Thursday, December 14, 2006

Crews test latest Stryker vehicle

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. — Mobile Gun System crews from the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry had the opportunity Dec. 3 to put the latest variant of the Stryker to the test on Yakima’s Range 10.

A cluster of CONEXs served as a makeshift range tower on a hilltop overlooking the seldom-used range. Infrared cameras and audio equipment recorded the engagements of each of the battalion’s nine crews.

“This is the first MGS gunnery in the Army, period,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pratt, the brigade master gunner.

To that end, the range was refurbished to meet the needs of the new vehicle.

“Range to targets is a lot shorter. Most of the ranges that are set up for tanks can’t accommodate this yet, so we have to set up a lot of temporary target pits to bring the target array in closer.” Pratt said. “We have a lot more RPG team and ten-man infantry squad targetry, which you don’t see on a regular tank range.

The unit is the last battalion from the 4th Brigade, 2nd Inf. Division to conduct crew live-fire qualification; 2-23 Inf. and 4-9 Inf. already completed the training.

Pratt noted that so far the brigade has done well, with about 90 percent of the crews qualifying on their first attempt. At the end of the gunnery exercise, each battalion will have fired about 60 main gun rounds, 6,000 .50-caliber rounds and 15,000 7.62 mm rounds on the various tables. The crews themselves have responded positively to the vehicle.

“It’s a good vehicle; it handles well and the fire control system is fine. We haven’t had too many problems with our vehicle. I like it. They definitely need to keep it,” said Staff Sgt. Larry Wisor, a vehicle commander in C Company.