Fire Mission 1
Clarence precisely mimics Dawid's prior manual loading of the mortar, dropping three more HE rounds down the tube in quick succession.
The Marines at OP 1 observe two dazed, dust-covered men stumble from the lock control building, now sans roof. A second mortar round impacts at the lip of the canal edge about twenty meters to the right and a little short of the lock house, spraying shrapnel and bits of concrete skyward. The survivors from the lock house fall more than dive to the ground, desperate for cover. Approximately three seconds later, the third mortar round detonates just ten meters from the lock control house's front door, instantly blasting the survivors apart with a combination of concussive force and razor sharp shrapnel. The fourth and final round of the fire mission detonates short, out of site in the trees to the northwest of the locks. Gunny and Yazzie can't see this impact but they can feel it. Bits of vegetation rain down through the dust now enveloping the locks. The Russian MGer on the south side of the canal, gathers up his PKM and beats feet for the trees on the island, followed closely by his loader.
It takes a few seconds for the dust to settle enough for the recon team to do a long range BDA on locks. When the smoke clears, there is no observable movement in the kill zone. Nothing. The barrage of four 82mm HE rounds has apparently swept the northern side of the lock control complex clear, leaving the AA truck crewless but largely undamaged. Gunny continues to study the "technical" through his scope, ready to eliminate anyone foolish enough to man the weapon. At least two enemy have abandoned their posts on the southern side of the canal.
Yazzie advises the Vasilek crew of the outstanding success of their first fire mission.