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thedrifter
10-10-03, 03:18 PM
The eyes and ears of the battlefield...
Arty support elements work ahead of the scene
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 2003107235548
Story by Lance Cpl. Chris Korhonen



YAUSUBETSU, JAPAN(Oct. 3, 2003) -- The big guns of artillery get the attention and the glory during training exercises, but it's the Marines behind the scenes, or more appropriately, in front of the scenes, that are the key to accurate firing and protection of the artillery batteries.

The forward observation (FO), radar and meteorological (MET) teams, strategically placed around the impact area, are the key elements for efficient artillery fire. Each team serves their function to call where the rounds are to impact, track friendly and enemy fire, and help adjust rounds for weather conditions.

Usually consisting of four Marines: a forward observer, scout observer and two radio operators, the FO team is closest to the action.

"In a combat situation we would go out with an infantry company, set up priority targets and plan and execute fire support with company commanders," said Lance Cpl. Michael D. Wallace, scout observer, Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.

The FO team picks out enemy targets, radios in their position for the artillery to fire on, then confirms the location and impact of rounds for adjustments or calls in the destruction of the intended target, according to Wallace.

"We're the eyes and ears of the battlefield. We provide accurate and timely fire support," the Whitney, Texas native said. "If (the artillery) doesn't have us then they don't know where to shoot and then they can't fire."

An even more powerful and far-seeing set of battlefield eyes is the radar team.

"Radar is used to track artillery, mortars and rockets in hostile fire (mode) during wartime situations. In (training) we use it to help register the artillery weapons and tell them exactly where they are firing," said Sgt. Phillip H. Thompson, radar team chief, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment.

Radar is very important to artillery because they can track and destroy enemy fire to protect the artillery and infantry.

"We can lock onto enemy fire and find out exactly where it is coming from to help eliminate those targets," said the Upland, Ind., native.

"During training, when the forward observers are having a hard time seeing the targets and they need a second set of eyes, radar can pinpoint where the round will impact," Thompson said.

During training, radar sets up anywhere from the impact area to halfway between the artillery guns; however, during wartime conditions radar constantly moves in a radius of 17 kilometers from the battlefield.

"In a combat situation three radar teams of five to six Marines each will be set in strategic positions, and radiate in different cueing sequences, which means radar beams from one radar will be on for so many seconds, then another team will turn theirs on," Thompson said.

"We have two people come out and recon the area for enemy. We go out to the position after the recon has been done, implement cover and concealment and then initialize radar," Thompson said.

Once in position the radar team will adjust the AN/TPQ 46 radar to the direction where the enemy is and start sending out radar beams. There are three types of beams sent out; search, verification and tracking beam. The search beam looks for a target, the verification beam determines if it is an actual target and the tracking beam determines where the target came from, or where it is going to impact, according to Thompson.

Another team that helps make sure rounds fire accurately on target is the MET team.

"The weather is probably one of the biggest effects on the accuracy of a round," Sgt. Christopher D. Best, meteorological team chief, Headquarters Company, 12th Marine Regiment, said.

According to the Las Vegas, N.V., native, wind can cause a round to be anywhere from 100 to 300 meters off target.

"We collect different types of data; temperatures, pressures and density, and send them to fire direction control (FDC) so they can make adjustments to artillery fire," Best explained.

This information helps the artillery to key in on a target by firing just one round for accuracy instead of five to 10 rounds to see where it lands because of the weather, Best said.

To do this, the MET team puts up a balloon that carries up a radio transmitter, which takes readings at different atmospheric levels.

"We put up one balloon about every three to four hours, or more often if weather conditions change dramatically," Best said.

With the information and adjustments provided by the MET team, and the vision provided by the radar and FO team, they combine to ensure the big guns of artillery can fire on their targets and retaliate to any enemy fire.

Although these teams are not always seen, they are the eyes and ears of the battlefield that help put steel on target.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200310854414/$file/SUPPORT-1low.jpg

A highly explosive round flies out of an M198 155mm medium Howitzer at the Yausubetsu Maneuvering Area, Hokkaido, Japan. The two Howitzers are firing simultaniously during the second day of a Battalion artillery training exercise.
Photo by: LCpl Chris Korhonen


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200310854754/$file/SUPPORT-2low.jpg

Lance Cpl. Walter L. Morgan Jr., artillery electronics technician, 12th Regiment, and Pineville, La. native (left), and Pfc. Chad A. Kavanaugh, meteorological crewman, 12th Regiment and native of Randolph, Vt. prepare a balloon for flight. The weather balloon has a radio transmitter attached that sends back information on current conditions. The meteorological team then sends any adjustments the artillery needs to make in firing due to the weather.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Chris Korhonen

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/9C7F8CFDE992FD8685256DB9001596D3?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine: