Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan | Moldovan leaders, right, speak with U.S. Soldiers with the North Carolina Army...... read more read more
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BULBOACA TRAINING AREA, MOLDOVA – North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) Soldiers joined hundreds of Moldovan Armed Forces peers as Exercise Fire Shield continues in the Bulboaca Training Area in Moldova, Sept. 15, 2016.
Over several days the Soldiers of the NCNG’s 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) and 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment (INF) learned more about Moldovan Artillery tactics and techniques
“We get a different perspective,” said Spc. Brian Huntley, a forward observer with the 113th FAR.
The long days began to the songs of Moldovan soldiers marching past the NCNG barracks as the sun rises. Nearby there was the clatter of howitzer breeches slamming shut, the straining of Moldovan setting and resetting two wheeled, several ton howitzers by hand as the Moldovan Soldiers prepared for live fire drills.
Several NCNG Soldiers joined the Moldovan artillerymen to ask about weapons ranges, capabilities, training, and procedures. Moldovan experts showed the tools of their trade: compass, protractor, gunner’s quadrant, and other precision instruments used to aim the massive guns.
“The equipment is different but the fundamentals for calling artillery fire is so close it is hard to tell the difference other than language,” said Army Master Sgt. Hugh Wilson, the Operations Noncomissioned Officer for the 113th FAR.
Moldovan leaders invited NCNG Soldiers to an observation post overlooking the ranges across the rolling hills on post. They scoured maps, assigned targets, and established safe areas for the upcoming live fire mission. Interpreters clarified statements as years of hard earned experience of professionals were shared.
“They work with limited resources, retain knowledge and put accurate fire on target,” said Wilson.
The exchange gave some of the NCNG Soldiers a rare opportunity to try something very different from equipment they were accustomed to. The sound of caterpillar tracks scraping along the dusty gravel announced the arrival of a Moldovan 2S9, self-propelled howitzer. The Moldovan crew invited their new friends to climb aboard the nearly 20-foot long, 8-ton armored vehicle.
It was not the only demonstration for the Moldovan’s guests. Dozens of NCNG Soldiers were treated to a weapons demonstration of a 152 mm towed howitzer gun crew. On command the young men swarmed around the 6-ton gun camouflaged in the late summer scrub on a hill overlooking one of the many valleys of the range.
As a team they rapidly emplaced the weapon. With the target verified, the crew prepared the ammunition and loaded the heavy round. The howitzer section chief then verified the target sighting and approved the weapon for firing. After the gunners depart, a soldier pulls the lanyard firing more than 2-foot long shell down range.
“It is cool to see how they operate and run their drills,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Anderson, a radar section chief with Headquarters, 113th FAR.
Exercise Fire Shield 2016 is part of the United States ongoing commitment to developing relationships and capabilities throughout the region.
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2016 14:28 |
| Story ID: | 209854 |
| Location: | MD |
| Web Views: | 355 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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