3:61st ARTY B BTRY US AREUR

• Unit Designation: The 3rd Battalion, 61st Artillery (3/61st ARTY), B Battery, was a field artillery unit assigned to the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) during the Cold War. • Cold War Service: The unit was stationed in Germany as part of NATO’s forward defense, tasked with deterring Soviet aggression throughout the 1960s and 1970s. • Main Armament: B Battery was equipped with the M110 8-inch self-propelled howitzer, a powerful artillery piece designed for both nuclear and conventional fire missions. • Headquarters: The battalion was headquartered at Artillery Kaserne in Neckarsulm, Germany, with B Battery often stationed at the nearby Hardheim Kaserne. • Quick Reaction Force: The 3/61st ARTY played a critical role as a quick reaction artillery force, capable of rapidly deploying anywhere within the USAREUR area of operations. • Reforger Exercises: B Battery regularly participated in the annual "Return of Forces to Germany" (REFORGER) exercises, simulating large-scale defense against potential Warsaw Pact invasion. • Nuclear Mission: During the height of the Cold War, the unit maintained custody of nuclear artillery shells, operating under strict US-EUCOM dual-key protocols. • Unit Motto: The 61st Artillery Regiment’s motto is "Primus Inter Pares" (“First Among Equals”), reflecting its distinguished service history. • Vietnam War Ties: While 3/61st ARTY was in Europe, other elements of the 61st Artillery Regiment served in Vietnam, providing fire support in major operations. • Deactivation: With the end of the Cold War and restructuring of US forces in Europe, the 3/61st ARTY Battalion was eventually inactivated in the late 1980s, marking the end of its forward-deployed mission.