Large Caliber Cannon Used For Precise Accurate Shelling
The territory of Iraq itself has many urban areas, areas where residents live and where the usage of large cannon and large caliber howitzers is no longer needed. Because the security situation has settled down for the most part there is not the need for such large munitions on the current battlefield in much of Iraq.
There is still a use for the large bore howitzers however, in certain areas of Iraq. Located near Mosul in the Ninewa province, there are several large 155 mm howitzers on the grounds of Badoush Prison. They still are used on a daily basis to support troops that are conducting missions nearby. The howitzers are huge weapons, and they are capable of firing high explosive rounds, Excalibur guided munitions, or illumination rounds.
“Our continued presence here is both to remind the enemy of the might and power of the Coalition, and to support the front line troops here,†said Sgt Gustavo Martinez. Sergeant Martinez is the Fire Direction Chief for the Howitzer Unit at Badoush Prison.
The howitzers at Badoush Prison fire an average of three times a day, mostly to provide illumination rounds to support ongoing operations nearby. Howitzers crew members work a shift that is 24 hours on duty, and then 48 hours in a support role near the howitzer emplacement.
“We can use high explosives or guided munitions at any time, we are at a point where the need is greatly reduced, but if hostile forces begin to come back we can pinpoint attack any point within a large radius of our howitzer emplacement,†said Sergeant Martinez.
