Spitting Cobra
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15 January 2010
Cobra Battery at FOB Frontenac
Arghandab, Afghanistan
Artillery is called “The King of Battle.” When it comes to the delivery of force, probably nothing outside of nuclear weapons can outmatch the sustained delivery of extreme brutality. Cannons also can deliver small atomic weapons.
Aircraft and missles have range and other profound advantages, yet on a tactical battlefield these guns are like a force of nature.
They can fire in any weather that man dares to stand in.
American artillery can destroy a parked car with the first shot from twenty miles away. No sniper has ever lived who can shoot so well.
The red glow is caused by an approaching humvee whose lights were dimmed by red filters, yet the sensitive camera collected light over time.
Calculations for shots are extremely complex and include dozens of factors, such as windspeed, barometric pressure, humidity, altitude of the gun and the target, temperature, and the Earth’s rotation, and the specific lot number of the ammunition. Every gun is different and so the calculations for one gun would lose accuracy in another. The guns are brutal and rugged, but also high-tech, precision machines that took centuries of science, engineering and experience to reach the current state.
The guns have reached such a high level of evolution that despite the extreme complexity, within minutes of receiving a “fire mission,” a good crew will reliably deliver accurate shots with help from the computer.
Sometimes missions are pre-planned, while at other times crews must wait close to the guns for hours, even days, without a break. There was some base in Iraq—I went there with CSM Jeff Mellinger but have forgotten where it was—and the base was taking rocket or mortar fire on a frequent basis from a certain area. And so the cannoneers slept just next to the guns, and finally the enemy fired and was killed because the guns were pointed at the exact predicted firing point. The cannoneers just loaded and counter-fired and finished them. Probably few people on base realized that the “cannon cockers” had conducted an ambush-by-howitzer. (Maybe the crew who was there will recall this and set the facts straight.)
Cobra battery, 1-17th Infantry, fires illumination.
Sometimes the crews fire “H & I” or “terrain denial” missions. Harassment and Interdiction missions are fired at terrain known to be used only by the enemy at certain times, and so anytime the enemy feels like rolling the dice, they can move into that terrain. Such missions also provide influence for “shaping” the battlefield. If the commander is trying to flush the enemy into a blunder—maybe an ambush—or maybe to cut them off from an escape route, he can have the guns pound into a gorge, say, that is used as an enemy route. Or maybe he just tries to persuade the enemy to take a route where we have sniper teams waiting. The battery can be used in many ways that do not include direct attacks on enemy formations.
Comments
The roar of the guns is exciting and great to hear except the 8-inch guns shake the ground and make plots shaky.
thanks and keep up the great work,
Jason
prior Fister (13 Foxtrot)
The Canadians have been doing this and doing it better for the last 6 years with their M777 & excalibur rounds.
But you think they have been tactically defeated so don't bother reporting on them.
A word of advice . . stay out of Timmy's on the boardwalk at KAF. There are a few Canucks who want to "ask" you about your ludicrous claim that they have been defeated by the Taliban.
I'm keeping you and them in my prayers.
Sandy
Thank you Michael Yon for showing us what goes on when I am in the safety of my own home. I will keep you and these men and women in my prayers.
God bless!
Ernie Pyle wrote in 1944 that the Germans feared our artillery "... almost more than anything we had."
Perhaps our enemies in Afghanistan feel similarly.
Great pictures and a look at todays gun bunnies ( thats what we called them, no offense! ) Supported them back in the early 80's when they first started getting the hitech M109's, glad to see that the made the new towed ones so effective. Hats off to all the guys on the guns and in the fight
And the extraordinary soldiers who perform these wonders with these weapons are those whom certain politicians said weren't "smart enough" to stay out of the military. God bless them all, and you as well.
Toujours Pret!
You might care to know that the M777 is actually a British invention by Vickers and is an excellent piece of kit. I was in Procurement in the 80s and saw the first prototypes firing in Cumbria. Sadly, UK didn't buy it but it is used to great effect by CAN, US and AUS forces. As somebody has already said, Artillery adds............to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl. I know - I was an FOO in the Cold War; one of my sons is commanding an FST on Herrick 11 and the other one (RM) deploys in 18 months time.
"Can't help but wonder who named the FOB? Frontenac was the ballsy military/civil leader of French Canada who took on the Iroquois and English in Upstate NY and the Ohio Valley long before the Declaration of Independence was a thought in anyone's mind. His mission: Stop the harrassment by the 6 Nations and their Anglo suppliers...maybe an appropriate name after all...he did 2 tours...his second one he was past 60 years of age. "
(B 1/214th AVN fresh back from Iraq)
Orion
There is a 17th Field Artillery but so many reorganizations .
Thank you for your service, anyhow and great shots (and great shooting).
James Ronan
I don't know much about artillery, but that looks like an M777. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the great coverage of 3-17 FA. The next time you are out at Ramrod, please stop by and visit the Gators.
Even at that we were happy to be able to call on the cannon cockers when the situation got ugly.
Michael thanks for the great work.
God Bless and keep ALL our troops safe and sound.
What i cannot get over, are the stars. Do they really look like that??? i thought growing up in rural PA that we could see alot of stars but sheesh...i had no idea!
Best wishes to both you and our troops.
May St. Barbara watch over all the arty boys and keep them safe! Thanks, Michael.
As an aside, I think you might need to post a clarification of your comments about the Canadians and their 'defeat' as I think they disagree with your assessment as they are interpreting it.
Keep up the excellant work!
I am heartened to see that the story of the Artillery has been told in such a thorough, succinct, and beautiful set of images and words. My hat is off to you! I am looking forward to seeing more of your excellent work.
Three words: Rules of Engagement.
Your arrogance is sickening. Fingers crossed that you wander into the line of mortar fire.
Brian that's an interesting observation. The FOB was originally Canadian turf until handed over to the US Army last year.
to 3-17--- way to go guys... cant wait for you all to get home this summer... We miss you... And to my husband who is with you guys.. I miss you and love you tons.
country would take care of you right when you come home. mr. yon you do a job that needs to be done
and you do it very well, thank you...and i thank all the troops in the war. take care and be safe and come
home in one piece....former tank commander 1 ID
thanks for reporting on the dangerous work these troops are doing.
Thanks for the insight into the life of the soldiers, my husband is in afghanistan
They called the Infantry "The Queen of Battle"....they called Arty "The King of Battle"
Hooorah!
Been on the receiving end of rocket attacks in Vietnam more than a few times...not good...makes ya wanna hug your Mom, notwithstanding the fact that you just don't wanna be there!
In some pictures they look like some ghosts who are cursed to fire their gun for all eternity.
Sixty years have brought amazing changes in the use of artillery in battle but the age-old cry "fire for effect" still resonates. A slide rule, a topographical map, and a telephone line to a forward observer were the main elements for a successful strike. If those were not the "good days", they certainly were times never to be forgotten.
The free booze (whiskey cost by the bottle) accounted for major problems seldom if ever reported to the news media--shootings, theft, personal property damage, life threats, burning of property, violation of military rules, promiscuity, etc.
Keep up the good work, men in the artillery !
KEEP YOUR HEAD LOW AND YOUR POWDER DRY...
BOOM ......ARTILLERY
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