Photo By Spc. Alicia Clark | Soldiers turned to cover their ears as the M777 A2 howitzer is fired.... read more read more
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By Pfc. Alicia Torbush
Desert Voice Staff Writer
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division fired M777A2 howitzers, at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Oct. 2, 2008.
Calibrating the artillery piece and improving accuracy, the firing crew uses an M94 chronograph to measure the muzzle velocity of the weapons, explained, Maj. Jon Sowards, executive officer, 2-8 FA.
"The crew then subtracts that measurement from the standard velocity and makes adjustments to improve the accuracy of the weapon," added Sowards.
The SBCT is assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and has been at Camp Buehring to complete training, while adjusting to the environment.
The equipment had to undergo a thorough maintenance when it arrived in country, said Sowards, a Bowling Green, Ky., native. The fluid and nitrogen levels had to be adjusted because of the condition.
Safety is also important when firing a weapon of any kind.
Having a forward observer, while firing the howitzers, is a requirement so that safety is ensured, said 1st Lt. Drew Maney, platoon leader.
In Alaska, the unit had to deal with a hard, frozen ground and working with bulky gloves, added Maney. In Kuwait, the Soldiers are dealing with the sand and dust, which gets into the equipment.
"The weather also has a lot of impact on firing," said Maney. "The wind picks up the sand and that limits visibility."
Despite adjusting to the different conditions, the 2-8 FA accomplished the mission in preparation for movement up north.
"We've been doing some pretty good training," said Maney, a Shalimar, Fla., native, whose unit has also conducted various trainings at Camp Buehring, including: close quarter marksmanship, counter improvised explosives device and HMMWV Egress Assistance trainings.
The calibration was the last requirement for 2-8 FA to complete before the 1-25th SBCT heads into Iraq.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.08.2008 04:29 |
| Story ID: | 24664 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: | 1,002 |
| Downloads: | 897 |
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