PDA

View Full Version : Weapons section gives explosive support



thedrifter
08-31-03, 06:26 AM
Weapons section gives explosive support
Submitted by: MCLB Barstow
Story Identification Number: 2003828135351
Story by Lance Cpl. Andy J. Hurt



MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif.(Aug. 28, 2003) -- Some Marines and MCLB Barstow base employees may have never realized before that Maintenance Center Barstow's Cost Work Centers 686, 687, 688 even existed. The shop is not difficult to miss.

Located in the west end of Warehouse 404 at the Yermo annex, CWC's 686, 687, 688 is away from the toils of the massive MCB building. However, you can almost bet that a Marine facing an enemy armored-vehicle convoy somewhere in the Middle East with a TOW or JAVELIN missile or shoulder-mounted multi-purpose weapon (SMAW) thanks his "lucky" stars for the existence of such a shop.

Without the technical expertise and dedication to combat support of CWC 686, 687, and 688 Marines could be in the field with equipment that could fail them in the most crucial of moments, when their life is on the line.

CWC 686, 687, and 688 make up the MCB Special Weapons Section Warehouse team and is currently the "hottest section on the market," according to CWC 687's night sight specialist Kevin Peterson.

"(CWC 687) is the blunt of Marine Corps screening," Peterson proclaimed.

The shop receives several kinds of "special weapons" every day, ranging from TOW missile launching systems, JAVELIN missile launching systems, SMAWs and their associated Test Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment and Weapon System Training Equipment.

Before beginning work on the weapons, TMDE, or training equipment, civilian Marines at the shop analyze different condition codes in which the systems were received. A conditions code identifies the state of the weapon, ranging from "Code F" (unserviceable, repairable), "Code H" (condemned, does not meet repair criteria), and all the way down to "Code M" (In work, has been accepted at Department of Defense maintenance facility for processing).

"We've seen (night vision systems) come in garbage bags before," said Peterson.

The condition of the weapons, however, does not hinder the progress of the shop.

"Right now, (the Special Weapons Section) is building systems from the frames up," said Brad Hart, Special Weapons Warehouse electronic mechanics supervisor.

The parts for the high-tech system are hard to come by, said Peterson, adding that the section "tries to salvage every piece."

More importantly than building weapons is the calibration of the systems. The TOW missile system is wire-guided, meaning that once a missile is fired, the operator must keep his crosshairs of the optical sighting systems of the weapon on the target. The missile is attached to the launcher by a wire that receives signals from the missile guidance set, guiding the missile on target. Improper sight calibration can lead to misfires and other weapons malfunction, said Peterson.

According to Peterson, the sights are calibrated through a series of machines and computer programs. For example, infrared night vision modules are sighted into a completely dark chamber with only a small metal bar inside.

The bar is exactly 0.3 degrees above ambient room temperature. The bar, in total darkness, will show up clearly on the sightscreen if the system is calibrated properly.

The Special Weapons Section not only provides support to U.S. armed forces, but the shop also assists in the repair and sales of weapons to countries around the world.

The TOW missile system alone has been in service since the Vietnam War and is currently used in about 44 countries across the planet, said Hart. But the mission of the shop has not been forgotten.

"Our real customer out there is the 18 year-old Marine in harm's way. He needs to protect himself and those around him," said Hart, adding that the mission of the shop is to maintain Marine Corps readiness in TOW, Javelin and SMAW systems.

"These are weapons," Hart stressed, "and we take our product very seriously."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200382814223/$file/687_1low.jpg

Civilian Marines at Special Weapons Warehouse, Cost Work Centers 686, 687 and 688 demonstrate loading a wire-guided TOW missile onto a launcher during a photo opportunity. The TOW has been in use since the Vietnam War.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Andy Hurt


Sempers,

Roger
:marine: