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First rounds Downrange for Iraqi M1A1 Tank Program

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Thursday, 26 March 2009

Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 090326-01

March 26, 2009

Contact: pao@iraq.centcom.milThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
DSN: 318-852-1332
IRAQNA: 0790-194-0270

First rounds Downrange for Iraqi M1A1 Tank Program

BESMAYA, Iraq — The Iraqi M1A1 Abrams tank training program recently conducted its first live fire exercise at the Besmaya Combat Training Center.

At 2:45 pm on March 21, 2009, Iraqi Army Sgt. Ashraf Hamid Jasim a noncommissioned officer from 5th Battalion, 36th Regiment (9th IA Division) fired the first armor-piercing Sabot round from his tank’s 120mm main gun. He scored a center of mass direct hit on a moving target at 2,000 meters. “Moving targets are difficult to hit in the T-72 tank. This was a piece of cake because the GPS made the target seem very close. I lazed, got my aiming point and shot,” Ashraf said.

Students fired six main gun engagements at both stationary and moving targets on Range 2. Target engagements ranged from 1,100 meters to 2,200 meters. Under the watchful eye of their instructors and Master Gunners from Fort Knox, Ky., the students safely conducted the live fire exercise under both day and night conditions. Additionally as part of the exercise, the students engaged simulated troop targets downrange with the 7.62mm machine gun.

The 42 day course is the initial phase of a program designed to train Iraqi soldiers on the M1A1 tank. Students are from the current Iraqi Armor School and the 9th IA Division. Most of these initial 28 student-instructors will become the cadre assisting in the training of future Iraqi M1A1 tank crews. The Iraqi Army is scheduled to receive the first set of M1A1’s in 2010.

Student morale has been high and the soldiers are excited about being part of such an historic event.

The training program includes a comprehensive overview of the M1A1’s capabilities, to include bore sighting the main gun, methods of target engagement, fire commands, and tactics. In addition, the students are taught maintenance procedures and conduct driver’s training. “There is no comparison between the T-72 and M1A1” said driver Abbas Abdulamir, when he was asked to compare the driving of the two tanks.

The students will complete the live fire gunnery phase of the course on Saturday, March 28 and a graduation ceremony will take place on Monday, March 30, 2009.

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT PAO@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL OR BY PHONE AT DSN: (318) 852-1332 OR IRAQNA: 0790-194- 0270. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION VISIT: WWW.MNSTCI.IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL .