3 - 5 Cav Black Knights

The Squad

This was one of many Infantry squads that served during Operation Desert Storm (ODS), but what makes it special is that it was MY squad.  We were stationed at Ayers Kaserne (The Rock)  in Kirchgoens, Germany prior to our deployment to Operation Desert Shield in December of 1990. 

The Squad had trained together for almost 2 years prior to ODS.  We had conducted quite a bit of Infantry training together in Germany.  We attended the prestigious Platoon Confidence Training (PCT) at Bad Tolez, MOUT training at Doughboy City, Berlin, the 3rd Armored Division Ranger Camp,  the Combined Arms Maneuver Training Center in Hohenfels, and live fire training at Grafenwoher.  Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Division typically trained in the field for over 200 days of the year.  We were very capable at executing raids, recons and ambushes, and had always met the standard during Squad ARTEPS.  Although no one was RANGER qualified, we trained to RANGER standards.  All squad members were experts with their weapons, and some had been awarded the Expert Infantry Badge.  Just prior to our deployment, we received new members from another unit from Mainz, Germany, and Fort Carson, CO, bringing us up to the 9 soldiers we were authorized.

Mechanized Infantry soldiers have a specialty of 11M, meaning that they have received additional training on the M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV).  My new soldiers were 11B's, from a unit that had not yet transitioned to the BFV.  These were a great bunch of guys and they quickly learned how to load ammo and missiles for the BFV's.  

A squad is broken down  into two fire teams - Fire Team Alpha and Fire Team Bravo.  Each team has a team leader, normally a sergeant or a corporal, and each team member has a specific duty position within the team.

Here is how the "Fighting First" was broken down...

L to R:  SPC Alejandro, SPC Dempsey, PFC Wardman, PFC Reid, SSG Westlake, CPL Williams, PVT Rosado, PVT Williams and PFC Zappone

Weapons:

Each leader in the Squad carried an M203, which is an M16A2 with an M203 40 mm grenade launcher bolted underneath it.  These provided direct and indirect fire capability to the squad, but also allowed the leaders to mark targets with smoke rounds for the squad to mass fires on.  Each leader carried high explosive and smoke grenades.

The automatic riflemen were issued the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW).  The SAW is a light machinegun which fires the same size round as the M16.  Each SAW gunner was issued 600 rounds of belted ammo in 3 plastic drums- one fitted to the gun, and each of the others strapped to their thighs to allow quick change.  These weapons provided the most firepower to the squad.

The riflemen carried an M16A2, with 120 rounds of 5.56 ammo.  The riflemen also carried additional ammo for the SAW's and the M203's, hand grenades and mines.

Unique to Bradley units was the M231 Firing Port Weapon.  This is a submachinegun version of the M16, which fires fully automatic only, and has a rate of fire of about 1200 rounds per minute.  It is designed to be screwed through the wall of a BFV and fired through a port by looking out of a periscope (vision block).  I fabricated a harness out of my rubber pants suspenders and carried one under my armpit, which augmented my M203.

Rockets and missiles:   We were issued the M136 84 mm AT4 anti tank rockets, which were an improvement over the old LAW, as well as the M47 Dragon wire guided anti tank missile.

The squad was also issued High Explosive Hand Grenades, Tear Gas Grenades, and Thermite Grenades.  We were also issued Claymore Anti personnel Mines, and "Toe-poppers"  little plastic mines designed to ---

Everyone was issued the M-9 Phoebus Bayonet.  This was the latest model, which was pretty heavy duty, and when connected with its scabbard could be used as a wire cutter.

As you can see, a Mech Infantry squad is fairly heavily armed.

Other Equipment:

Each soldier was issued a Kevlar helmet and vest -  although not bullet proof, these  would protect him from shrapnel.

Everyone also had some type of night observation device (NOD).  Either the AN/PVS-5 or the newer AN/PVS-7B Night Vision Goggles (NVG's)  and AN/PVS-4's for the weapons, as well  a thermal sight for the Dragon.

Everyone was also issued an M17A1 Chemical Protective Mask, 2 Chemical Protective Over Garments, Chemical Detection Kits and Nerve Agent Antidote Kits.

I carried a PRC-77 Radio/Transmitter, to be able to communicate with the BFV's and the other squad.