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Artillery Soldiers bring more than firepower to fight in new deployment
Multi-National Forces-Iraq ^ | Staff Sgt. Samantha M. Stryker

Posted on 01/17/2007 4:22:26 PM PST by SandRat

Sgt Albert Cook runs out of a M109A6 Paladin, a Self-Propelled Howitzer, to retrieve canisters for indirect fire missions at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in the Diyala Province of Iraq. The artillery Soldier is a member of A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
Sgt Albert Cook runs out of a M109A6 Paladin, a Self-Propelled Howitzer, to retrieve canisters for indirect fire missions at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in the Diyala Province of Iraq. The artillery Soldier is a member of A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
BAQUBAH --If any one knows what it means to adjust fire, it is the Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Instead of sending rounds down range, these Fort Hood Soldiers served as infantrymen, and even called for fire support during their previous deployment to Iraq.

Those missions included security escorts, presence patrols, and conducting raids aimed at capturing suspected insurgents and confiscating prohibited weapons and bomb-making material used against coalition forces.

This time around, the Soldiers are doing the job they know best; sending 155mm rounds down range in support of on-going operations in the Diyala Province for 3rd BCT.

“We have trained for years and finally we get the opportunity to fire. We are energized by that,” said 1st Lt. Sean O’Keefe, A Battery, 2nd platoon leader.

“We are here to support units with the type of mission needed, whether its illumination or high explosives, we will support them within minutes,” O’Keefe added.

Along with their mission to provide indirect fire support for the brigade and attached units, O’Keefe said the 2-82 FA also supports fire missions requested by Iraqi Security Forces working with Military Transition Teams.

“Some MiTT teams have the capability to talk to the battery,” he said.

Fire Support Officer, 2nd Lt. Jeremy Duplechin, B Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Combined Arms Battalion, stressed the importance of the experience by the 2-82 FA Soldiers and how it has made them better.

The young artillery officer is attached to an infantry company as an artillery advisor to coordinate artillery support during any type of mission.

“These artillery Soldiers have a new perspective on their mission and how forward operating units work in conjunction with indirect fire,” said Duplechin.

“I bet they have a better appreciation and understanding of how important their job is after they have been on the ground,” he added.

Knowing what the Soldiers who are forward in the fight see and experience when rounds strike their targets is valuable knowledge, but time and accuracy are even more crucial. This is how artillery Soldiers prove themselves in battle.

“We learned more about both sides and how each of them are needed and work together to accomplish any mission,” said Spc. Efren Ordaz, A Battery, 2-82 FA, referring back to their last deployment.

“When patrols need artillery support, we understand firsthand…how fast they need it,” he said.

This unit is divided between two bases in the Diyala province, with each battery providing indirect fire support for current and future operations.

Providing support for units forward in the battle is not the only mission for these artillerymen. They also provide protection for the Soldiers on those bases.

“The less we shoot, the more we get mortared,” said Sgt. 1st Class Eric Andersen, acting first sergeant for A Battery, 2-82 FA.

The battery’s top enlisted member, often called ‘Smoke,’ offers this explanation for the loud booming sounds of artillery leaving Forward Operating Base Warhorse, leaving trembling buildings in its wake.

“It is ‘piece of mind’ what service members hear as the roaring thunder of artillery rounds leave the gun tube of a howitzer,” Andersen said.

“Here is a reality check,” he said with a grin, “The artillery guys shoot at and remove a positively identified target or threat that is either firing at us or some one innocent.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: artillery; deployment; firepower; frwn

1 posted on 01/17/2007 4:22:28 PM PST by SandRat
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To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

2 posted on 01/17/2007 4:22:49 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat
One simple rule...Kill 'em all
3 posted on 01/17/2007 4:31:23 PM PST by kromike
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To: SandRat
Can that gun detect and disarm car bombs or IEDs?

