US Marines compete to find the Corps’ most lethal tank crew
SUMMARY
The hot California sun beamed, drawing beads of sweat, but the US Marines, Vietnam veterans and members of the local community were heedless. Hands holding phones, binoculars and video cameras hovered as they anxiously waited for another ground shaking explosion.
A murmur erupted from the sweat-slicked crowd perched on top of the Range 409A observation point as 4th Tank Battalion's M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank fired another dead-center hit during TIGERCOMP Aug. 29, 2019, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
According to Lt. Col. Matthew Zummo, the commanding officer of 1st Tank Battalion, TIGERCOMP has been the Marine Corps tank gunnery competition since 1996. The three Marine Tank Battalions compete to determine the Corps' most lethal tank crew. Following a six-year break from 2003-2009, the competition was reignited in 2010.
"First Tanks is hosting this year's competition," said Zummo. "We selected Range 409A as the venue to enable a better spectator experience compared to the usual Range 500 at 29 Palms. The winning crew will have the opportunity to compete in the Sullivan Cup, which is the Army's total force tank gunnery competition."
US Marines selected to compete in TIGERCOMP meet the local and military community on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
US Marine veteran Michael Jiron watches the M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank fire during the Tank Gunnery Competition, TIGERCOMP at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
A medium tactical vehicle replacement at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
US Marine Corps videographer Pfc. Jacob Yost records an M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank fire during the Tank Gunnery Competition, TIGERCOMP at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
An M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank fires during the Tank Gunnery Competition, TIGERCOMP at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
An M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank fires during the Tank Gunnery Competition, TIGERCOMP, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
An M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank fires during the Tank Gunnery Competition, TIGERCOMP at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
An M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank fires during the Tank Gunnery Competition, TIGERCOMP at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks fire during the Tank Gunnery Competition, TIGERCOMP at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
US Marine 1st Lt. Daniel Lyrla, operations officer in charge of planning TIGERCOMP, talks to the local and military communities during the TIGERCOMP awards ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
US Marines with 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve celebrate during the TIGERCOMP awards ceremony on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 29, 2019.
(US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb)
In the end, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, collected the enormous TIGERCOMP trophy, the pride and joy of the tank community.
Stay tuned to watch the Marines compete against the soldiers in the Sullivan Cup, the Army's precision gunnery competition. The next competition that will rigorously test US soldiers, US Marines and international partners is set for 2020 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
This article originally appeared on Business Insider. Follow @BusinessInsider on Twitter.
