We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:09:21 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Marines. CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 21, 2006)- Marines from C Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 let loose with the M-1A1 Main Battle Tank's 120 mm main gun. Tankers recently fired on Camp Fallujah's Eagle Range to zero all their weapons, including lanyard firing some tanks for their first shot. Tankers said all the maintenance and care that goes into keeping the tank rolling is worth the effort when they get the chance to fire the Marine Corps' largest direct-fire weapon. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Mark Oliva Air Force. Staff Sgt. James Guidry, center, speaks with an Iraqi... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html Wed, 29 Nov 2006 05:52:03 -0600 Actually, the preferred course of action is to have the tech, who did the maintenance, fire the first round ... Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53523 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53523 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:38:44 -0600 When a tank is re-tubed or a recoil mechanism is rebuilt, the first round down range should be using the manual firing device remoted to the rear of the tank. If the turret mechanics did there job right, the round goes down range and the tube and breach don't end up on the turret floor http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53518 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53518 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:07:16 -0600 In artillery after you re-tube, re-breech, or otherwise fiddle with the gun, you do your first shot with 50 foot lanyard, so that if something bad happens, the crew isn't clustered around the breech. I'd guess tankers do something similar. Perhaps the treadheads will weigh in. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53511 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53511 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:44:31 -0600 including lanyard firing some tanks for their first shot. What is "lanyard firing"? I've never heard for that... course I've never fired a tank's main gun either... the two might be related.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53510 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53510 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 16:56:22 -0600 I may be a AF brat, as John so loves to remind me, but that Navy picture is TRES COOL. So is the story about the Coast Guard rescue. The tank picture is verrr nice- love how they caught the firing! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53482 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/11/a_few_moments_o.html#comment-53482 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 07:52:45 -0600