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RCT-5's Motor T Gets A Blast From Rocket Training

by Gunnery Sgt. Mark Oliva

Regimental Combat Team 5's truckers found the perfect pill for curing road rage. At 84 mm across, it's just a little tough to swallow, for the bad guys, that is.

Cpl. Blake R. Thorell (foreground) watches as a Marine from Motor Transportation Platoon, Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 5 blasts an AT-4 anti-tank rocket downrange at Camp Fallujah's Eagle Range recently. Motor T Marines fired 51 AT-4 rockets, familiarizing themselves with the weapon should they need to employ it while on duty in Iraq. (photo by Gunnery Sgt. Mark Oliva)

Marines from the regiment's Headquarters Company, Motor Transportation Platoon rocketed away all those pesky roadway frustrations during an AT-4 training exercise at Camp Fallujah's Eagle Range Dec. 3. The platoon blasted 51 anti-tank rockets in a chance to familiarize mechanics and truck drivers with the finer points of launching high explosives.

"If the grunts need us to go somewhere and do something, we need to know how to be able to use all the weapons," said Cpl. Blake R. Thorell, a 26 year old from Lexington, Neb., who led the training for his Marines. "You don't know when that day's going to come."

For many of the Marines, it was the first chance to fire a live rocket. Marines are familiarized with the anti-tank weapon during initial training following boot camp, but those are mostly simulators.

"They were kind of nervous," Thorell said.

Cpl. John C. McCawley said he fired the AT-4 before at Marine Combat Training, but it was the simulator. Instead of firing the recoilless rocket itself, he fired 9 mm spotter rounds that simulated the performance of the rocket. He never got the full effect of the thunderous explosion of the rocket launching and the devastating blast of it hitting its target.

"A tracer isn't a rocket," said McCawley, a 21 year old from Lake Havasu, Ariz.

Still, the chance to sling rockets at tank and bunker targets couldn't keep the Marines off the line. McCawley did exactly as he was instructed. He cradled the 40-inch long rocket tube in his arms, removed the rear safety pin, knelt down and acquired his target. A little push with his finger on the red safety and a press of his thumb in the red trigger was all that was needed.

A bright flash and crack and the rocket soared downrange, blasting with an enormous explosion.

"This is definitely my new favorite weapon," McCawley said. "That rocket explosion was a lot bigger than anything I've ever shot."

Despite his best effort, though, McCawley was just off the mark.

"I was so close to that tank too," he added.

Thorell said the Marines, despite the fact they hadn't fired live rockets before, did well.

"They came up to the line and went through all the steps," Thorell said. "It's pretty dumb-proof. I told them don't do any 'Kentucky windage;' put it on target and push the button."

"It was exciting," said Cpl. Doug W. Burr, a 20 year old from Ellwood, Pa. "It was definitely motivating."

Burr said aside from the fun factor with shooting the rocket, the familiarity of knowing how to use the weapons is vital, especially for Marines like him who are constantly traveling the roads throughout area of operations.

"Motor T guys are doing a lot of the same stuff as grunts because of the enemy's tactics of attacking us on the roads," Burr said.

Now, Thorell said he's confident his Marines could use the rockets with confidence.

"If we had to, these guys would know how," he said.

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