Army says Makua live-fire exercises 'very successful'
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
The Army yesterday said its first live-fire exercise in Makua Valley in three years was "very successful," but environmentalists raised concern about a mortar round that landed off course and a helicopter machine gun run that strayed close to cultural sites.
Spc. Frank J. Magni, 17th Public Affairs Detachment
Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, which hadn't trained to company-level live-fire standards in 18 months, was able to do so yesterday as OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters roared overhead and about 60 shells from a 105mm howitzer pounded a far target area.
A soldier from C Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment aims a M-240 B machine gun for suppressive fire during the first live-fire exercise in three years at Makua Valley.
"I saw a lot of grins on their faces as all 100 of them assembled to take photos," said 2nd Brigade commander Col. Andrew Twomey. "I think they were proud of themselves, and I think the newer soldiers were perhaps surprised by the volume of fire and feel of artillery."
But Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund attorney David Henkin, who was observing the exercise, said an 81mm mortar round landed a football field's distance off target Thursday, exploding in tall grass more than 30 feet beyond a fire-break road.
A recent court settlement with community group Malama Makua allowed the Army to return to live-fire training in the Wai'anae Coast valley. A walk-through and blank-fire drill preceded the live-fire.
A similar type of round landed outside the fire-break road in September of 1998, sparking an 800-acre fire that burned within 100 feet of endangered plant species, Henkin said.
"We were told, and the court was told, rounds were going to fall within the fire-break road, because it's rounds that fall outside the fire-break road that pose the greatest threat to endangered species," Henkin said.
The mortar round was the third fired on Thursday to zero-in the weapon. No mortars were used yesterday, and Twomey said accuracy improvements are being looked at for future exercises. The round did not cause a fire. Twomey said until the first several rounds anchor the mortar, it's not unusual to have accuracy deviations of 300 feet.
"We're concerned as well (about the off-course mortar round)," Twomey said. "That's why the targets are located well inside the fire-break road, that's why the (helicopter) fire bucket has to be on station, and that's why the 20-man firefighting team is there."
Henkin also said 50-caliber machine gun bullets from a helicopter hit a non-target area and trailed off into a gulch where historic sites are located. Twomey said the pilot fired "a couple of rounds short."
"He did fire some rounds that did hit (the non-target area), but that's why we sandbagged and covered cultural sites, because we knew there was some chance of that occurring," Twomey said.
