Just wondering if the U.S used the M270 MLRS rocket launcher in any of these ereas.???
Have just got a Dragon kit of this machine and was wondering if it would be suitable alongside an Abrams???
Any info would be gretly appreciated!!!
Thanks
Robert[swg][swg]
Yes they where used in 91 in Desert Storm.
Hey that was quick!!! Thanks
So i dare say it would be ok for me to put this kit beside my collections of M1A1s?
Thanks Again
Cya’s
Robert
i don’t think they took those out of the FOBs while in oif if they had’em down there with us? i know the tanks went out on patrols but the mlrs isn’t a front line kinda weapon system, it’s a in the rear with the gear and lay down some death kinda toy.
Like Redleg said, you wouldn’t find them together side by side on the front lines. But you would most likely see them together within the area of operations.
If you’re interested, here’s some more background information about the M270 MLRS.
Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS)
http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/ARMYTACMS.html
August 90 Because of Desert Storm, initial fielding of Army TACMS was shifted from Germany to Saudi Arabia. Deployment was also accomplished on this date, 1 month ahead of schedule, using the IOTE unit, the 6/27th Field Artillery (FA) Battalion from Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
15 September 90 To support Operation Desert Storm, the LRIP II delivery schedule was revised to accelerate delivery of the first 20 M39s. The remaining deliveries for January-September 91 were stretched out to prevent a break in production which would otherwise result from the early delivery.
January 91 A Battery, 6/27 FA fired the first two Army TACMS missiles launched during ODS. Initially deployed with XVIII Airborne Corps, the unit was later placed under operational control of VII Corps. These rounds were the first fired in anger by VII Corps since World War II.
Team Redstone’s Role in Operation
DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM
http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/netstorm/sus_home.html
A couple of interesting articles…
Army Hustles to Train Soldiers for Both Conventional War, Counterinsurgency
Desert Drills Help Fine-Tune Army’s Light Artillery System
Reference Sites:
M270 MLRS @ FAS.org
M270 MLRS @ GlobalSecurity.org
M39 Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS)
Yes, M270 MLRS was used in both ODS and OIF. I was in 1-39 FA (MLRS), 3 ID during the initial invasion. We traveled right behind the lead Task Force throughout the initial invasion. We regularly mixed with Abrams tanks and Bradleys as we pushed north. On multiple occasions, especially in Samawa and on the banks of the Euphrates river, we were clearing trenches and bunkers of Iraqi soldiers as we occupied our firing points. Once we reached Baghdad, the batallion was consolidated at Baghdad International Airport and we parked the launchers in motorpool fashion and manned gates and towers on the airport. 2-4 FA (MLRS), III Corps Artillery supported the Marines throughout the invasion and ended up outside Nasariya (I think, maybe a little further north) as their final location.
Bottom line, for the invasion, MLRS were in the thick of it and can be shown mixed with Brads and Abrams. If firing though, they tried to stay as far away as possible.
Thanks Gino for clearing that up now i can put it with an Abrams and not have to worry about if it looks right or not?
Thanks alos to you David Voss for the links1 They will come in very usefull and help out alot with the build of this kit.
Much appreciated to both of yous!!!
Thanks Again
Robert
true, but in OIF II and on they and many other artillery batteries slash platoons will most likely be sitting on a FOB and or possibly providing people for or as infantry personel, i had to do foot patrols and TCP’s ( they suck ) , but hopefully it calms down to a snails pace over there, too many too many!
This is true. For OIF II and on, we are re-task organizing the FA Batallions into FA Task Forces with a FA HHB (HQ Battery), one FA firing battery, and at least 2 batteries as motorized infantry (HMMWV mounted) or 2 actual infantry companies (mostly NG going with actual infantry) and a Service Battery. Definetly need more boots on the ground than big guns. I think all MLRS is now going as motorized infantry batteries. I don’t think they are bring the M270s at all.
In my unit, HHB 130 FA, SOP was for our MLRS bn to be 20-30 clicks behind the line units while our 109A6 bn’s would be 20-25 clicks behind line units.
Ch
HeavyArty,
You’re correct, the Artillery units from the Kansas National Guard who have deployed or are preparing to deploy are not taking any tracks with them, but will pick up their heavy equipment in theatre. 2/130 FA Bn (MLRS) KANG, returned from Iraq about 3 weeks ago and I talked with several of the guys. They had an HHB, a Service Battery, 1 Firing Battery and 2 Batteries operating as MPs/Infantry. I was told that they tried to rotate the Firing Battery operation between the three batteries so that no one in a firing battery spent their entire tour in country patroling, operating TCPs and doing convoy escort (they lost a couple of guys from Bravo Btry doing the latter). My old unit, 1/127 FA Bn (Paladin) KANG is ramping up for deployment later this year and their understanding right now is that they will operate in the same manner. I don’t particularly care for it (I helped train a lot of them and besides, they’re my friends) but I’m sure that they will do as good a job as the others have gone before them, whether Guard, Reserve or Regular.
During Desert Storm I remember sitting in My TC’s hatch (M60A1) watching the MLRS sending their reguards to the Iraqis.