thedrifter
05-07-03, 07:00 AM
Article ran : 05/07/2003
USS Cole fires shells at Camp Lejeune range
By ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
The salvo of five blasts came in rapid succession, kicking up dirt amid the rusted formation of tanks placed in the target area at Camp Lejeune. After a short pause, another volley of five followed. The ground shook and smoke billowed into the air from the high explosive rounds.
Lt. Cmdr. Bill Garren, the 2nd Marine Division naval gunfire officer, liked what he saw.
“Without the live rounds, it would just be a communications exercise,” Garren said. “We had a group of tanks and the (explosive) kill radius is fairly decent.”
The USS Cole supplied the firepower Tuesday morning. Its 5-inch guns lobbed shells into the G-10 impact area of Camp Lejeune as part of spotter training for Marines and sailors who help direct offshore naval firing. Tuesday’s shore fire control party was the first at Lejeune since the closing of the naval firing range on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques last week.
Garren put the closing of the Vieques facility in perspective.
“Vieques is a qualification range who allowed us to do spotter training,” he said. “This is training just for the Marines.”
Garren said the Navy plans to hold the training about once a month at Lejeune after things settle down in the Middle East.
“We’re hoping to add four more shots this year, but there are not a lot of ships at home right now,” Garren said.”
The Marines said they like the convenience of being able to train in their own back yard instead of having to deploy to the Caribbean Sea.
Staff Sgt. Robert Russell, gunfire liaison chief for 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, said he had not been able to spot naval gunfire since 1998. It was the first time for Lance Cpl. Nicholas Bare, a scout observer who graduated from school a year ago.
Similar firing was tested at Lejeune in October 2001 and October 2002, Garren said. It was previously reported by military officials that the 2002 test had been canceled.
Tuesday, there were few, if any, problems related to the training. N.C. 172 through Camp Lejeune was closed, and traffic was rerouted down Lyman and Sneads Ferry Roads. The Intracoastal Waterway was closed to boats, officials said.
But uncertain weather, including an occasional downpour, delayed the start.
With the USS Cole more than five miles off the coast, 14 Marines and sailors perched on a 20-foot high mound along the western edge of the impact area.
It took a couple of hours to get started as crews searched the area to make sure nobody had wandered in by mistake. By 10:30 a.m., they were ready.
“The delay was to make sure that it was safe, and the aircraft were delayed due to lightning,” Garren said. “With every shoot, safety is the most important thing.”
Garren said that in combat there would be no such delays for bad weather. As long as a spotter could see the target, he could call in the right information.
There were pauses as coordinates were locked into the ship’s firing computer, and then there were several shots out to sea to warm up the gun.
Suddenly, an explosion cut the air and kicked up a puff of dirt and smoke followed by the echoing sound of the impact. Sometimes the shells were so fast that they hit silently before the sound of the ship’s gun reached the spectators.
Gunners were shooting at the remnants of old rusted tanks and armored personnel carriers scattered through the high grass.
Russell said the firing follows a script that includes tests to guide the rounds to the targets.
“We have a format scripted that includes the unit, the ships, the target, the size, their numbers and what kind of protection there is,” said Russell. “They choose the best shell-fuse combination with relationship to the friendlies. You spot what you see and correct what you spot.”
Eric Steinkopff can be contacted at esteinkopff@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.
Sempers,
Roger
USS Cole fires shells at Camp Lejeune range
By ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
The salvo of five blasts came in rapid succession, kicking up dirt amid the rusted formation of tanks placed in the target area at Camp Lejeune. After a short pause, another volley of five followed. The ground shook and smoke billowed into the air from the high explosive rounds.
Lt. Cmdr. Bill Garren, the 2nd Marine Division naval gunfire officer, liked what he saw.
“Without the live rounds, it would just be a communications exercise,” Garren said. “We had a group of tanks and the (explosive) kill radius is fairly decent.”
The USS Cole supplied the firepower Tuesday morning. Its 5-inch guns lobbed shells into the G-10 impact area of Camp Lejeune as part of spotter training for Marines and sailors who help direct offshore naval firing. Tuesday’s shore fire control party was the first at Lejeune since the closing of the naval firing range on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques last week.
Garren put the closing of the Vieques facility in perspective.
“Vieques is a qualification range who allowed us to do spotter training,” he said. “This is training just for the Marines.”
Garren said the Navy plans to hold the training about once a month at Lejeune after things settle down in the Middle East.
“We’re hoping to add four more shots this year, but there are not a lot of ships at home right now,” Garren said.”
The Marines said they like the convenience of being able to train in their own back yard instead of having to deploy to the Caribbean Sea.
Staff Sgt. Robert Russell, gunfire liaison chief for 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, said he had not been able to spot naval gunfire since 1998. It was the first time for Lance Cpl. Nicholas Bare, a scout observer who graduated from school a year ago.
Similar firing was tested at Lejeune in October 2001 and October 2002, Garren said. It was previously reported by military officials that the 2002 test had been canceled.
Tuesday, there were few, if any, problems related to the training. N.C. 172 through Camp Lejeune was closed, and traffic was rerouted down Lyman and Sneads Ferry Roads. The Intracoastal Waterway was closed to boats, officials said.
But uncertain weather, including an occasional downpour, delayed the start.
With the USS Cole more than five miles off the coast, 14 Marines and sailors perched on a 20-foot high mound along the western edge of the impact area.
It took a couple of hours to get started as crews searched the area to make sure nobody had wandered in by mistake. By 10:30 a.m., they were ready.
“The delay was to make sure that it was safe, and the aircraft were delayed due to lightning,” Garren said. “With every shoot, safety is the most important thing.”
Garren said that in combat there would be no such delays for bad weather. As long as a spotter could see the target, he could call in the right information.
There were pauses as coordinates were locked into the ship’s firing computer, and then there were several shots out to sea to warm up the gun.
Suddenly, an explosion cut the air and kicked up a puff of dirt and smoke followed by the echoing sound of the impact. Sometimes the shells were so fast that they hit silently before the sound of the ship’s gun reached the spectators.
Gunners were shooting at the remnants of old rusted tanks and armored personnel carriers scattered through the high grass.
Russell said the firing follows a script that includes tests to guide the rounds to the targets.
“We have a format scripted that includes the unit, the ships, the target, the size, their numbers and what kind of protection there is,” said Russell. “They choose the best shell-fuse combination with relationship to the friendlies. You spot what you see and correct what you spot.”
Eric Steinkopff can be contacted at esteinkopff@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.
Sempers,
Roger