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Equipped with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Fox Battery deployed to four key NATO allies–Lithuania, Romania, Latvia and Poland–executing rapid deployment rocket artillery missions that demonstrated the U.S. Marine Corps’ commitment to a high-readiness reserve force that can seamlessly integrate and act with partner forces.
BALTOPS 25 is also one of the most expansive uses of the Marine Corps’ HIMARS, featuring a series of live-fire drills, cold load rehearsals and joint targeting exercises across multiple host nations in eastern Europe.
In Lithuania, Fox Battery used reduced-range practice rockets to execute static HIMARS fire missions where they simulated shoot-and-scoot tactics from forward operating sites alongside partner forces. These exercises emphasized the importance of interoperability with NATO allies and the ability to conduct and coordinate joint fires to deter regional threats.
Marines with Fox Battery also worked in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environments.
“Training in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environments definitely gave me a better sense of spatial awareness and situational awareness,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Timothy Emerson, an electro-optical ordnance repairer with Fox Battery. “There was a certain spice that it added, just making sure–I was doing everything right and following all the orders I was given correctly, while having to look out for myself.”
Marines demonstrated their ability to conduct live fire missions with HIMARS and quickly adapt to the environment, showing Fox Battery’s proficiency.
In Romania and Latvia, HIMARS crews conducted high mobility artillery rocket system rapid infiltration drills (HIRAIN). Using U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps C-130 Hercules cargo planes, U.S. Marines rapidly deployed HIMARS units, providing mobility and lethality in dynamic operating environments.
In Poland, U.S. Marines integrated with NATO air controllers to conduct long-range precision rocket fires.
U.S. Marines with Fox Battery conducted a tactical insertion using a U.S. Marine Corps C-130 Hercules cargo plane where it and HIMARS linked up with Polish service members. After meeting, they conducted joint missions including the use of joint terminal attack controllers and radio operators from the Polish Army conducted joint fire missions with the Marines’ HIMARS.
Fox Battery’s deployment across four countries highlights a core objective, seamless multinational cooperation.
The presence of Fox Battery in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania during BALTOPS 2025 showcases the U.S. Marine Corps is ready to defend NATO territory with speed and precision. The exercise also served to solidify HIMARS tactics, including multi-domain targeting and integration with allied sensors.
As the exercise concludes, Fox Battery’s ability to integrate, adapt, and execute across four countries reveals HIMARS growing role in future conflict scenarios and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to European security.
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2025 09:45 |
| Story ID: | 501076 |
| Location: | KLAIPėDA, LT |
| Web Views: | 6 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fox Battery 2/14 Brings HIMARS to the Front, by LCpl Van Hoang, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
