2nd Tanks conduct MCCRE

Photo By Sgt. Alexander Mitchell | An M1A1 Abrams tank with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division fires an M2 .50 caliber automatic machine gun during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Fort Pickett, Virginia, March 25-28, 2015. A team of four Marines was in each tank and conducted the platoon gunnery range for qualification, in which they shot from a defensive position, tactically moved up toward the simulated enemy and withdrew for a counter-attack when the enemy engaged the tanks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo taken by Cpl. Alexander Mitchell/released)  

FORT PICKETT, VA, UNITED STATES

03.25.2015

Story by Cpl. Alexander Mitchell 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

Marines with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division conducted a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at United States Army Fort Pickett, Virginia, March 25-28, 2015.

The MCCRE consisted of many scenarios including a tactical road march, breaching and clearing a field on the way to a village, and a platoon gunnery tank range for qualification. This training helped instill the battalion’s mission to close with and destroy the enemy using armor-protected firepower, shock effect, maneuver, and to provide precision direct fires against enemy armor, fighting vehicles, troops and hardened positions.

“The platoon gunnery range involves a defensive fighting position where tanks hide and shoot at targets as they pop up down range, and Marines engage them in 4-man teams inside of M1A1 Abrams tanks,” said Lance Cpl. Jesse Robson, a gunner with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and a native of Buffalo, New York. “After engaging, the tanks tactically advanced down range toward the simulated enemy. Once down range, the enemy simulated an attack and the tanks withdrew to the starting position and engaged in a counter-attack with the enemy.”

Marines qualified on the range and were evaluated on the accuracy and timing on their shots. Each team consisted of a driver, loader, gunner, and team commander. They communicated within the tank and with teams in the other tanks during the exercise to coordinate and properly execute fire and movement techniques.

“We fired, moved and communicated very well,” said Cpl. Keith Cressoine, a tank team commander with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. “It was loud, fast paced, and everyone needed to be on point with their timing.”

During the exercise, the teams shot different types of rounds down range. Tanks shot 12 sabot rounds, which are a kinetic energy penetrating rounds that go through armor, as well as 8 high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds, which are coned, inverted and shoot a linear explosion through armor. Gunners also shot over 1700 7.62 mm, and over 600 .50 caliber rounds.

“We don’t get many chances to shoot the main gun. Anytime we get to shoot and practice with our full arsenal we receive great training opportunities,” Cressoine said.

The teams continually scanned the hilly terrain for their next target and focused on target acquisition before engaging. Each Marine had a role to execute and being efficient set the teams up for success.

Robson said the terrain was difficult to get proper line of sight on the targets, however, you have to adapt and overcome during real world events, and this helped prepare the battalion for just that.

“Anytime you take an entire tank battalion and do as much work and operating as we’re doing, it will strengthen the unit and prepare us for anything we are called to do,” Cressoine said.

• Date Taken: 03.25.2015
• Date Posted: 04.02.2015 11:12
• Story ID: 158941
• Location: FORT PICKETT, VA, US