U.S. Marines and soldiers demonstrate lethality with HIMARS in Australia.

Marines with the 3rd Marine Division, and soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Division, conducted a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live fire exercise at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Australia, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 19, July 8, 2019. 1st Lt. Brett Vannier, USMC, reports.

A live-fire demonstration was performed during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 (TS19), July 8, 2019 (Picture source: U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Ashley Maldonado)

The M142 HIMARS is a highly lethal and capable rocket system with the ability to precisely deliver rockets from a great distance. The HIMARS is also unique in that it can easily maneuver on the ground or be transported by C-130 aircraft. During Exercise Talisman Sabre 19, the Marines from 3rd Marine Division and soldiers from 2nd Infantry Division, demonstrated this capability, which can be provided to support a combined multinational effort, to their Australian counterparts.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Waikin Tee, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System operator with the 3d Marine Division, said “We are in control of one of the most accurate weapons systems to ensure that all of our high-value targets or positions of interest are destroyed effectively. Once we destroy our targets, we quickly move on to the next ones.”

Marines with the 3d Marine Division conduct training year-round utilizing the HIMARS in order to maintain their ability and proficiency with the system. Opportunities like Talisman Sabre 19 not only allow the Marines to sharpen their skills but also to work closely with our Australian allies. “The Australia–U.S. relationship is absolutely vital to both of our defense forces,” said Major General Christopher Field, AM, CSC, Commander of Australian Army Forces Command. “It means that we can bring both of our strengths and combine them to make ourselves a more capable organization.”

The purpose of Talisman Sabre is to improve Australian-U.S. combat readiness and interoperability, maximize combined training opportunities and conduct maritime prepositioning and logistics operations. Exercises like this better prepare Australia and the U.S. for future conflict by fully integrating all domains of warfare (air, land, maritime, space and information).

United States, Australian, New Zealand and Japanese service members gather after a live-fire demonstration during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 (TS19), July 8, 2019 (Picture source: Senior Airman Ashley Maldonado)