What part of un-conventional warfare does the Pentagon not understand?
4 posted on 01/17/2007 4:32:04 PM PST by Asclepius (protectionists would outsource our dignity and prosperity in return for illusory job security)
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To: SandRat

“It is ‘piece of mind’ what service members hear as the roaring thunder of artillery rounds leave the gun tube of a howitzer,” Andersen said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cause it rocks us to sleep at nite...;0)

TANKS,Rat...


5 posted on 01/17/2007 4:53:49 PM PST by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
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To: SandRat

The King of Battle.


6 posted on 01/17/2007 4:58:44 PM PST by ArtyFO (I love to smoke cigars when I adjust artillery fire at the moonbat loonery.)
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To: ArtyFO

Did you see the episode of Futureweapons with the Excalibur GPS-guided projectile? They shot one 15 degrees off course, aimed at a spot 4 miles to the left of the programmed target, and the shell made a hard right in flight and hit within 2 yards of center. They also made a shot at a very high angle and had it come straight down on target with no angle. Pretty impressive stuff, at only $250K each of taxpayer money. I suppose they will get much cheaper during production.


7 posted on 01/17/2007 5:24:18 PM PST by Sender ("Great powers should never get involved in the politics of small tribes.")
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To: Asclepius

Well, if you are taking sniper fire from a house, or tree line, the ability to send a few HE rounds in that direction puts a severe dampener on the sniper's ability to maintain a steady shot.


8 posted on 01/17/2007 5:35:19 PM PST by taxcontrol
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To: SandRat

Nothing beats the artillery of The United States Army.
We even train those from other services and countries.

King of Battle, indeed!


9 posted on 01/17/2007 6:17:45 PM PST by SJSAMPLE
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To: SandRat

BTTT


10 posted on 01/17/2007 6:56:53 PM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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To: SandRat

The difference between Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. (from http://www.military-quotes.com/jokes/military-humor.htm )

HAPPINESS IS . . .
Infantry: A good rifle
Cavalry: A big tank
Artillery: A loud boom

UPON HEARING FIREWORKS
Infantry: Cool, just like a live fire exercise
Cavalry: Not loud enough
Artillery: Fireworks? What fireworks?

OTHER TRADES
Infantry: Waste of rations
Cavalry: Waste of rations
Artillery: Waste of rations

IDEA OF FUN
Infantry: Not having to "pepper-pot" an entire grid square before the objective
Cavalry: Racing across a grid square on "full stab"
Artillery: Leveling a grid square

FAVOURITE SONG
Infantry: "Ballad of the Green Beret"
Cavalry: "Purple Haze"
Artillery: Anything, just play it LOUD!

BIGGEST LUXURY IN THE FIELD
Infantry: Engineers blowing trenches for them with C4
Cavalry: Grunts to dig their trenches for them
Artillery: Cable

A LONG ROUTE MARCH WITH FULL KIT
Infantry: 20 clicks
Cavalry: From the hangars to the tank
Artillery: What's a route march?

OFFICERS
Infantry: Are morons and should stay away from the trenchlines
Cavalry: Are morons and should stay out of the vehicles
Artillery: Are morons and should stay away from the gun lines

FAVORITE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
Infantry: Anything but walking
Cavalry: Tanks. Tanks. Tanks. TankstankstankstanksTANKS!
Artillery: Don't you have to move around to require transport?

BIGGEST GRIPE IN THE FIELD
Infantry: The weather
Cavalry: Coffee maker in tank not working
Artillery: Only having basic cable

BREAKFAST IN THE FIELD
Infantry: I don't care what it is, just so long as I can sit down to eat it
Cavalry: Hot coffee and rum with a beer chaser
Artillery: Eggs over easy, crispy bacon, sausages, toast and Tim Horton's coffee

WHAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES
Infantry: Death Techs
Cavalry: Cavalry
Artillery: 10 Mile Snipers


11 posted on 01/17/2007 7:38:52 PM PST by MarkL (When Kaylee says "No power in the `verse can stop me," it's cute. When River says it, it's scary!)
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