WEAPONS PLATOON “GETS THE LEAD OUT” WITH PERUVIAN MARINES

By Sergeant Dance, Weapons Platoon Sergeant

Weapons platoons are often thought of as the ‘muscle of the infantry company’.  The crew-served armament assets are often the focal point of company offensive and defensive operations planning, as effective employment is critical to mission accomplishment.

The weapons platoon for Delta Co+, MARFOR UNITAS is no exception.  Recently in Peru, the weapons platoon Marines were able to interact in a live fire exchange exercises with Peruvian Marine forces.  All organic crew-served assets were on hand to include 240G machineguns, 81mm and 60mm mortars, SMAW’s, AT-4’s, M2 .50 cal. machineguns, MK19 40mm grenade launcher, and the TOW missile system. Excerpts and pictures below give first hand accounts from the NCOs running the show on the gun line.

CAAT SECTION

Section Leader: Sgt. Brian Bandini

(.50 cal., MK19, & TOW assets)

The Peruvians brought their own .50 cal and a Spanish made version of the MK19 and we were able to live fire their .50 cal.  Since both the .50 cal and MK19 are organic to their arsenal, they were most interested in receiving classes on our TOW system.  This was something new that they had not seen before.  The Peruvians enjoyed firing the weapons from the vehicles.  Compared to most of the other nations we had trained with, they were more proficient with the weapons.

The next day offered another opportunity for CAAT to interact with the Peruvian Marines, as Sgt Bandini describes below:

Delta Company was tasked with conducting a live fire assault / defense with the Peruvians.  CAAT began the exercise by moving with an AAV section to a position on a ridgeline to provide a base of fire.  The base of fire was provided by the .50 cal and MK19.  Once the base of fire ended, the main body assaulted the objective.  Once the assault was complete, the TOW successfully engaged a target from this initial position.  At that point, CAAT departed from the AAV section and moved to a secondary position to engage two more targets.  Once at the second position, covering fire was again provided by the .50 cal and MK19.  The TOW once again successfully engaged both targets.  CAAT then displaced to the ridgeline adjacent to the company defense.  CAAT then observed as the defense provided a FPF and then conducted a counter-assault.  This by far was the best hands-on training the CAAT team has received on UNITAS.  It offered the opportunity to correctly deploy the CAAT team, utilizing all of its assets.

MORTARS SECTION

Section Leader: Sgt. Marcos Lucio

(81mm and 60mm mortars assets)

In the excerpt below, Sgt. Lucio touches on three events coordinated with the Peruvian Marines – amphibious assault, live fire exchange exercise, and defensive operations.

From our position on the beach we could see it all. The tracks splashing from the USS Portland and the Zodiacs splashing from the Peruvian ships. The 81mm Mortars had been inserted the previous day and we were standing by from our fortified dug in positions facing the three objectives. As the tracks hit the beach, our Mortar tubes began the prep fire on the objectives with HE rounds. We continued our fire until the tracks reached the Limit of Advance. As we ceased fire and the AAV's advanced to their consolidation position, the Peruvian 81's opened up on the same objectives in support of their small boat and infantry landing. The amphibious attack was well planned and well executed. In addition to the amphibious attack, both mortar sections (60's and 81's) conducted weapons familiarization live fire classes. An afternoon and evening was spent interacting with the Peruvian Marines showing our weapons systems, discussing capabilities and employment, and doing direct lay live fires. The apex of our training in Peru was a Company defensive live fire tied in with the Peruvians. Both units spent the day digging in to defensive positions on a hill side facing the Pacific Ocean. As night fell the exercise began. The 81mm mortar mission was to provide HE fire for the FPF as well as illumination for targets for the small arms. On command, the 81's opened up at their sustained rate of fire putting rounds on target and surgically putting illumination in the right spot in the night sky.  With all the weapons inherent to an infantry battalion firing, the exercise was spectacular. With the help of the 81's, we figuratively and literally lit up the beach.

240G Machineguns & Assault Sections

Section Leaders: Sgt Weber & Sgt Halstead

(240G Machineguns, AT-4’s, SMAWs, Dragons)

Ammunition allocation for the 240G and assault sections were great, and allowed for plenty of trigger time and shots for the Peruvian and American Marines.  With the 240G machineguns, Peruvian Marines learned to manipulate our T&E’s (transverse and elevation mechanisms), which are of a different design than theirs.  Additionally, the machine-gunners set some systems up on the bipod instead of the tripod to show how important forward shoulder pressure is for accuracy.  As the evening led on into the night, the tracers from the 240G machineguns created a spectacular light show as they streaked towards their targets.  The assault team was able to get the Peruvian Marines dialed in on AT-4 operations.  Initially, targets were difficult to acquire, but we all cheered when the first ‘hit’ came from a Peruvian Marine on the AT-4 system.  No interpreters were needed for the handshakes and slaps on the back that soon followed.