Marines have a blast

WITH just a truck and a small command centre in a tent, the US Marine Corps can shoot a target 300km away, thanks to their hi-tech artillery system.

US Marines fire a M142 HIMARS launcher for the first time in Australia during Talisman Sabre.

WITH just a truck and a small command centre in a tent, the US Marine Corps can shoot a target 300km away, thanks to their hi-tech artillery system.

The Marines demonstrated the capability of the high ­mobility artillery rocket ­system (HIMARS) yesterday at Bradshaw Training Area, 300km southwest of Darwin, by shooting six practice rockets at a target 12km away.

A Fire Direction Centre and two launchers from Quebec Battery 5th Battalion, 11th Marines based at Camp Pendleton, were set up in a dusty section of the NT training area as part of Talisman Sabre.

Fire Direction Officer, Lieutenant Chad Hingst said the FDC was the brain of the operation, where mission ­information came in and was directed to the launchers.

“Our launchers will then push out, fire the mission and come back,” he said.

The HIMARS has a range of 7-300km with 10m accuracy. The ADF’s M777 Howitzer has a range of 35km.

“We could sit here and probably range most of Bradshaw with our normal rockets, which have a max distance of 84km,” Lt Hingst said.

Lieutenant Colonel Neil Owens said the rocket system could be moved by a C130 plane.

“Their presence here today is an indication of our ability to deploy a high-mobility rocket system anywhere within the Pacific AOR (area of responsibility),” he said.

Australian gunners from 8/12 Regiment have been training with the Marines at Bradshaw for nearly three weeks and were on hand to witness HIMARS firing yesterday.

Major Andrew McDonnell, 102nd Coral Battery commander, said the bilateral training, which began with ­Exercise Koolendong and ­carried through to Exercise Talisman Sabre, was a success.

“We’ve got two M777 guns, which have been firing over the past 25 days in support of the Marine Rotational Force Darwin, which has six guns,” he said.

“The gunners have come together and swap lessons and stories, which has been fantastic.”

HIMARS gunner Lance Corporal Calvin Latimore said he enjoyed explaining his role, which was more digital than physical, to Aussie gunners.