Courtesy Photo | A Paratrooper from B Troop, 1st Squadron 73rd Cavalry Regiment prebares to fire the...... read more read more
Pfc. Susie A. Blair
2nd Brigade Combat Team, Public Affairs
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Cavalry Scouts are known for moving with stealth and finding enemy positions without being seen. However, when it's time for cavalry scouts to show themselves, they leave a lasting impression.
The Paratroopers of B Troop, 1st squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment really made their mark when they fired Tube-launched, optically tracked, Wire-guided missiles at enemy tanks during a reconnaissance training exercise April 19.
This was the first time the 1-73rd Cav trained with TOW missiles since becoming a part of the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team in January. One paratrooper from each platoon got the opportunity to fire one TOW missile. Three TOW missiles were launched April 19 and another two April 20.
The TOW missile is the primary weapons system used to take out heavily armored vehicles, said 1st Sgt Kevin Spooner, B Troop, 1-73rd Cav. It's also the system that the regiment will be using during deployments. One of the most impressive features of the weapon is its optical system.
"The optics on the TOW missile are the best in the Army," said Spooner. The gunner would be able to read the enemy's nametape from across Sicily Drop Zone, he said.
Early in the afternoon on April 19, the Paratroopers of 2nd platoon, B Troop, 1-73rd CAV got their chance to fire off a TOW missile.
"Back blast area all clear!" yelled the paratrooper chosen to fire the TOW. After he yelled that, he fired the second missile of the day.
THUNK, the tube of the weapon sounded as if it were gulping the missile just before it was launched out. Half a second later a loud boom followed by a whistling noise was heard. The missile propelled out of the weapon and towards the enemy tank in a fast moving fireball.
BAM! The missile hit dead center of the target, making an explosion that could be seen in the distance.
"YEAH! That was awesome!" yelled the paratroopers that watched the TOW missile being fired. When the smoke finally cleared in the distance, a massive hole was left in the tank they were firing at.
At the end of the day, they had scored three direct hits, a remarkable accomplishment, said Spooner.
None of the paratroopers that fired the TOW missile that day had ever fired one before, said 2nd Lt. Wilson Winter, 2nd Platoon Leader, B. Troop, 1-73 CAV. The paratroopers that fired the weapon during the exercise all went through a week training course on how the weapon is used and fired.
It's rare for the Cavalry to get the opportunity to fire the TOW, acknowledged Spooner. They get to fire the missile maybe once a year, he said. But it's still important for the gunners to know the capabilities of the TOW in case they need to use it during a combat mission.
Even though the paratroopers of the 1-73rd Cav don't get to fire the TOW missile that often, they should feel confident in their firing abilities, said Capt. Josh Richardson, B Troop's commander.
"Everyone who fired did great," said Richardson. "They all had direct hits."
| Date Taken: | 04.23.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2006 19:48 |
| Story ID: | 6083 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 40 |
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