4th Tanks send rounds down range on Camp Pendleton

Photo By Cpl. Gabrielle Quire | Marines with Company A, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, refuel M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks after their culminating event during their annual training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 22, 2016. The culminating event displayed the Marines ability to execute heavily armored, large scale attacks while working with their active duty counterparts.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

07.25.2016

Story by Cpl. Gabrielle Quire 

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

Company A, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, conducted its main annual training event July 12-22, 2016, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
Starting from the sea, the exercise concentrated on training the Marines to conduct amphibious operations where Marines were transported from ship to shore aboard a landing craft air cushion in order to combine with their supporting units inland.
“It’s important to do this training not only for the Reserve Marines but the entire Marine Corps to go back to its amphibious roots,” said Maj. Anthony G. Davis, the assistant Inspector-Instructor executive officer for 4th Tank Bn., 4th MarDiv, MARFORRES. “A Marine is a naval infantryman. The whole reason the Marine Corps was created is to project power from the sea and it’s extremely important for your heavily armored assets to be able to move off ship and forward against the adversary.”
The culminating event kicked off July 22, where Marines displayed their ability to execute heavily armored, large scale attacks while working with their active duty counterparts.
“One of the primary roles in combat arms is to be able to shoot, move and communicate at the same time in a rigorous combat environment,” said Maj. Adam Lynch, the executive officer for 4th Tank Bn., 4th MarDiv, MARFORRES. “The Marines conducted the exercise in seamless effort with their active duty counterparts”
The culminating event was comprised of both offensive and defensive operations against a notional adversary, where 4th Tank Bn. took the lead up front as the most heavily armored asset. During the event, the tanks formed screen lines, a stationary force that established a series of positions along a designated line to provide overlapping observation and lines of fire.
“Conducting large scale training events like this shows all the aspects that a Marine Air Ground Task Force brings to the battlefield, and furthermore what the Reserves bring to the fight,” said Lt. Col. Christopher M. Long, battalion commander of 4th Tank Bn., 4th MarDiv, MARFORRES.
4th Tank Bn. is the largest tank battalion the Department of Defense has in their arsenal. If the need to deploy occurs, Marines with 4th Tanks are ready to answer the call.

• Date Taken: 07.25.2016
• Date Posted: 07.27.2016 16:46
• Story ID: 205095
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US