MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- Ordnance Marines know air support is crucial in mission accomplishment. Aerial bombings and attacks on key enemy locations aid the advance of ground troops. The success of these operations, however, is dependent upon the contribution of the ordnance department.
Ordnance Marines honed in on their skills in building, transporting and arming aircraft with bombs to support the air wing during Operation Javelin Thrust 2011.
These Marines provide and transport ordnance where it is needed in the air wing. They build the bombs before transporting them to the hangars or to forward arming and refueling points, or FARPs.
For the last few days, Marine Aircraft Group 41 Marines built and distributed bombs for F/A-18 Hornets and rockets for UH-1N Hueys and Bell AH-1 Super Cobras to use during simulated close air support attacks.
“Building the bombs really doesn’t take that long,” said Sgt. Matthew J. Butcher, MAG-41 aviation ordnance technician from Fort Worth, Texas. “The average time takes about five minutes and the max is about 20.”
This allows the ordnance team to deliver just what is needed in a timely manner, said Sgt. Pedro U. Padilla, MAG-41 aviation ordnance systems technician from Boston.
“Our bombs are custom-built to whatever the aircraft need for the mission,” said Padilla.
All the bombs that the ordnance crew makes are not simple, like the ones used in JT-11. The more complex bombs can have GPS, laser guidance and arming switches. They even possess the accuracy to land within 5 meters of the designated target, said Butcher.
Once the bombs and rockets are ready, they are transported to the aircraft in various locations.
The FARP is a remote location ordinarily halfway between the flight line and the enemy target where Marines refuel and arm short-takeoff and landing aircraft. The aircraft doesn’t have to go all the way back to the hangars before it continues the mission. This saves the aircraft time in mission accomplishment and consequently saves lives.
“The aircraft can refuel and arm up faster so they can get back into the fight,” said Gunnery Sgt. Angel Alvarez, MAG-41 aviation ordnance chief from El Paso, Texas.
When the aircraft land at one of the three landing zones, the Marines leap into action.
“We check the aircraft for leaks, loose screws and other problems,” said Sgt. Dominick A. “Nick” Sanchez, MAG-41 helicopter mechanic from Bronx, New York.
Once it is ensured the aircraft is safe to fly again, the ordnance Marines drive the ammunition HUMVEE over. They first load the Bell AH-1 Super Cobra with 20 mm rounds for its cannon.
“We adjust the gun to make sure the rounds feed properly,” said Sgt. Charles A. Claxton, MAG-41 aviation ordnance technician from Houston.
Next, the 2.75-inch rockets, which can be used by the Bell AH-1 Super Cobra or the UH-1N Huey, are carefully inserted into the external wing rocket systems. Once this is done, the rockets are locked into place and the helicopter is ready for take-off.
For an even faster turnaround, the ordnance Marines are capable of rearming aircraft during what is called hot refueling in which the helicopter is never powered down while it is refueled.
“We can have the helicopter ready in under 15 minutes,” said Alvarez.
That expediency could make the difference in a close air attack. Hot refueling, however, is more dangerous and requires extreme caution to prevent fires or explosions.
The chance to practice every step of the arming process has been a great opportunity for the MAG-41 Marines. The pilots and fuelers, as well as the ordnance Marines have learned to work together and what to expect from each other.
“It has been great because we get training in an expeditionary environment,” said Alvarez.