POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii -- Marines from Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, fired live ammunition with the M327 120 mm mortar system during Operation Spartan Fury 14.2, March 11, 2014.
The Bravo Battery Marines used the mortar system for the first time during the training exercise, which allowed them to become more proficient with other artillery tactics.
“This gives Marines in the battery a chance to expand their artillery background through a system other than (the) M777 155 mm howitzer system,” said Sgt. Derek Wolford, the 120 mm gun 2 section chief for Bravo Battery, 1st Bn., 12th Marines and a 25-year-old native of Fort Ashby, W.Va. “The 120 mm allows us to get closer to the fight. It provides quick, accurate and deadly fire power for the infantry.”
The 120 mm mortar shoots farther than an 81 mm but has a shorter range than the howitzer, providing Marines a versatile weapon that packs a heavy punch and is easier to pack up and move than the howitzer, Wolford said.
After arriving at the shooting site they unloaded the mortar system and ammunition off trucks into their position. They calculated target coordinates and cautiously prepared large 120 mm ammunition to begin the training’s live-fire portion.
The battery chief commanded his sections to start their loading process by calling out, “Fire mission,” a command he gave to each section to begin the process of sending ammunition downrange. Once the command was given, his Marines began working to make the mission a success.
Before each launch, the Marines collected the correct ammunition, either an illumination, smooth or rifled round with the correct horseshoe-shaped charges that helped the projectile soar through the air. A Marine loaded the round by stepping onto a metal crate, dropping the ammunition down into the barrel and awaiting orders to pull the lanyard for detonation. Before the weapon was loaded, section chiefs double-checked the round type, charge amount, fuse type and target coordinates.
The sections waited until the battery chief gave the command, “Standby.” When this command was given, the section chief raised his hand in anticipation of hearing, “Fire!” from the battery chief. Once this came over the radio, the section chief lowered his arm while simultaneously yelling, “Fire!” His gunner pulled a lanyard attached to the mortar system, causing an earthshaking boom, hurtling a 120 mm round downrange.
When Marines weren’t firing rounds, they had idle time until the next fire mission. But there was also work to do to maintain the mortar system.
Marines maintained the cleanliness of the system’s interior, using a bore brush to scrub carbon out of the bore and air release valve.
“Overall, it’s a smaller movement, smaller manpower and just as effective,” Wolford said. “First Battalion, 12th Marines is the only battalion in the regiment to have 120 mm mortars. We take huge pride in the capability and plan to keep becoming more proficient with the weapon system.”