The evaluation of Irish artillery is part of a European wide NATO military effort to enable all armies capable of working together.
Moving into position: Irish soldiers deploy 105mm artillery guns during the NATO evaluation. Image: Irish Defence Forces THE MOORLAND OF north Cork was knee deep in mud as intermittent rain drenched the green painted faces of dug-in Irish troops.
It is a hive of activity, orders being given, vehicles coming and going, troops readying their kit for a reconnaissance mission, the tinny sound of radio traffic and Irish soldiers dressed for battle. Mason is on loan from the US military and is working as part of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe – the NATO command.“I’m here with an international team of evaluators and training to conduct a NATO evaluation level one.
“In general, we’re using the same doctrine in general, our equipment can mostly work together with the intent being if I needed to pluck a unit from another country, you fill in the blank, and put it into a larger hierarchy, a larger structure of multinational military units, it would be able to play nice with others.It is not the first evaluation – the Army Ranger Wing has already gone through the process with an exercise in Cork Harbour.
Roche said that the NATO model of military standards was seen as best practice across the world and the OCC process was designed to bring all partner nations up to the same level. Lt Col AP Keohane, commanding officer of One Brigade Artillery Regiment. Source: Irish Defence Forces “This evaluates how the pieces interact between what we would call the supported arm commander, or if there was an Irish battalion commander and how we would support him on the ground with this battery.
Keohane said that the NATO evaluation was akin to a professional body undertaking an ISO standards test. “Most Western forces are meeting that standard now. So we, as the Irish Defence Forces, strive to be the best that we can, and we’re ready to do it. Gunner Ivan King, who has responsibility for sighting and shooting the gun. Source: Irish Defence Forces
Before pulling the lever King must line up the gun with sights that are aligned with natural features and nearby road signs used as a point of reference. He defines his job as a “five mile sniper”. Using maps, computerised devices, protractors and a pencil with a piece of string attached he can calculate the trajectory and location where his gunners need to land their rounds of ammunition.
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