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/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:28:01 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:44:57 -0600 See: M777 discussion thread ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61591 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61591 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 06:59:03 -0600 ..as for the liquid propellant, back when i was at the AOAC, i wrote an article for publication (mandatory requirement) (never actually published) proposing such for the follow-on variants of the M1. so when i needed a black bird job after that course, pending the start of M1 transition course, i ended up with a sweet gig over at Fort Knox Combat Developments, working on (you guessed it) liquid propellants (amongst other nifty toys). (the problem is always in the spray nozzle) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61548 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61548 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:05:09 -0600 Truth be told, Casey - I dunno. I've not been near an actual, emplaced M777. I was hoping that perhaps we'd have a reader who had, but thus far, none that choose to comment. I did cast about the gentlemen-still-serving with whom I rub shoulders, and none of them have served with this gun yet. Admittedly, I have *not* queried the Weapons Department of the Field Artillery School. Hmmmm. As for the aerial survey... that sounds like a post! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61543 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61543 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:05:35 -0600 Properer than mine was, if that's any help... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61541 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61541 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 01:22:11 -0600 ...So at the risk of sounding like a completely clueless newbie, Pogue's answer was the proper one? :) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61539 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61539 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 23:58:21 -0600 Get Neffi an Instamatic and have him do an *aerial* survey... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61536 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61536 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:33:44 -0600 Heh. Since I'm doing my *own* survey of the new demesne, Isoceles is once again my friend. As is my M2 Aiming Circle. Hey, no one specified what *order* of survey it needed to be. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61535 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61535 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:28:19 -0600 Where's the fun in being obtuse, if not deliberately so? Or, for that matter, in being scalene or isosceles, either? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61534 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61534 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:20:13 -0600 whoa. damn cool photograph (1st one) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61529 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61529 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:26:25 -0600 Snerk. Such deliberate obtuseness is *so* refreshing. And so... "Castle!" http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61528 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61528 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:15:44 -0600 We also use power from the 5 ton when we can to power the cronograph Hmmpf. Didn't have a PTO on the prime mover just to run the clock back when *I* was a gun bunny. We had to wind it up. It instilled *character* in us...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61526 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61526 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:06:27 -0600 Casey, I don't know for sure since I haven't gotten to play with the M777, but on the M198 we use power from the 5 ton to operate the hydraulic pack to put the howitzer on it's base plate. It's a lot quicker than doing it by hand. We also use power from the 5 ton when we can to power the cronograph (that rectanular box just behind and to the left of the muzzle on the upper picture.) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61501 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61501 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:45:21 -0600 Heh. You all joke - but the original plan for Crusader was... liquid propellant, that foundered on... the spray nozzle! Along with some other glitches. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61497 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61497 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:10:40 -0600 ..and the toughest engineering challenge was getting the nozzle tip to mist the hairspray just right w/o clogging. but you can see that it was, in fact, a certified nozzle tip by the pink tag. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61496 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61496 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:00:23 -0600 Casey -- That's the high pressure feeder line for the hairspray... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61491 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61491 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:58:50 -0600 John. Kewl shots! I have a question, though. The top photo shows what seems to be a cable running back from the howitzer (it is a howitzer, right?). In fact it looks like it's a little tail held high. :) Ahem. Any way. I was wondering what that for? Electrical power? Cooling? Pipes moisture into the sand to help keep that bad boy dug into place? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61486 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61486 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:35:22 -0600 New, from Watervliet Toys! The only Spud-Gun™ capable of launching your grocer's *entire produce section* with one shot! Some dismounted assembly required. Remainder of the battery not included unless you also purchase our "Rest O' The Battalion" option. Requires eighty cases of hairspray to prime it... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61483 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/06/some_gunner_zen_1.html#comment-61483 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:24:47 -0600