M-777 and mortars team up for devastation

Photo By Sgt. Theodore Ritchie | Smoke bursts from the tube of an M-777 155mm Howitzer as Marines with Sierra Battery, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a fire-support exercise, Oct. 5, 2008, aboard Fort Pickett, Va., a Virginia Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center. BLT 3/2 was aboard Fort Pickett for their off-site training, the first major training evolution of the 22nd MEU's pre-deployment training cycle.  

FORT PICKETT, VA, UNITED STATES

10.05.2008

Story by Cpl. Justin M. Martinez 

22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

By Lance Cpl. Justin M. Martinez
22nd Marine Expenditionary Unit

FORT PICKETT, Va. - Marines with Sierra Battery, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and mortarmen with Weapons Platoon, BLT 3/2, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, worked cohesively to annihilate various targets during a recent training exercise at Fort Pickett, Va., a Virginia Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center.

The two different sections of BLT 3/2 coordinated their efforts using the upgraded M-777 155mm Howitzer and 81mm mortar rounds to successfully employ projectiles on specific targets.

"We are training to do a full combined-arms Marine Corps package," said 1st Lt. Jason Mangone, the 81mm Mortar Platoon commander from Princeton, N.J. "Essentially, we work with artillery, using one another to get the best effects out of our respective weapons systems."

The weapon systems work to suppress the enemy and their air defenses, allowing aircraft to make a free pass over the impact area and destroy a target, said Mangone.

The M-777 Howitzer is a recent update from the previous model, the M-198 Howitzer.

"This new gun weighs about half as much as the old gun," said 1st Lt. Jay Dodge, the Sierra Btry. executive officer from Davison, Mich.

The light weight provides an advantage when it comes to moving the guns from one place to another, he said.

Dodge added that the new system is digital. Now, Aiming and weapon set up is all done digitally from the Fire Direction Center. This capability cuts down on radio traffic and gets rounds on target faster.

"This gun can also go manual," said Dodge. "So there is a fail-safe in case digital communication isn't working like we intended it to."

While not as new or digitally advanced as the M-777s, Weapons Company's 81mm mortars are tried and tested instruments of destruction.

And they have some advantages over the big guns.

"The advantage of the mortar weapon system is that it's a lot more field expedient," said Mangone. "The system can provide responsive fire in about five minutes."

Mangone added that the mortars' range is significantly shorter compared to artillery. But, this actually adds to their versatility.

"If we're in mountainous terrain, we are going to need mortar rounds because of the hills," said Pvt. Tito Duran Jr., an assistant gunner with Weapons Platoon from Circleville, Ohio. "Mortars can go over the mountains so we can hit targets that other weaponry can't."

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is a scalable, multipurpose force of more than 2,200 Marines and sailors. Commanded by Col. Gareth F. Brandl, it consists of its Ground Combat Element, BLT 3/2; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and its Command Element.

The 22nd MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training and is scheduled to deploy this spring.

• Date Taken: 10.05.2008
• Date Posted: 10.15.2008 16:17
• Story ID: 25033
• Location: FORT PICKETT, VA, US