POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii -- The air was thin, dusty and ripe with anticipation. Marines scrambled around Forward Operating Base 421, collecting gear, ammunition and conducting pre-combat checks and inspections. A big operation was about to commence and a medley of assets was involved.
The “Island Warriors” of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment conducted a mechanized assault with air and artillery to support the operation as part of Exercise Lava Viper, July 20, 2013.
Lava Viper, a staple of Hawaii-based Marines’ pre-deployment training cycle, is a battalion-level combined-arms exercise designed to enhance the skills of the ground combat and support element Marines participating. Before the mechanized attack began, 2nd Bn., 3rd Marine’s battalion gunner brought everyone in for a range safety brief, he laid out the scheme of maneuver for the Marines.
In the crowd of personnel there were riflemen, amphibious assault vehicle operators and fire support team Marines. In the back of the crowd stood Combined Anti-Armor Team 1, Weapons Company, 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines, with cards on the table unique to infantry battalions — CAAT sections bring the big guns to the fight, operating the M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun and the Saber system, which launches a tube-launched, optically tracked, wired guided missile.
With newly-grown prominent field mustaches and utility uniforms stained with dirt and dust from two weeks at PTA, CAAT1B rode to the top of a ridge overlooking the battle space and set up a support-by-fire position while Echo’s AAV-borne Marines assault company set off toward their objective on foot.
While convoying through PTA’s volcanic terrain, the constant chirp of radio chatter goes back and forth between vehicles. For CAAT1B, the “vics” are their makeshift mobile homes in the volcanic landscape.
“If we had to go to war on Mars, we’d be ready,” jokes Lance Cpl. Samuel Breeden, a vehicle commander with CAAT1B, Weapons Co., 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines, about PTA’s notoriously rocky terrain.
The assault commenced with a TOW launch from CAAT1B. The missile knocked out a simulated air defense asset, freeing up the surrounding airspace for rotor-winged aircraft to support the operation.
The TOW missle shot and CAAT1B opened up with “talking guns” from their “Ma Deuce” .50 caliber machine guns. Each vehicle carried 800 armor piercing incendiary rounds.
“I have a lot of firepower under my command,” said Cpl. Jeff Schmuck, section leader for CAAT1B, Weapons Co., 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines. “I like being in charge of the different weapon systems. Coordinating fires can be a ton of fun.”
The gunners took turns firing, one letting off a burst, and pausing while the next gunner fired his rounds and so on. This kept a constant flow of suppressive fire for advancing riflemen to rely on.
“Talking guns is what we use to keep an economy of rounds,” Breeden said. “It allows us to keep track of how many rounds are being used so we can stay in the fight and have enough ammunition to support whatever company we’re suppressing for, for the entirety of the operation. This weapon has been around since World War II, and it hasn’t failed us yet.”
Vehicle commanders kneeled next to their turret gunners, assisting them with reloads and visually guiding them on target. The machine gunners could be heard howling amidst the heavy gun fire as they pummeled their target points in the distance, sparks and smoke flying from impact zones.
As the Echo Marines and trackers advanced forward, CAAT1B shifted its fires to compensate.
“We shift our fires for moving targets and to keep from injuring friendly advancing forces,” said Sgt. Michael Felgenhauer, the anti-tank missileman who commenced the mechanized assault. “This was my first big operation with this unit, and everything went really smoothly.”
“We have a good crew of guys,” said Schmuck about his section. “Individual actions are strong, and everyone pulls their weight. There’s no one else in the battalion that does what we do and there’s no other place I’d rather be. It makes you feel bigger and badder than anyone else.”