For a moment, the placidity in southeast Germany transformed into a cacophony of machine gun and cannon fire that ended with what soldiers deemed a satisfying rocket explosion.
Soldiers with the Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment used “every weapon they have” to take out the simulated enemy forces at a live-fire exercise Tuesday, Army spokeswoman Lt. Ellen Brabo said.
The soldiers were cut off from their destination by a simulated conventional enemy threat using armor of their own. The scenario gave the “Dragoons” an opportunity to utilize their heavy weapons, like the 30mm cannons mounted atop some of the Strykers and the CROWS-J Javelin missile launchers mounted on others.
Both of these “up-gunned” versions of Strykers are relatively new additions to the regiment, coming into use last year for the Germany-based unit as solutions to increase their firepower.
After returning enemy fire, the troops got into a defensive position and engaged in a firefight, where dismounted soldiers worked on their marksmanship while the Strykers supported them on their flanks.
Targets popped up at various distances to keep the soldiers guessing where the enemy would be next. The exercise prepared the soldiers for their platoon evaluations later this year.
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