thedrifter
09-22-09, 07:40 AM
'Vipers' Bring Fight to Enemy's Backyard
9/21/2009 By Lance Cpl. Samuel Nasso , Marine Aircraft Group 40
Vipers can be found in nearly every corner of the world. The venomous snakes strike quickly and have the ability to choose how much venom they inject into a victim.
A flying viper may not exist in nature, but like their namesake the "Vipers" of Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, have used the same caution with how much "venom" they inflict upon enemy forces during recent operations in southern Afghanistan.
Since the Vipers arrived here in mid-August, they have provided a quicker response time for aerial combat support to the Marines of Regimental Combat Team 3, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.
"Since we arrived here, it has brought us closer to the fight, enabling a reduced response time for our aircraft to get out there and take out the bad guys while covering the good guys," said Maj. Jim Isaacs, the squadron executive officer.
"Instead of flying all the way from Camp Bastion, [the Vipers] now live where they work," said Maj. Matt Merrill, RCT-3 air officer.
To support the arrival the detachment, Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 constructed "The Snake Pit," a helicopter landing zone made up of approximately 2,000 feet of aluminum matting. These facilities have increased the air combat power of Marine Aircraft Group 40 in support of operations in the area.
"When [the squadron] was at Camp Bastion, the enemy knew how long it would take for them to arrive," said Merrill. "Having them here definitely cuts the response time, and now they don't know what's coming at them."
Marines from RCT-3 rely on the sound of the helicopter rotors to intimidate the enemy when they encounter contact with the enemy.
"The Taliban are definetly intimidated by our rotary wing assets," said Merrill.
Pilots flying both the UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobras do not deserve all of the credit for the recent success between the air and ground team. Each helicopter requires hours of maintenance before and after each flight to ensure it remains mission capable.
The Hueys and Super Cobras have accumulated more than 65 flight hours per aircraft, and each hour of flight requires approximately six maintenance hours to prepare the helicopter for another flight. That equals nearly 400 maintenance hours per aircraft so far.
The small detachment here must consistently work together to keep up with the high operational tempo. If one section fails to do its job, the whole detachment could come up short in their ability to support Marines on the ground.
"We have to be on our "A" game so that when a TIC (troops-in-contact) comes, our aircraft is armed and ready to push out," said Sgt. P. A. Reyes, an aviation ordnance technician.
With attack helicopters in the enemy's backyard and ground units knocking on their front door, the enemy has nowhere to go as the MEB extends its reach throughout southern Afghanistan.
Ellie
9/21/2009 By Lance Cpl. Samuel Nasso , Marine Aircraft Group 40
Vipers can be found in nearly every corner of the world. The venomous snakes strike quickly and have the ability to choose how much venom they inject into a victim.
A flying viper may not exist in nature, but like their namesake the "Vipers" of Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, have used the same caution with how much "venom" they inflict upon enemy forces during recent operations in southern Afghanistan.
Since the Vipers arrived here in mid-August, they have provided a quicker response time for aerial combat support to the Marines of Regimental Combat Team 3, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.
"Since we arrived here, it has brought us closer to the fight, enabling a reduced response time for our aircraft to get out there and take out the bad guys while covering the good guys," said Maj. Jim Isaacs, the squadron executive officer.
"Instead of flying all the way from Camp Bastion, [the Vipers] now live where they work," said Maj. Matt Merrill, RCT-3 air officer.
To support the arrival the detachment, Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 constructed "The Snake Pit," a helicopter landing zone made up of approximately 2,000 feet of aluminum matting. These facilities have increased the air combat power of Marine Aircraft Group 40 in support of operations in the area.
"When [the squadron] was at Camp Bastion, the enemy knew how long it would take for them to arrive," said Merrill. "Having them here definitely cuts the response time, and now they don't know what's coming at them."
Marines from RCT-3 rely on the sound of the helicopter rotors to intimidate the enemy when they encounter contact with the enemy.
"The Taliban are definetly intimidated by our rotary wing assets," said Merrill.
Pilots flying both the UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobras do not deserve all of the credit for the recent success between the air and ground team. Each helicopter requires hours of maintenance before and after each flight to ensure it remains mission capable.
The Hueys and Super Cobras have accumulated more than 65 flight hours per aircraft, and each hour of flight requires approximately six maintenance hours to prepare the helicopter for another flight. That equals nearly 400 maintenance hours per aircraft so far.
The small detachment here must consistently work together to keep up with the high operational tempo. If one section fails to do its job, the whole detachment could come up short in their ability to support Marines on the ground.
"We have to be on our "A" game so that when a TIC (troops-in-contact) comes, our aircraft is armed and ready to push out," said Sgt. P. A. Reyes, an aviation ordnance technician.
With attack helicopters in the enemy's backyard and ground units knocking on their front door, the enemy has nowhere to go as the MEB extends its reach throughout southern Afghanistan.
Ellie