Story by: Sgt. Christopher Stanis
AN NAJAF, Iraq -- Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment is back on its "big guns" in An Najaf, Iraq.
The Task Force 1st Armored Division artillery unit was recently attached to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. The unit conducts counter-fire operations and well as direct support fire.
Capt. Gregory Vinciguerra, the battery commander, called the "BC" by his Soldiers, said that after a year in Baghdad, conducting operations not normally attributed to 'red legs,' the change of mission was welcome change for his Soldiers. "With the extension [of the task force's deployment in Iraq] the transition to a traditional field artillery mission did a lot for their morale," he said.
In the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad, the artillerymen conducted raids, cordon and search operations and even used their Paladins -- self-propelled tracked howitzers that some people describe as 'tanks on steroids' -- to conduct mounted patrols.
The battery is ready to fire 155 mm high explosive rounds, illumination and smoke rounds. Other live-fire rounds (for special purpose) include the RAP, rocket assisted propulsion -- for the extra kick to go a little farther -- and the Copperhead, a laser-guided round. "I liked doing those [operations in Baghdad]; but I like this better, because it's my job," said Sgt. Esqeyel Cortez a "number one man" for one of the battery's guns.
A Paladin has a four man crew: the driver; the gunner, who loads the round; the "number one" man, who loads powdered firing charges; and the crew, or section, chief.
Though the majority of 2-3 FA only recently moved south, the majority of Alpha Battery has been in the area for about four weeks. Until the rest of the battalion arrived, the battery was staged in the vast desert, far from any city, town or village.
"It was nice and peaceful," Vinciguerra said. "We had a five-gallon water jug for a shower, we ate MREs and we had to fight the flies, but the guys were happy because they got to shoot their guns."
Vinciguerra said they usually try to fire at least once a day.
Field artillery is a multipurpose tool in the Army, he said. His battery can shoot live fires; conduct illumination missions to light up an area for observation; and conduct smoke mission to provide a smoke screen for other units wanting to break or avoid contact with the enemy.
With two other firing batteries in the battalion, how did Alpha get the honors for manning the hot guns? Consistently being awarded with the battalion's Top Gun title, it's obvious, Vinciguerra joked, "We're the best firing battery in [division artillery]."