Nicknamed the Iron Rangers, Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division conducted railhead operations to deliver a fleet of military vehicles on July 28, 2021. The shipment was comprised of several different military vehicles including the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, M1064A3 mortar carrier and the M113 armored medical evacuation vehicle. Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Wiley, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, helped supervise the unloading of each of the vehicles.
The M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle weighs over 55,200 pounds and travels at speeds of over 30 mph. It is instantly recognizable in the field by its massive 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun sitting on top of the vehicle. It can fire over 500 rounds per minute. The M1064A3 mortar carrier is armed with 120 mm muzzle-loading mortars that have a maximum range of 7,240 meters and can fire up to 15 rounds per minute. Earning the nickname “Green Dragon” in the Vietnam War, the M113 armored medical evacuation vehicle carries a M2 Browning machine gun and moves at over 40 mph.
The strength of military assets will demonstrate U.S. Army ability to deter aggression and develop familiarity with equipment in foreign environments. It is an opportunity to fulfill the mission of upholding peace and freedom with NATO Allies. The United States is committed to using every resource available to improve military mobility and flexibility by land, air or sea. The upcoming training with the Iron Rangers and Romania is a powerful opportunity to boost combat readiness and strengthen the NATO partnerships across Europe.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (aka, “Devil Brigade”) is a maneuver brigade combat team in the United States Army. It is the oldest permanent brigade in the Army and has some of the oldest units in the United States Army. Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 1st Brigade served in World War I, Vietnam, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Its most notable campaigns include the Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Picardy, Tet Counteroffensive and the Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Since Desert Storm, the “Devil Brigade” has deployed to Bosnia, Kuwait, and to Korea to participate in a 2nd Infantry Division exercise.
