Lt. Col. Tomas Nauduzas, left, the Lithuanian Artillery Bn. commander, speaks with Capt. Spenser Swafford, center, 2nd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt. fire support officer, about the capabilities of the U.S. Q-50 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar System on the battlefield, Jan. 13, at Kazlu Ruda, Lithuania.
Photo by Sgt. Alexandra Shea, 319th MPAD
21 PABRADE, Lithuania – Members of 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment took advantage of an opportunity to demonstrate their mortar weapon systems to increase interoperability with Lithuanian mortar counterparts Jan. 13, 2021, despite language barriers and snow.
A U.S. M1064, 120mm Mortar Carrier System and Q-50 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar System were line hauled early morning to begin a three-hour trek to Kazlu Ruda, Lithuania, where the 22nd Battalion of the Lithuanian Land Forces Motorized Infantry “Griffin” Brigade are based.
Upon arrival, the U.S. vehicles were off loaded, and the mortar team was met by the Lithuanian 24th Artillery Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Tomas Nauduzas and his staff. The Troopers and allied soldiers finally met face to face after several weeks of planning by phone calls and emails.