PABRADE, Lithuania — Lithuanian mortarmen from Griffin Brigade, 23rd Battalion, took an opportunity to integrate and conduct night mortar fire missions with 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade
Lt. Col. Tomas Nauduzas, left, the Lithuanian Artillery Bn. commander, speaks with Capt. Spenser Swafford, center, 2nd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt. fire support officer, about the capabilities of the U.S. Q-50 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar System on the battlefield, Jan. 13, at Kazlu Ruda, Lithuania.
Photo by Sgt. Alexandra Shea, 319th MPAD
21 PABRADE, Lithuania – Members of 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment took advantage of an opportunity to demonstrate their mortar weapon systems to increase interoperability with Lithuanian mortar counterparts Jan. 13, 2021, despite language barriers and snow.
A U.S. M1064, 120mm Mortar Carrier System and Q-50 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar System were line hauled early morning to begin a three-hour trek to Kazlu Ruda, Lithuania, where the 22nd Battalion of the Lithuanian Land Forces Motorized Infantry “Griffin” Brigade are based.
Upon arrival, the U.S. vehicles were off loaded, and the mortar team was met by the Lithuanian 24th Artillery Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Tomas Nauduzas and his staff. The Troopers and allied soldiers finally met face to face after several weeks of planning by phone calls and emails.
21 PABRADE, Lithuania – Troopers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division has arrived to the Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, as rotational forces to build interoperability with Lithuanian Motorized Infantry “Griffin” Brigade and German NATO-enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Lithuania.
As the regiment’s Troopers arrived, a weeklong sprint began to quickly and safely download and unpack field equipment and vehicles as their first mission: Ready to Fight.
“Ready to Fight means we are ready to train with and help defend this nation,” said Sgt. Maj. Nathanael Greene, 2-8 Cav. Reg. operations sergeant major. “We can’t leave a gap between the previous unit and us to ensure all our weapon platforms and vehicles work and are ready to go.”