...... read more read more
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KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Paratroopers from Task Force Spartan Steel coordinated the transportation of an M777 howitzer on Forward Operating Base Salerno to Combat Outpost Chamkani, March 27.
The move was conducted to upgrade the capability of indirect fire support for members of Task Force Gold Geronimo, which is based in Paktya province.
Riggers from the 725th Brigade Support Battalion, Task Force Centurion, provided the expertise to ensure the weapon system could be moved safely, using a CH-46 civilian-contracted helicopter.
The M777 howitzer has a weight close to 10,000 pounds and a combat length of roughly 35 feet. U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Michael Strate, C Battery, TF Spartan Steel, from International Falls, Minn., said the howitzer isn’t a typical gun that can be replaced at an arms room.
“We were out there because that is our equipment and even though it may be a tough piece of artillery, it also is delicate,” Strate said. “I believe that it needed special attention to ensure the howitzer would be emplaced without any damage and be ready to fire.”
The mission also gave the soldiers of TF Spartan Steel and TF Centurion an opportunity to execute live training that they have been tested and drilled on time again through instruction according to Strate.
While TF Spartan Steel was there to ensure the safety and proper loading of their equipment, the paratroopers from TF Centurion were there to handle the rigging of the howitzer.
“We use BSB because when we’re back at home station, they’re the riggers,” U.S. Army Sgt. Mark Barber, a motor transport operator, from Lake Jackson, Texas, with Headquarters Battery, TF Spartan Steel said. “They’re the ones that go through this. They’re all slick qualified. They’re all sling load qualified.”
Barber went on to say that, “they’re very familiar with the proper way of rigging these systems to help it to fly safely whenever we maneuver it and they pretty much run the HLZ for that reason.”
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2012 12:10 |
| Story ID: | 85958 |
| Location: | KHOWST PROVINCE, AF |
| Hometown: | INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MINNESOTA, US |
| Hometown: | LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 448 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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