U.S. Soldiers of Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade, landed in Estonia on Aug. 28 for the Brigade’s first live-fire exercise outside of Grafenwoehr, Germany, since they reactivated in 2018. The exercise, called Rail Gunner Rush, is designed to give U.S. Soldiers an opportunity to conduct live-fire exercises with their Multiple Rockets Launch Systems alongside soldiers with the Estonian Defense Force’s 1st Infantry Brigade in Tapa, Estonia. Performing this exercise is not only an opportunity for 1-6 FAR to integrate their capabilities and with the EDF but also with NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence units.
The Estonian Defense Force worked with U.S. Soldiers before as they sent troops in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rail Gunner Rush will demonstrate the U.S. Army’s continued commitment to NATO and appreciation for the EDF, allowing them to deploy long-range precision fire assets to NATO’s Eastern Flank. To perform this exercise, the 41st FAB transported their personnel, equipment and vehicles by multiple avenues such as road, rail and air travel. Rail Gunner Rush is scheduled to begin Sept. 1 and conclude Sept. 8.
Estonian Defense Forces’ (EDF) along with United States Army and the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup, practiced firing a M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) at their central polygon training area in Harju County, Estonia. Allied troops from NATO battle groups in Estonia and Latvia participated, altogether 200 military personnel from the U.S., United Kingdom, Estonia, Denmark, Montenegro, Spain and the Czech Republic, took part in the exercise. The home base of the 41st FAB is located in Grafenwöhr, Germany, and is the only artillery brigade to support U.S. Army Europe with strategic and tactical fire support.
