Fire for effect: 180th mortar live fire range

Photo By Capt. James Robertson | A Fire Support Team from the 1-180th Cavalry of the Oklahoma Army National Guard conducts fire missions on Observation Post 10 near Camp Buehring, Kuwait during a mortar live fire range on Jan. 15, 2012. The soldiers have been deployed to Kuwait since July 2011 in support of Operation New Dawn.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

01.15.2012

Story by Capt. James Robertson 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division

CAMP HUERING, Kuwait - Spc. Justin Ford heard the command “Hang it!” and placed the high explosive mortar round in the top of the tube. Seconds later, he heard the command “Fire!” and dropped the round in. The mortar cracked as the round flew into the air. Seconds later, the round exploded over two kilometers away, ripping the target apart. For Ford and the other mortarmen in the Squadron, this was just another day at the office.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 15, 2012, the 1-180th’s mortar soldiers, with the military occupation specialty of 11C, checked conducted their final equipment checks and rolled out, along with a group of artillery forward observers. The small task force moved out to Observation Post 10 near Camp Buehring and began setting up their mortar systems and laying out ammunition.

Observation Post 10 is well renowned for being one of the best mortar ranges in the world. It is often used by servicemen from all branches of the military, as well as from militaries all over the world. In addition, it is not unusual to for soldiers to see a herd of camels in the area.

For the rest of the day, the Squadron’s forward observer prepared fire missions of training targets to their front and sent them to the mortar fire direction center, which used the information to calculate data that was sent to the soldiers on the gun line, enabling them to fire their mortars and destroy the targets.

The Squadron mortarmen are masters at their craft. They are well trained and capable of being deployed anywhere, anytime to support their Troops with mortar fire. They give their commander the extra fire power needed to defeat the enemy to allow their fellow soldiers to complete the mission. After all this training, they are ready for anything.

• Date Taken: 01.15.2012
• Date Posted: 01.22.2012 08:33
• Story ID: 82679
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW