Artillery pieces falling into place for the Afghan National Army

The Afghan National Army (ANA) has brought online the first heavy artillery pieces for its forces in Logar and Maidan Wardak provinces.

Two 122 mm D-30 howitzers have been installed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank in Logar Province, headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF's) US Army 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team-led Task Force Bayonet (TF 173), and the ANA's 203rd Thunder Corps' 4th Brigade.

The howitzers are crewed by soldiers of the 203rd Corps' 4th Artillery Kandak Brigade, with seven sections trained and cleared for operations so far.

Four D-30s are ready for service, four more are being refurbished, and two systems are due to be issued to the 4th Brigade.

At FOB Shank the howitzers will be working alongside the US Army's 155 mm M777s in providing a counter-indirect fire capability. In addition to the guns at FOB Shank, positions are being prepared at smaller bases, including at the US Army's Combat Outpost Dash-e-Towp in northern Maidan Wardak, where the D-30s will again be operating in support of M777s.