Incoming, incoming: Outgoing - mortars platoon defends the force

Photo By Staff Sgt. Erik Warren | After receiving indirect fire July 14, 2014 gun three of Mortars Platoon, Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment, waits for the data to fire their gun at Forward Operating Base Lightning. The mortars platoon didn’t get the opportunity to fire though they where prepared in less than two minutes. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Erik Warren, 3d Cavalry Regiment PAO)  

PAKTYA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

08.02.2014

Story by Spc. Erik Warren 

3d Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs Office

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Mortars Troop, 1st Squadron “Tiger,” 3d Cavalry Regiment, registered its weapons systems July, 27 2014 at Forward Operating Base Lightning in Paktya province, Afghanistan.

Mortars are vital in defending the base from enemy attack. The M252 81mm “gun” has a maximum range of around three miles. The Regiment can deliver high explosives, smoke for concealment, or rounds to illuminate the battlefield.

The mortars teams are prepared to protect their comrades after months of training at Fort Hood and being put to the test at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California

In the event of enemy firing at the FOB an alarm sounds telling everyone “incoming, incoming, incoming.” While the rest of the base drops to the ground or heads to a bunker, the mortar teams gear up and head outside.

“I hear the “incoming incoming” and the adrenalin starts pumping,” said Pvt. Cameron Lawrence, Mortars Platoon, Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, Tiger Squadron, 3d Cav. Regt. “I know I have to get my gear on and get to my gun quick. It’s a rush getting your data and dialing in the gun while trying to remain calm. There are alarms going off, its usually dark, people running around getting ammo and yelling trying to get the data for their system dialed in.”

Mortars are the quickest asset the commander has at his disposal to defend the base or support the fight. The mortars platoon beat the standard of two minutes between an incoming attack and sending rounds back on target.

Base defense is very serious business and mortars protect everyone inside the wall but for the men firing off the rounds it’s more.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or how long you have been in the Army,” said James Forrestal, Mortars Platoon, Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, Tiger Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment. “You see and feel a mortar fire and the 12-year-old inside of you comes out.”

• Date Taken: 08.02.2014
• Date Posted: 08.09.2014 01:10
• Story ID: 138839
• Location: PAKTYA PROVINCE, AF