Live bombs to drop for more realistic training (Fort Sill, OK)

Army News Service ^ | May 4, 2004 | Sgt. 1st Class Marcia Triggs

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

For the first time in about nine years, III Corps Artillery at Fort Sill is hosting a Joint Close Air Support live-fire exercise. Soldiers from Fort Bragg, N.C., will parachute in. Navy F-18 Hornets and Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons will be used to drop ordnance, including the Navy’s MK-83, a 1,000-pound bomb.

“We want to show that we can realistically coordinate and provide fire in support of joint operations safely,” said Capt. Albert Huang the operations officer for the 212th Field Artillery Brigade.

The exercise, which continues through May 7, will also integrate multiple launch rocket systems, cannon fires and troops from Fort Hood, Texas, and the Marine Corps.

 

 

http://sill-www.army.mil/

    Bang!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Lokibob]

Years ago, Ft. Sill used to have a live fire exercise monthly and it was open to the public on a Sat.

Talk about shock and awe. They took all the graduating classes and let them actually fire the bullets. Each battery had a target and fired on that one in a field, I'd guess 1 mile square.

The targets were abandoned cars found on Ft. Sill. LOL

They even fired a Little John rocket (that tells you how long ago this was).

As a finale, they had a TOT (time on target). That was when all the bullets from all the guns hit the targets at the same time.

I'll never forget that demonstration.

Can't imagine what involving the other services would do more impressively.

[boxerblues]

Youngest son was at Fort sill for bootcamp. We decided to do a little sight seeing at Mt Scott not knowing the road up there is next to the firing range, we had the begeevers scared out of.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The troops ought to see live fire in training for sure.

[Lokibob]

"Time On Target" (TOT) was a surprise tactic for devastating a particular target area almost instantaneously. Suspected "hot" LZ's were often prep'd with a TOT mission while the assault forces hovered or circled overhead at altitude. Troops were then inserted into the 'sanitized' LZ before the smoke cleared.

TOT missions involved timing the firing of multiple batteries so that all fire on the same location, with the firing times adjusted to cause the rounds to all impact at the same time. A typical TOT might involve 4 batteries (24 guns), of different calibers; some firing rounds fuzed for ground burst, some for airburst. The effect is that a particular jungle clearing might be quiet and peaceful one second and in the next second be totally enveloped and saturated with explosions in the air and on the ground. Bombardment may cease after the initial volley or be maintained in Fire For Effect mode, creating a sustained saturation of the area with detonations.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

FAMPL ping material

[Lokibob]

While attending school at Ft. Sill, my car broke down, and i had to leave it on side of road while getting a wrecker.

It wasn't left there an hour before I returned. the MP's had already marked the tires, and left a note on my windshield stating I had 12 hours to move it. The note went on to say that abandoned cars on Ft. Sill were placed on the firing range, typically within 2 weeks.

They needed targets, I guess.

[SAMWolf]

Unbeliveable that's it's been 9 years.

[Lokibob]

Sam,
They have been doing the live fire exercises at the NTC.

[SAMWolf]

Ok Thanks. It sounded like there were no live fire exercises being held.

[MPJackal]

"Can't imagine what involving the other services would do more impressively."

It is not about being impressive. The military is trying to overcome some problems they found when operating in a joint environment. Army talking to Air Force or USMC is a bit more complicated than Army talking to Army. It will also help each service understand the capabilities of the others weapons systems.

FYI. Ft Sill stopped this some years back after the Air Force dropped a bomb on Army Forward Observers kill a few of them.

[MPJackal]

"the MP's had already marked the tires, and left a note on my windshield stating I had 12 hours to move it. The note went on to say that abandoned cars on Ft. Sill were placed on the firing range, typically within 2 weeks."

This is not true.

[Darksheare]

"..training that was suspended after resources were cut, and an officer was killed in 1996 by a misguided 500-pound bomb, Haithcock said. "

If I remember correctly, that happened RIGHT before I went to Fort Sill in August 1996.
Will ping the crew.

[Darksheare]

FAMPL ping.
Joint combat training with LIVE bombs.

[Lokibob]

Not true now? Not true in 1974? Scare tactic?

[Darksheare]

The MP's at Sill when I was there had senses of humor.
Well, most of the time.
As long as we 'undisciplined 13bravos' didn't bust on them too much.

[2Jedismom]

Why was I not pinged to the immediately?

;-D

Is there a place where we can go and observe this from a safe distance? I get such a kick out of the helicopters and F-16s flying over where I live, this would really be a thrill!

Oooooooo-klahoma ping!

[Darksheare]

Sorry!
*dejectedly*