This is the bizarre way they play trick or treat at the US base where they train soldiers how to use the brutally effective HIMARS multiple rocket launcher.

The US-made launcher – now being put to devastating use in Ukraine – is more used to delivering a deadly payload to enemies up to 300 miles away.

But the 1-78 Field Artillery Battalion at the Fort Sill US Army base in the city of Lawton, state of Oklahoma, celebrated Halloween by loading one of the launchers with sweets.

Then – in footage supplied by the base – they fired them from the launcher for the excited children of base workers to collect from the parade ground.

The images were obtained from the US Army Fort Sill base on Monday, 31st October, along with a statement saying: “Candy Himars. How else would you expect us to give children candy on Halloween? FIRE MISSION!!!”

The Fort Sill US Army base, which reportedly houses about 10,000 people, is where US military personnel train to use the HIMARS vehicles.

The Pentagon announced at the end of September that it was providing Kyiv with 18 more HIMARS vehicles to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia, who invaded the country on 24th February.

The HIMARS has so far proved decisive on the battlefield as it has a greater range than Moscow’s best artillery.