Abdul Qadr, the Iraqi Minister of Defense, prepares to climb down into the hatch of an M1 Abrams tank at the Besamaya Range Complex adjacent to Forward Operating Base Hammer Jan. 2. Qadr was given a briefing by tank crewmembers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, and the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s executive officer, Maj. Dewey Boberg, from Anaheim, Calif., about the M1 Abrams’ capabilities prior to Qadr firing the main gun of the tank.By Staff Sgt. Sean Riley, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs
Photos courtesy of 1-15 Inf. Regt.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – The Iraqi Minister of Defense, Abdul Qadr, visited the Besamaya Range Complex, adjacent to FOB Hammer, and fired several rounds from the main gun of a U.S. Army M1 Abrams tank Jan. 2.
Soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, provided a tank for a demonstration of the M1’s capabilities and firepower. Maj. Dewey Boberg, from Anaheim, Calif., the executive officer for the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, an armor officer with extensive knowledge of the tank and its weapons systems, briefed the Iraqi Minister of Defense prior to his firing the tank’s main gun.
“It was a real honor to host the Minister of Defense and have the opportunity for him to put his hands on the greatest tank in the world,” Boberg said. “After he fired a few rounds from an Abrams tank, he returned to the group the happiest man in the world.”
The Minister of Defense also spoke with Boberg about the Abrams tank and its use by Coalition Forces in the Mada’in Qada. The Mada’in Qada is a county east of Baghdad roughly the size of Rhode Island and is home to approximately 2 million Iraqis.
“The Minister was genuinely excited to fire the tank,” said Boberg. “After a short orientation he immediately mounted and went down range to fire.”
The 1-15 Inf. Regt., is assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.
Photos courtesy of 1-15 Inf. Regt.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – The Iraqi Minister of Defense, Abdul Qadr, visited the Besamaya Range Complex, adjacent to FOB Hammer, and fired several rounds from the main gun of a U.S. Army M1 Abrams tank Jan. 2.
Soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, provided a tank for a demonstration of the M1’s capabilities and firepower. Maj. Dewey Boberg, from Anaheim, Calif., the executive officer for the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, an armor officer with extensive knowledge of the tank and its weapons systems, briefed the Iraqi Minister of Defense prior to his firing the tank’s main gun.
“It was a real honor to host the Minister of Defense and have the opportunity for him to put his hands on the greatest tank in the world,” Boberg said. “After he fired a few rounds from an Abrams tank, he returned to the group the happiest man in the world.”
The Minister of Defense also spoke with Boberg about the Abrams tank and its use by Coalition Forces in the Mada’in Qada. The Mada’in Qada is a county east of Baghdad roughly the size of Rhode Island and is home to approximately 2 million Iraqis.
“The Minister was genuinely excited to fire the tank,” said Boberg. “After a short orientation he immediately mounted and went down range to fire.”
The 1-15 Inf. Regt., is assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.
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