The Philippine Army’s (PA) 6th Field Artillery Battalion, also known as the “Deadly Accurate” battalion, conducted live-fire drills in Maguindanao province recently to enhance the efficiency of its personnel, a ranking official said Wednesday, August 24.
Col. Xerxes Trinidad, PA spokesperson, said the Deadly Battalion tested newly re-barreled 105mm M2A2 howitzers in Brgy. Masalay in Ampatuan and Brgy. Meta in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao last August 23.
“A total of thirty 105mm high-explosive rounds were fired in high-angle and low-angle shots with low and maximum charges to simulate various crisis scenarios,” Trinidad said.
The drills were made to evaluate the proficiency of the gunnery crew undergoing a “Firing Platoon and Fire Direction Center Section Training” in Maguindanao.
The Artillery Regiment is implementing a certification program for gunners and assistant gunners prior to deployment at firing lines, Trinidad explained.
He added that field artillerymen also undergo re-certification before handling actual operations.
The Artillery Regiment is one of the PA’s major units at the forefront of its modernization.
The regiment has been consistently performing its mandate in organizing, training, equipping, developing, and sustaining artillery units in providing timely and accurate fire support to maneuver units, Trinidad said.