MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --
To effectively destroy
an armored target, a Marine must utilize something that packs a much bigger
punch than their standard 5.56mm or 7.62mm rounds. Fortunately for the Marine
Corps, the FGM-148 Javelin missile system and M41A4 Saber missile system can do
just that, every time.
Marines with Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon, Weapons
Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, conducted simulated FGM-148
Javelin and M41A4 Saber missile system training aboard Camp Lejeune, North
Carolina, August 8.
The
set-up, inside a room on the first floor, featured two simulated Sabers and two
Javelins wired to individual computer systems that produced a simulation for
effectively operating and firing the systems, similar to the indoor simulated
marksmanship trainer commonly used for the M16A4 service rifle or M240B medium
machine gun.
“This
simulator allows anti-tank missile men to cross train the machine gunners,”
said Lance Cpl. Hamdem A. Abushehab, an anti-tank missile man with the platoon.
“It also gives them the chance to use something that they normally don’t get to
handle often.”
The
purpose of the simulation was to allow anti-tank missile men and machine
gunners within the platoon to increase their proficiency with the system
without expending the real-world cost of the approximately $1.7 million Saber
system and its tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided missiles.
“The
Marines all went through the remedial actions, such as misfires and
troubleshooting the system,” Abushehab said. “Then we moved onto
combat-oriented scenarios, such as single, multiple and moving target
engagements. It’s something to continuously improve on.”
Both
systems included monitors that allowed one or more Marines to supervise the
field of view and target(s) as seen by the gunner, and offer direction if needed.
The screens generated full landscapes to reflect areas of operation on a global
scale, and even boasted scenarios where Marines had to quickly identify
friendly and enemy armor before firing. In addition, the simulated Saber system
featured two simulated TOW missiles to allow Marines to practice loading the
weapon after each shot.
Despite
the lack of live missiles, the platoon made their time with the simulator a
very mutually rewarding experience between the machine gunners and anti-tank
missile men.
“You
always learn something new when you do this because you can always be better,”
said Lance Cpl. Shaun McNeal, an anti-tank missile man with the platoon. “It
also helps build proficiency and camaraderie (within) the platoon, and closes
the gap between junior Marines and more experienced ones.”