Photo By 2nd Lt. Ryan Huggins | “Patriots” with A Battery, 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. – Soldiers from A Battery, 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, executed real-world operations training, Sept. 14-15, by conducting air assault raids with howitzers on Fort Stewart, Ga.
Prior to the training, which was held to prepare “Patriots” for future missions, the soldiers conducted hours of rehearsals as well as cold-load and hooker training at Donovan Field.
The 78th Aviation Troop from the Georgia National Guard provided CH-47 Chinook support for the artillery raids. The action kicked off with the Alpha Dawgs flying in the updated Fox version of CH-47 Chinooks from the pickup zone to the landing zone with a 25-minute flight around Fort Stewart.
The advance party arrived first in order to secure the area, establish communications and prepare ammunition for the arrival of the gun crews. Once the gun crews touched down the artillerymen jumped into action. Soldiers quickly de-rigged and established firing capabilities while positioning the howitzers using the Gun Laying Positioning System.
Sixteen minutes and 31 seconds later the two gun sections were laid and the “Patriots” were in position and ready to fire.
The Fire Direction Center processed and sent the technical firing solution to the gun-line. Within 24 seconds, the first M119A2 crew executed their crew drills, sending 105 mm high-explosive projectiles screaming from the tube. At the impact area, 8 kilometers away, the Combat Observation and Lasing Team watched and reported the rounds impacting the target.
In total, 120 rounds were fired by six howitzer sections during three missions.
Capt. Christopher Williams, commander of A Btry., 1st Bn., 76th FA Regt., said there was a lot of excitement throughout the day.
“This is the first time an air assault with howitzers has been done since 4th IBCT has been stood up,” Williams said.
Williams said the training was not only a morale booster but it let his soldiers know the importance of their job and how they will need to perform in future missions; for most soldiers it was their first time conducting such training.
First Lt. Brandon Jones, a platoon leader with A Btry., 1st Bn., 76th FA Regt., said the training was “spot-on theater-level training,” and that he was satisfied with the crews’ highly accurate fires.
| Date Taken: | 09.17.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2012 11:06 |
| Story ID: | 94952 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 296 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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