Counter fire platoon keeps terrorists on toes
By Spc. Kelly K. McDowell
May 4, 2006
BAGHDAD (Army News Service, May 4, 2006) – For 18 hours a day, the Soldiers work through heat, wind and rain, awaiting the two words that are music to a field artilleryman’s ears: counter fire.
Soldiers of the Counter Battery Platoon of 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment are stationed at Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah, supporting the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, and more recently, the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment.
“We stand on call 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week. As soon as we get a counter fire, the adrenalin starts pumping,” said Sgt. Kevin Hoople, gunner for 1st Platoon, 1-320th FA.
In the last seven months, the platoon has fired more than 100 missions to help deter terrorists, more than any other unit in the Baghdad area. Some days, the Soldiers have conducted up to five missions in an 18-hour period and fired as late, or as early, as 3 a.m.
“This is one of the hottest spots in Iraq right now,” said Hoople. “Most of the artillery units are in Mosul, Striker and really big, crowded cities. There are a lot more open spaces out here and more opportunity for the mortar guys to shoot – and a lot more opportunities for us to shoot.”
The Soldiers work 18-hour shifts, never knowing what to expect.
“When we first started this mission, I wasn’t really sure how it was going to go,” said Hoople. “We were told we weren’t going to be doing a lot here, but so far we have been doing a whole lot. We managed to shoot almost more rounds than our entire battalion did in the beginning of the war.”
Since the 1st Platoon’s arrival in Mahmudiyah, mortar attacks have decreased by 50 percent due to the counter fires and area-denial missions. Terrorists are not getting enough time to launch multiple rounds and are not as accurate due to the pressure the Counter Battery Platoon puts on its targets.
“I believe we have been making a difference through area denials,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Brown, platoon sergeant, 1st Platoon, 1-320th FA. “There are a couple of areas out there that are heavy in insurgent activity. We have shot some area denials into that area and the activity ceases for a while. It slows (the terrorists) down and makes (terrorists) stop and think about attacking Coalition Forces because we know where they are.”
Area denial missions target known insurgent mortar sites, Brown said.
“What that does is limit terrorists’ advancement… It disrupts their movement,” he said.
The Soldiers practice missions daily. After every rehearsal, the Howitzer Section conducts an after-action review to see what can be done to make the team’s time faster and the drill more efficient.
“I think our platoon has done excellent,” Hoople said. “This mission has been a god-send for these guys. This is the real dream of field artillery. You get the real effect of field artillery getting to shoot anywhere at anytime. This is what artillery is all about.”
(Editor's note: Spc. Kelly K. McDowell writes for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Public Affairs Office.)
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