M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (USA)
United States Army

M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
Operator: 4th Infantry Division
Location: Fort Carson, Colorado (USA)
Timeframe: 1991-1993

Personal Interest:
During my tour at Ft. Carson, Division Artillery (DIVARTY) was the primary ground operations consumer of the weather data I provided. Wind and atmospheric pressure data were necessary for accurate artillery strikes. Division Artillery of 4ID operated the M270 MLRS. Although 4th Infantry did not deploy for Operation Desert Storm, the armor was nonetheless painted desert sand in case rapid deployment became necessary. M270 MLRS were occasionally operated on the Fort Carson reservation during live fire drills. The M270 fired a pod of six M26 missiles simultaneously, each of which dispensed 644 M77 anti-personnel submunitions (dubbed "Steel Rain" by Iraqi soldiers).