thedrifter
09-08-07, 07:52 AM
Fort Chaffee
Sara Lasure Reports
Marines practice missile launch
KFSM Ft. Smith-Fayetteville
Sep 7, 2007 07:52 PM
FORT CHAFFEE--Soldiers are working at perfecting their skills with a wide range of weapons. Marine Reserves from the Tulsa area pulled the triggers on the tow missile at Fort Chaffee.
A tow missile is used primarily to blow up tanks. They're also used to destroy bunkers or buildings.
If you measure the force just by the sound,the tow missile packs a powerful punch.
"It's definitely a rush, firing still get butterflies. It's cool. It's one of the main reasons I joined the Marine Corps," LCpl Casey Jardot said.
The average weight on the missile, 71 pounds, and that comes with a big bill. Each live fire costs 10 to 15 thousand dollars, but this practice is perfect experience for combat.
"When you have to fire on it's not the first time and doesn't scare you. You get used to how it might move around," Cpl Adam Carlson said.
The advantage of the tow missile is clear, but being able to spot it is the downside because it takes a long time to hit the target.
A perfect aim isn't always as easy as it looks. The shot for a Marine pulling the trigger for the first time didn't go as planned.
Officers say that was an erratic missile, so the failure to hit the target was because of a problem with the missile, not with the gunner.
Ellie
Sara Lasure Reports
Marines practice missile launch
KFSM Ft. Smith-Fayetteville
Sep 7, 2007 07:52 PM
FORT CHAFFEE--Soldiers are working at perfecting their skills with a wide range of weapons. Marine Reserves from the Tulsa area pulled the triggers on the tow missile at Fort Chaffee.
A tow missile is used primarily to blow up tanks. They're also used to destroy bunkers or buildings.
If you measure the force just by the sound,the tow missile packs a powerful punch.
"It's definitely a rush, firing still get butterflies. It's cool. It's one of the main reasons I joined the Marine Corps," LCpl Casey Jardot said.
The average weight on the missile, 71 pounds, and that comes with a big bill. Each live fire costs 10 to 15 thousand dollars, but this practice is perfect experience for combat.
"When you have to fire on it's not the first time and doesn't scare you. You get used to how it might move around," Cpl Adam Carlson said.
The advantage of the tow missile is clear, but being able to spot it is the downside because it takes a long time to hit the target.
A perfect aim isn't always as easy as it looks. The shot for a Marine pulling the trigger for the first time didn't go as planned.
Officers say that was an erratic missile, so the failure to hit the target was because of a problem with the missile, not with the gunner.
Ellie