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/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:07:23 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Canadian Gun Bunnies in the 'Stan. A Gun crew of the 2 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (2 RCHA) fire their M777 artillery gun during a fire mission at Forward Operating Base Sperwan Ghar. You could see the projectile flying throught the air at the end of the barrel. Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-Afg) is Canada's contribution to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The focus of this mission is to help Afghans rebuild their lives, families, communities and nation. Canadian Forces personnel in Afghanistan are working to improve the quality of life of Afghans by providing a more... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html Tue, 26 Dec 2006 10:23:18 -0600 Gen. Leslie starts sounding like he's giving a lecture... My thoughts exactly, Pat.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54545 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54545 Sat, 30 Dec 2006 14:04:08 -0600 Gen. Hillier is definitely a better public speaker, to my mind. Gen. Leslie starts sounding like he's giving a lecture whereas Hillier is more down to earth. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54493 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54493 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:11:38 -0600 True, Damian, but during a press briefing on how a field exercise was to be conducted, he introduced the Assault Phase by saying "And now we send in the Death Techs". Gabbling Cavalry? Only talking turkey, since the Arty keeps repeating ... Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54476 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54476 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:32:11 -0600 Heh. It's the Gunner Disease. Only surpassed by Gabbling Cavalry. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54452 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54452 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 22:33:19 -0600 My battery commander then, is Chief of the Land Staff now. Was he as long-winded back then as he is now? I just saw him speak to a group of reporters at a symposium, and it was almost painful at times.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54451 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54451 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 22:16:23 -0600 I never spent a day at that school, but one of my postings as a weapons tech was with 1RCHA in Germany. I spent many an hour napping in my M113, waiting for something to break on the gun line. We would have a guncamp in Grafenwohr in the fall, after Fallex/Reforger and in the spring we'd head north to Lager Trauen. I don't recall the base, but it was right next door to the German armour training school. My battery commander then, is Chief of the Land Staff now. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54429 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54429 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:33:31 -0600 I think perhaps we're hearing from the Canadian Artillery School, if only remotely. I just made the observation that a US gun crew would have helmets on. Load-bearing gear, etc, might or might not be present on the troops. I don't have any real problem with the gun position, nor the crew position, though the gunner pulling the lanyard is *technically* incorrect (at least for M109/M198 firing locks) but looks like most I've ever seen pulling a lanyard. He is pulling, not jerking. Snerk. Don't we all sound like a buncha garret troopers. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54424 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54424 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:49:45 -0600 I missed the helmet comment in the other thread. Somewhere out of the picture will be a nice neat row of pers kit with shirts, tac vests, helmets and rifles positioned to not interfere with servicing the gun. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54423 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54423 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:52:34 -0600 The polar fleece jackets in the pic are only available in green Cadpat. It's normally not considered as outerwear. I am surprised that they don't have the Peltor noise cancelling ear defenders. The first time I stood at the back of an M109A2 during a fire mission was interesting. Knowing how far a 155 recoils and standing there while it does so is a whole different kettle of fish. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54422 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54422 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:36:26 -0600 1. Those are the new jodhpurs. 2. What is offensive is mixing TW and DW combats; but they're gunners and ... 3. Helmets? Er, I would point you to the Royal Canadian School of Artillery at Camp Gagetown (NB) where they adjudicate such matters. Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54421 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54421 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:13:27 -0600 Jodphurs. An inside snark no one else will get. It's perspective. Not only would I deem he's out of the line of recoil, I suspect he's not even inside the trails. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54417 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54417 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 15:42:37 -0600 They'd look better in jodphurs. The guy with his hands over his ears... Should he really be standing where he is? Or is it a perspective issue in the pic and he's farther away from the recoil than it looks? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54415 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54415 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 14:35:24 -0600 Looks like Willie Pete'son deck there. Shake n' bake baby. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54407 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/time_for_a_litt.html#comment-54407 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 09:45:29 -0600