 |
Soldiers of 639th artillery battalion under the Army’s 8th Corps carry out firing exercises with 155-millimeter KH-179 towed artilleries at an exercise field in Goseong, Gangwon, on Oct. 7. Provided by the unit |
Artillery battalions under South Korea’s Army 8th Corps conducted Time On Target (TOT) firing drills at an artillery field in Goseong, Gangwon, on Oct. 7 in an effort to reinforce artillery firing capabilities.
The firing exercise was organized to be skilled with swiftness and precise counterattack in case of North Korea’s provocations. The drill was carried out with an aim to verify artillery units’ readiness in eastern frontline.
About six hours before the TOT drills, 155-millimeter K-9 and K-55 self-propelled artilleries, KH-179 towed artilleries, 130-millimeter multiple launch rocket system, anti-artillery radars, a team of special warfare commandos and eight observation teams were mobilized to prepare for the drills under the command of an Operation Command Center (OCC).
Then a large-scale firing exercise and assisting artillery firing drills were conducted in accordance with a support from a simulated allied operation unit stationed near an enemy territory.
All units joining the drills have prepared for TOT firing exercises since two days ago. Also troops trained ways to handle artillery shells and duds during the exercises.
Once a precise coordinate of simulated targets were calculated, 45 artilleries demonstrated their firepower by simultaneously making TOT firing.
“We conducted artillery firing drills intensively in order to consider about only combat situations,” said Lt. Col. Kim Deuk, commander of the 375th artillery battalion. “We will focus on the training in order not to make a mistake in defending eastern frontline.”