History in the making as 2nd CR Field Artillery tests new ammunition

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class William Tanner | Sgt. Tyler J. Pint, a cannon crew member assigned Alpha Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, checks the settings on his unit's M777A2 Howitzer weapons system in preparation for a demonstration, where they will fire an XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit fuse for the first time in the Regiment's history at Grafenwoehr Training Area located near Rose Barracks, Germany, July 24, 2015. The demonstration allowed the Regiment to participate in new equipment training where the PGK fuse (which has global positioning system capabilities that aim to increase the accuracy of High Explosive and Rocket-Assisted Projectile artillery rounds) will be fired for the first time in Germany. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)  

ROSE BARRACKS, BY, GERMANY

07.29.2015

Story by Sgt. William Tanner 

2d Cavalry Regiment

ROSE BARRACKS, Germany – History is made again as Troopers assigned to Alpha Battery, Field Artillery, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, fired XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) fuses using M777A2 Howitzer weapon systems during the unit’s first-ever field demonstration of the ammunition, at the Grafenwoehr Training Area located near Rose Barracks, Germany, July 24, 2015.

The PGK fuse is a GPS guidance kit with proximity and detonating fusing functions. This fuse, when attached to the tip of a 155 mm High Explosive (HE) projectile, helps to correct its ballistic trajectory. Thus, turning a current stockpile of conventional HE ammunition into near precision projectiles while simultaneously reducing the logistic footprint for our armed forces.

“PGK is a fuse that is smart and steers itself to the target using satellites,” said Sgt. Tyler J. Pint, an Alpha Battery section chief. “This is a new experience where 2 CR will be firing it for the first time in Germany.”

Maj. Joseph Miller, squadron executive officer, agreed with Pint while further explaining the training.

“We’ve had a team from Fort Sill come over and are training us how to use a fuse on a conventional round to improve our accuracy,” said Miller. “The big change is, obviously, our accuracy.”

With the acquisition of this technology, Troopers will have the ability to fire rounds with greater precision and lethality while reducing the potential for collateral damage to friendly troops and non-combatants.

“On a normal conventional round, you will have multiple points of impact, we call that ‘mass’,” said Miller. “With this fuse, I can fire a section [one gun] or a platoon [three guns] and achieve the same effects.”

While being able to add a weapon to any arsenal can be exciting, it can also create additional logistical concerns for units.

“It doesn’t take a whole lot of extra cargo space, so we can bring conventional munitions along with a small set of these fuses, put the fuses on the round and still achieve the desired effects that the commander wants,” said Miller. “It’s the Army taking those steps forward to improve accuracy and doing more with less.”

This experience is one that Soldiers will not only learn from but can remember and improve upon throughout their careers.

“I foresee this becoming a very big thing in U.S. Army Field Artillery,” said Pint. “So far, this experience has been enjoyable and I have learned quite a lot about the fuse and precision guidance munitions since I have been out here.”

• Date Taken: 07.29.2015
• Date Posted: 07.29.2015 07:43
• Story ID: 171396
• Location: ROSE BARRACKS, BY, DE