A course on how to handle the C16 machine gun

Several members of the Regiment have taken, in recent months, a turret operator course on the tactical armored patrol vehicle (or TAPV). The course was held from January to March 2023 and more than 12 Sher H members participated.

Slt Patrick Delattre, Mcpl Jean-Michel Baribault and Cpl Choukri Affane posing with the C16 MG and the C6

This turret, more commonly known as RWS (acronym for Remote Weapon System) is a piece of equipment found on top of the vehicle and contains the main weapon in addition to a coaxial weapon. In the case of the TAPV, the main weapon is a C16 grenade launcher with a caliber of 40 mm and the coaxial weapon is a C6 machine gun with a caliber of 7.62 mm. The course allows trainees to familiarize themselves with weapons in addition to learning the theoretical and practical notions of RWS. These notions include the principles of assembling and dismantling the firing post, starting up the system and what is called battery life, i.e. preparing the system for combat. Several steps are necessary for safe preparation, representing a challenge for the trainees who must learn and master them. The RWS gunnery station allows shooters to engage targets while staying safe in the vehicle.

In addition to practical notions on weapons, the trainees received lessons in the application of shooting. These lessons serve as a theoretical basis for learning how to use the RWS. To follow up on these lessons, practice on a simulator allowed the application of these notions of shooting in a safe environment. The perfection of these notions of shooting is important to give the trainees confidence before the final evaluation taking place on a real shooting range. This training spans a total of 6 weekends and culminates in a mounted firing range, where course trainees can practice the concepts learned in the course using the turret while the vehicle is stationary and in motion, thus increasing the difficulty but mimicking real combat situations.

The course was a very good experience for the trainees, everyone appreciated it very much.

Congratulations to them for completing the training!

In Hoc Signo Stabilitas

Slt Patrick Delattre