Army National Guard gets new howitzer

training module

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

ST. JAMES -- A new Howitzer crew training simulator will help members of the Army National Guard become better prepared for actual combat

The simulator, which was recently installed in St. James, can train members how to shoot any mission that would be possible with a real Howitzer, without using actual ammunition, or gasoline.

The simulator, after "firing" the ammunition, drops it back out through a special chute so it can be used for the next simulation. All movements are computerized, allowing personnel to know how they performed, spokesperson Paul Von Holtum said.

"The simulator looks exactly like the real thing, minus the fire extinguishers and the driving gears," he said. "This is completely new equipment that will make us as proficient as possible."

The simulator will be a permanent fixture in the training center in St. James, where it will be housed in a special room that was converted from a storage garage for the purpose, he said.

"The unit will be used for training procedures," he said. "The goal is to train us to do it right every time, rather than wasting actual ammunition on trial and error."

The simulator costs $750,000 but will save money in the long run, because actual practice requires 700 rounds of ammunition, maintenance of the tank, and gasoline to travel to and from Fort Ripley, Von Holtum said.

"It will provide a huge payback in the long run, because the practice ammunition can be used over and over again," he said.

The nearest simulator of its type is located in Michigan. Others are located at Fort Sill, Okla., but this will be the only one in the upper Midwest, he said.

"The simulator is great, because it is a self-sufficient training unit that only requires electricity," he said.

The remodeling of the garage began about two months ago when officials learned they would be getting the unit. The renovation, estimated to cost about $300,000 includes office space to house the computer equipment needed for the training programs, Von Holtum said.

"I am rally impressed with this equipment," he said. "We will get a huge benefit from this, because we will be able to do things we haven't been able to do in the past."

The machine, known as a M109 Howitzer Crew Trainer, is manufactured in Orlando, Fla. It uses rounds of ammunition weighing about 98 pounds each, and can simulate a range of up to 18 miles.

"There is a camera in the unit that helps the computer monitor what is being done," Von Holtum said. "We could even attach a video recorder and make a training tape that can be shown to other units. There is also a print-out that is generated showing how the crew performed. It will be really useful for training."

On a typical crew, there is the gunner, the assistant gunner, the section chief, and the launcher. All work together to achieve the same results with the simulator that would be achieved in the actual Howitzer, he said.

"All the crews have to be certified that they know exactly what to do prior to shooting live," he said.

Officials are still working some of the bugs out of the system, and are waiting for final approval from the federal government to make sure everything is working like it should, he said.

"We will then probably spend a week training to learn how the computer system works and what the read outs mean," he said. "It's fun. Many of us are getting pumped up and ready for when the system is ready to use."