Nassau (LHA 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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TY' ' Weapons Company We Got It Alli' It is within Weapons Company that the Battalion Commander finds the force multiplier to turn the tide of battle decisively in his favor. Whether in general or direct support or attached to the line companies, the awesome desructive firepower of crew-served weapons opens the gap in the enemy's defense that allows the infantry to pour in to close with and destroy the enemy. The 81mm Mortar Platoon stands ready to put accurate, responsive indirect fire support three miles ahead of the Battalion. Light and mobile, they are often just behind the infantry as they rush forward, ready to assist in the attack with high explosive rounds, white phospherous, and battlefield illumination. When the going is particularly tough, they mark the target for destruction by aircraft. Darting about the battlefield in Ninja jeeps, the Heavy Machinegun Platoon adds the weight of the .50 cal. machinegun and 40mm grenade launcher to the fight. A modern version of the Rat Patrol , these men can reach out and touch the enemy over a mile to their front, destroying lightly armored vehicles and personnel that stand in the way of the infantrys' advance. Frequently attached out to the infantry, the Anti- Armor Platoon or Dragons , offers medium range protection from the enemy armor. While they have lighly armored vehicle support available to them, most often they are with the infantry on foot, ready to engage that tank which suddenly interferes with the company's advance. Day and night capable, the Dragons are in the mud at the ready. Highly qualified, highly capable, the professionals of Weapons Company provide the BLT the firepower necessary to meet the mission of closing with and destroying the enemy. Knowledgeable and proficient in practically every weapon used in an infantry battalion, crew-served or personal, the Company has it all - firepower, mobility and esprit! Capt Schuster 25 '1 Back Row: 1stLt Black, Hm2 Collins, 1st Sgt Warner 2nd Row: LCpl Sandoval, LCpljackson, Cpl Rotz Front Row: LCpl Tindall, Cpl Rhodes, Cpl Browning, MSgt Campbell 3

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81MM Mortar Platoon Winners of the 1987 Division Crew-served Weapons Competition, the professionals of 81's provide close and continuous support to the BLT. Having fired more rounds in six months than most units fire in a year and having more field time than any other Division 81mm Mortar Platoon, they have honed the cutting edge of the LF613 sword. The platoon further sharpened their skills in the mud of Italy, the rains of Spain and the snow of France. Further improving not only their mortar gunnery skills, they tested their mettle on the M60 machineguns and the M203 grenade launchers. On quick-kill courses with personal weapons in France and Morocco they became as proficient in close-in destruction as they are in reaching out to find the enemy with hip pocket artillery . Ready, willing and proven able, 81's are waiting for the call. Back Row, 2nd Lt Ellithorpe, Sgt Dejesus, Cpl Vertti, LCpl Maguire, PFC Garcia, PFC Scott, PFC Simmons, Pvt Lewis, LCpl Andress, LCpl Whitaker, LCpl Kins, Cpl Lee, Cpl Rudolph, GySgt Claussen 3rd Row: SSgt Noriega, Cpl Summers, LCpl Carpenter, LCpl Guzman, LCpl Johnson, LCpl Christian, LCpl Roark, LCpl Biddle, LCpl Midkiff, LCpl Edgington, LCpl Thar, LCpl Harrington, LCLpl Avery 11817 77 S .l ,- ff f 0 2nd Row: Cpl Ellars, Cpl Golder, LCpl Dopart, LCpl Brown, LCpl Marino, LCpl Williams, LCpl Erazo, LCpl Brock, LCpl Hardy, LCpl Simmons, PFC Eisenberg, HN Rupert, LCpl Marsh Front Row: SSgt Barnes, Sgt Stevens, Cpl Gagnow, LCpl Degarmo, LCpl Rodrguez, LCpl Mendel, HM3 Snow, Lcpl Rheome, LCpl Tsosie, LCpl Meshefski, LCpl Barberena Front Row: SSgt Barnes, Sgt Stevens, Cpl Gagnow, LCpl Degarmo, LCpl Rodrguez, LCpl Mendel, HM3 Snow, LCpl Rheome, LCpl Tsosie, LCpl Meshefski, LCpl Barberena 44