Rounds on target: 27th FA Regiment, evaluates the M1156 Precision Guidance Kit

Photo By Spc. Joshua Kramer | M109A6 howitzer crew members Pfc. Jojiro LeCroix and Spc. Michael Bottcher, 2nd Platoon, Battery A, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, prepare to load and fire a 155 mm high explosive round with the M1156 Precision Guidance Kit during an artillery live fire evaluation.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

03.14.2014

Story by Pfc. Joshua Kramer 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

FORT BLISS, Texas - Sand, grit, and precision was the name of the game for Soldiers assigned to 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, as they mobilized March 6 north of McGregor Range Complex to evaluate a newly-developed artillery fuse.

The unit is evaluating the M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) under the direction of Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate (CDID), TRADOC Capabilities Manager Fires Cells from Fort Sill, Okla.

While battling the thick sands of Fort Bliss training areas, Batteries A and B, 4th Battalion, 27th FA Regiment, 2nd BCT, 1ST AD, conducted joint movements to occupy artillery-firing boxes by air assaulting and ground maneuvering M777A2 howitzers and by transporting the M109A6 tracked howitzers in order to conduct live fire evaluation of the PGK.

PGK fire support specialist team lead, Dave Henson, the CDID new equipment training team, explained how he worked with the artillery unit’s forward observers in order to correctly call for fire with the M1156 PGK fuse.

“I explained the characteristics of PGK and ensured they had a full understanding of conventional munitions versus near precision artillery. Instead of shooting rounds with high amounts of dispersion, PGK adds GPS guidance and tightens the shot group on artillery fire,” said Henson.

“To shoot conventional munitions in the past, we pretty much had to (employ) mass fires to destroy anything,” Henson further explained.

Lt. Col. Scott Collins, CDID new equipment training team officer in charge, was responsible for the overall objective of teaching the unit how to employ the PGK.

“We’re not trying to replace conventional artillery fire, but rather fill a gap that we've had by providing more accuracy, less collateral damage and more range (to conventional rounds). You can now concentrate your effects on an area to destroy a target with better accuracy across the board,” said Collins.

PGK brings expanded capabilities to artillery firing systems. Capt. Sean Williams, Battery A commander, discussed those capabilities.

“We shot multiple rounds (from separate guns) that all landed between 25 and 40 meters away from target. This validates that artillery is not just a ‘fire for effect’ weapon system. We now have the capability to put near precision munitions on a target within much greater accuracy (than before). On a conventional 155 mm high explosive round, I’ve never seen anything this accurate,” explained Williams.

Pfc. Jojiro LeCroix, a cannon crew member with Battery A, 2nd Platoon, shared how handling this fuse was different from other artillery fuses.

“You do sacrifice more time in setting (and preparing) this fuse. It’s packaged in a sealed canister and has an additional cover around some of the more sensitive parts of the fuse. In our job, time is key, but even with this extra preparation, the end result is almost pinpoint accuracy,” said LeCroix.

“The training personnel were very helpful in explaining the PGK in full detail. Now that I know what to do and how to do it, I’m very confident that I’ll be able to pull off this same task in a shorter time and get the round out of the tube much quicker,” concluded LeCroix.

This maneuver was a part of the training and preparation phase to evaluate the M1156 PGK during Network Integration Evaluation 14.2 beginning in late April.

• Date Taken: 03.14.2014
• Date Posted: 06.18.2014 16:36
• Story ID: 133549
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US