Photo By Sgt. James Gulliver | Private First Class Ryan Damron, amphibious assault vehicle crewman, Charlie Company,...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – When a grenade is pulled out in combat, the opposing force is automatically at a disadvantage. Useful for clearing rooms and entrenched enemy positions, the small device is essential in a combat situation and is sometimes the ace in the hole.
Marines serving with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion participated in a grenade range to enhance their capabilities with the lethal device, practicing throwing the grenades from the prone, kneeling and standing positions.
“The purpose of this range is to increase the Marines’ confidence with throwing live grenades. Our battalion excels at handling weapons such as machine guns and rifles,” said Capt. Matthew Hohl, the commanding officer of Charlie Company, 3rd AABn. "We want to give them the same level of confidence with live grenades.”
The Marines of 3rd AABn. must be able to operate their amphibious assault vehicles effectively and with proficiency, but they also must excel in basic riflemen skills and use any weapon system at their dispose.
“You never know in our job whether you are going to be dismounted infantry or inside our vehicle doing what we do best,” said Hohl, a native of Clinton, Mass. “I want my Marines to have the training and confidence to perform both of these tasks with the same proficiency.”
Amphibious assault vehicles’ primary purpose is assaulting beaches and landing troops, but to secure the beachhead the Marines of 3rd AABn. must know how to use grenades effectively.
“In an amphibious assault, grenades can be very useful,” Hohl said. “Usually the enemy will be entrenched or dug in, making the extra firepower the grenade brings essential to an assault.”
The M67 fragmentation grenade, which contains a mixture of explosives, has a lethal radius of five meters and can wound the enemy within 15 meters. It has been successfully used with great effect in the streets of Iraq and mountains of Afghanistan, Hohl said.
“The grenade can really be an effective device on the battlefield. We can use it to eliminate enemy positions that our rifles cannot breach,” said Pfc. Brandon Fea, an AAV driver serving with 3rd AABn. “I definitely feel more confident with the grenade after completing this range.”
The Marines of 3rd AABn. are preparing for a six-month deployment to Japan where they will participate in exercises with allied forces, making performing the grenade range beforehand necessary.
“This range gives our Marines a chance to make sure they are ready to work with allies and perform at their best,” Hohl said. “We want to be able to not only impress them with our capabilities, but also teach them some of the things we have learned here.”
The Marines of 3rd AABn. came away from the range better prepared for any challenges they might face in future combat operations.
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2013 16:21 |
| Story ID: | 112124 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Hometown: | CLINTON, MA, US |
| Hometown: | RIVERSIDE, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 247 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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