FORT DRUM, N.Y. — Explosions echoed through the training area as Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division (LI) trained with their newly issued XM152 Mounted Machine Gun Optic for the Mark 19 40 mm grenade machine gun.
Designed to enhance situational awareness and survivability, the XM152 MMO allows gunners to neutralize threats more effectively through accurate, controlled fire at various distances.
Before heading to the range, Soldiers received hands-on instruction from the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command on the optic’s capabilities and operation.
“This optic is important because we need first-round hit probability,” said Tyler Griffeth, a training instructor with TACOM. “A lot of times with the Mark 19 using the iron sights, the Soldiers are really focused on the iron sight when we really need the big picture, and that’s the battlefield.”
The optic enhances engagement capabilities in two key ways: first, by offering a wide field-of-view holographic reticle for rapid, close-range target acquisition, and second, by incorporating a three-times magnifier to extend the effective range and improve accuracy.
“This now switches it to where the Soldier can be more threat-focused, which will increase their first-round hit probability and their overall lethality,” said Griffeth. “Now that technology like this becomes available to the Soldier, we’re going to get out there and get more lethal.”
After familiarization, Soldiers headed to the range the following day to engage targets using the new optic. TACOM instructors joined them to ensure proficiency and understanding of the equipment.
“I feel like with this new optic, I’m very confident in the Mark 19 system, it was much easier to hit the farther ranges and was able to destroy the target as needed,” Sgt. Trever Linberg, a helicopter repairman with Delta Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “With this optic, I could qualify much easier, it took a lot less rounds.”
With new knowledge, experience, and confidence, these Soldiers can return to their units as subject matter experts and bring their fellow Soldiers up to speed on the latest equipment, making the 10th Mountain Division even more capable.
“I wish I had something like this back when I was in the service,” Griffeth said. “I wasted a lot of ammo that could have been right on target the first time.”
By SGT Matthew Connor
SSD Note: The MMO capitalizes on COTS optical technologies to provide a rugged, low-cost optic for the mounted Soldier in Combat Support and Combat Service Support formations. It has three variants, one each for the M2/M2A1 (MMO XM155), M240B/H/L (MMO XM156), and the MK19 (MMO XM152).
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