Armored Brigade Holds Cold-Weather Training
By Jung Sung-ki, Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporters
Two tank battalions of the Army's 5th armored brigade began five days of day-and-night field training exercise Jan. 23 to hone their combat capabilities in extreme weather conditions.
The exercise, which took place near the Hantan River in Yeoncheon (150 kilometers northeast of Seoul) involved about 100 tanks, armored infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled howitzers and attack helicopters.
Training was meant to simulate the capture of enemy positions across the river.
Upon command, about 25 K1A1 South Korean tanks began firing 105mm high velocity cannons and M60 machine guns (under the cover of K-55 self-propelled howitzers and AH-1S Cobra helicopters) against ``enemy fortresses'' across the river.
Commanders of the friendly forces direct operation oversaw the exercise by monitoring the Army Tactical Command Information System (ATCIS), a real-time battlefield command-control system.
After several hours the mission was completed once forces successfully conquered enemy positions.
``Training is designed to overcome battlefield emergencies in conditions such as extreme cold and heavy snowfall ,'' First Lieutenant Choi Ki-young of the 5th armored brigade said. ``We're maintaining combat readiness by deterring enemy aggression and counterattacking in any conditions.''
