Live-fire artillery certification

Courtesy Photo | As the suns sets over Q-West Base Complex, Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment set up their M198 Howitzers to conduct a live-fire artillery certification Nov. 5.  

11.08.2005

Courtesy Story

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SGT Rice, Ashly
101st Sustainment Brigade
8 November 2005

Dust billowed and ears rang Nov. 5, as the 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment conducted its first live fire exercise on M198 Howitzers here since being deployed to Iraq.

"It is good training, and everyone is real motivated," said 1st Sgt. Antonio Boone, Alpha Battery first sergeant. "It is their first time to fire these weapons since being in Iraq, and although other missions are being accomplished [the troops] can accomplish this as well and get back to their artillery skills."

Alpha Battery conducted a right-by-fire before the live fire certification began. Each of the four teams fired the M198 Howitzers to ensure they all worked properly.

After the right-by-fire indicated no problems with the howitzers, it was clear for the certification to begin.

A general knowledge and safety written test, and a hands-on test, consisting of a dry- and live-fire run, make up the three-part certification. A maximum score of 860 can be awarded during the dry- and live-fire part of the certification if the team operates perfectly.

This section of certification is required twice a year on the M198 Howitzers.

"The distance needs to be 50 feet or better between the howitzers and can be set up in a diamond, side-by-side or 'Lazy W' formation when maximum space can be used, like today," said Sgt. 1st Class Leroy "Smoke" McFadden.

The Lazy W formation has four sections with a prime mover ammunition truck, in this case a light medium tactical vehicle, along with a crew of 10 personnel. The 10-man team consists of the chief of section, the gunner, assistant gunner, radiotelephone operator, ammunition team chief, three cannoneers, platoon sergeant and platoon leader.

Before the team could operate, the platoon sergeant and platoon leader determined the right azimuth of fire, and the platoon leader cleared the area as safe.

Observers looked from the outside of the forward operating base and sent a radio call for fire to the Fire Direction Center. 1st Lt. Allan Jackman, fire direction officer, and Staff Sgt. Fale Tualamalii, fire direction chief, calculated a ground grid and sent the information to the howitzers electronically or via radio.

"Presently we are using a computer system to calculate the data called the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, [or AFATDS] but there is another computer system available and a chart to manually do the calculations," said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Arneson, battalion fire support NCO.

Once the information was sent to the howitzers, it was time for action. Each person on the team did his part to ensure accurate fire. The gunner received the ground grid and fire information from the fire direction center, which allowed the assistant gunner to set elevation.

The radiotelephone operator recorded and read the data back to clear for a check or hold of operations. The ammunition team chief was responsible for cutting the powder and putting the round together.

The cannoneers loaded the tray into the tube and rammed it into the howitzer. After that, the number one man placed the powder inside and was ready to pull lanyard once the chief of section called fire.

Keeping up with artillery skills is not the only job the Soldiers have while here in Iraq.

"They have been running infantry missions, and although each artillery battery is required to do non-standard roles, they are keeping their artillery skills sharp," said Capt. Jeffery Fergerson, Alpha Battery commander.

Fergerson added, it is an accomplishment that the Soldiers can go from running missions and jump into artillery.

"It is a tribute to the quality of noncommissioned officers and Soldiers we have in the battery," said Fergerson. "They do a great job and are happy they get to do this, because they don't get to do it very often."

• Date Taken: 11.08.2005
• Date Posted: 11.17.2005 18:09
• Story ID: 3768