European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 2, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine self propelled Chariot with a 155 my punch by William h. Mcmichaels f Field artillery is known As the King of  then me m-109a2 howitzer is the King s Chariot this tracked sell propelled armoral vehicle packs a 155mm Cannon Hal can devastate Targo is 18,000 meters away. It can reach even Turl her Wilh Rockel assisted projectiles. Able to travel at 3s Mph on hard roads it s the Standard direct support weapon in . Army armoured and mechanized Inland Fly divisions. Each of the 1st army div b three artillery battalions is composed of three firing batteries each of which operates eight  doctrine the howitzer Crew is a nine Man Section. Most units in the army however Are a Man or two Short. Six can ride with the howitzer itself. Another Soldier the Advance parly Man Ridos in an my 13 armoured personnel Carrier Wilh the platoon s gunnery sergeant. Two others the ammunition team round out the. Section working on a separate vehicle known As a Forward area ammunition Supply vehicle or Faasu. The hardware is impressive but in s a Tine tuned Crew thai makes the Mission happen. Although the Section chief is responsible Overall the gunner runs the inc lion said sgt. Ronald Jones Bury a 6th in 1st Field arly at Pinder Barracks in Nurnberg he keeps the soldiers moving.",. With gunners rank has no privilege. You can be a sergeant but ii Here s a specialist who s belter in the Field the specialist will gun said sgt. Robin Corpening Bury a 2nd in. 1 is Field arty. Howitzer gunners Don l actually fire the weapon they Lay it Selling Iho col meter the principle aiming reference and the deflection the left right position of the gun. But As Corpening explains in s much More than thai you have to be a Strong Leader. You re the assistant to the Section chief you have to be Able to Stopin and Safe Hal weapon. Being a gunner is preparation for the chief s Job. The Job is not without its risks however i be seen a gun lube blow up and Peel Back like a  Corpening said. 1 there Are so Many things going on Hal the gunner has to help the chief out. When the chief lakes the written safely test the gunner goes along with  a artillery there s no room Lor error said spec. Donald Franklin Btry a 2nd in 1 St Field arty. There can t be Orie extra second on the fuse. I be gel to hear the fac of direction Center and shoot the projectile they Call. That s now you put steel on  but with the target so far away How do you know you nailed it Jones said the for confirms the i on the radio but for him there s just a gut feeling. In s All in the mind he said. You never see the rounds hit but i love  there can be up to live of these although More often than not. One Man does two or three jobs. The number one Man is the loader and he s the one who pulls the lanyard. The other jobs divided up among the others Are fuse setter powder Man assistant gunner Driver and Advance parly Man. The number men Are All interchangeable said pfc. Josh Radamacher. Btry a 2nd in 1st Field arly. I have to be Able to do their jobs.". You be got to move a lol in the held. You be got to be thinking safety la s a Lough Job said pfc. Kevin archangel Bury a 3rd in 1st Field arty who agreed thai flexibility is key for a Cannonier in training the chief trains everybody on  the toughest part of his Job pulling the rounds in the tube. They get pretty heavy after a while.". The loading procedures Lor a number one Man Are exacting. As soon As you get a quadrant you ram the round said James. L gel the charge specific number of cloth powder bags from the powder Man the chief and i verify it. I push in the powder and say for example charge three Green igniter pad t see red there s red at the end of the charge and the igniter pad has16 hit the charge to explode. I close the Breech grab a primer put it in the Breech place the lanyard on the firing mechanism and Wail for the command to  what does pulling the lanyard feel like it eels great. But you have to stand to the Side. With a charge seven White bag the Cannon comes Back Over two feet ironically one of the most import land positions in a howitzer Section the Advance party Man traditionally goes to the lowest ranking crewman travelling with the gunnery Sor Gcarl ahead of the howitzers to assists in recon altering the new lining position. ,. Once the azimuth of lire direction to Point the gun tube is received he sets aiming poles at the proper Angle in Iron of his Crew s firing position. A then guides his howitzer into position. I make sure my soldiers Are trained highly efficient and Eom Pelitire in their mos said staff sol. Rick Burden Bury a 6th in 1 is Field arly. I m responsible Lor the maintenance of the gun. Lor making sure is vehicle is Combatti mein the Field. Get with the gunnery sergeant or the chief of firing Battery and ask them Logie Nie classes such As on the aiming Circle Waldron said. What s most satisfying for a chief making sure my soldiers Are doing what they re supposed to to doing said Durden. In s fun especially out in the held. I enjoy this Job by i m ready for the next  but Wui h. Cum Diml to pfc re la to i Amu on Imp Law Friday december 2, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 13