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By Sgt. Anthony J. Lecours
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
FORT IRWIN, Calif. - A cloud of thick smoke rises over the city allowing Troopers from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment concealment while infiltrating the objective at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., Aug. 10.
Smoke Platoon, Military Intelligence Company races ahead of the convoy in Highly Mobile Multi- Wheeled Vehicles with the M56 Coyote smoke generator billowing thick smoke in their wake.
“We are the only smoke platoon on active duty,” said Staff Sgt. Damaar Green, the platoon sergeant of Smoke Plt., MICO, 11th ACR. “We really are unique in the services we can provide and when used effectively we can be a major force multiplier.”
The smoke provides concealment for friendly forces as the move from objective to objective. The primary difference between the smoke from a Coyote and a smoke grenade is volume. The generator pumps out enough smoke to conceal vehicles as they move in.
“It’s great to get out there and blow some smoke,” said Spc. Emily Romo, a trooper with MICO, 11th ACR. “It’s difficult though because we are on the front lines so often we are the first ones to engage the rotational unit.
Smoke obscuration operations deny the enemies sight and targeting capabilities. In addition to the physical loss of sight smoke provides the psychological advantage of appearing to strike from nowhere.
“Terrain is definitely a huge obstacle we face,” said Spc. Regineka Upshur, a trooper with MICO, 11th ACR. “We are limited to what we can cover based on where our HMMWV can go.”
Troopers from Smoke Platoon demonstrate the awesome capabilities of smoke to the Rotational Training Units coming through the National Training Center. They represent an aspect of military tactics and capabilities that might not be as well known.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.17.2012 14:32 |
| Story ID: | 93422 |
| Location: | FORT IRWIN, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Cry ‘Phantom’ and let slip the fog of war, by SGT Anthony Lecours, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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