A moment of Gunner Zen.

By The Armorer on January 27, 2008 | | Comments (10)

These Redlegs of the 10th Mountain are living the dream... Direct Fire!

U.S. soldiers from 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, fire a round from a howitzer during training at the Warrior Range in Kirkuk, Iraq, Jan.23, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Laura M. Buchta

U.S. soldiers from 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, fire a round from a howitzer during training at the Warrior Range in Kirkuk, Iraq, Jan.23, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Laura M. Buchta

A larger version of that photo can be had by clicking here.

For a small discussion on the return of direct fire - click here for Strategy Page.

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10 Comments

By Blackhawk on January 27, 2008 11:30 AM
John, isn't there another artillery term for this type of engagement?
 
By John of Argghhh! on January 27, 2008 12:04 PM
Aside from "Action Front! Gunner, Save My Life!" I don't think so...
 
By Old Fat Sailor on January 27, 2008 12:40 PM
"surface action starboard (or port as the case may be)." Or more commonly "S**T! There they are!"
 
By OlafTheTanker on January 27, 2008 5:19 PM
Silly gun bunnies.. looks like someone got their azimuth and elevation bass-ackwards. :P Could be worse, could be a pic of the 1st Armor Training Brigade doing indirect fire from Donnelly Range onto the water tower in Radcliff KY (again) :0
 
By Chuck Simmins on January 27, 2008 8:33 PM
Only way to break up a cavalry charge
 
By jim b on January 27, 2008 9:37 PM
Direct fire rocks. I can't believe it had to return. I know the Marines never let it go. I even remember one case where there being no flechette rounds for 175 and 8" the gun bunnies saved up nose plugs and tossed in a sack of them before persuading a herd of NVA to leave the area. Some of them even left intact. Most left in a red mist and pieces.
 
By SangerM on January 27, 2008 10:24 PM
Speaking of Direct Fire: I haven't had a chance to write the review yet, but if you want to read a very well-written book about the most amazing ship-to-ship action of WWII, you must read "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors," by James Hornfischer!!! 3 Destroyers, 3 Destroyer Escorts, 6 Escort Carrier's & Planes, holding off the Yamato and the largest fleet of Japanese big-gun ships assembled during the war, as that fleet moved to attack Leyte Gulf. Halsey had all but 'abandoned his post' to chase a bait fleet of Japanese carriers, so the northern defense fell to the screening force name Taffy 3!! As riveting and inspiring as anything I've ever read about Americans at war, and that's saying something. Could be the best book I've read this past year, and that's saying something too. V/R
 
By Justthisguy on January 27, 2008 11:35 PM
Yup, Sanger, one of my most favorite inspiring and hackle-raising stories, which I may have mentioned to The Armorer often enough to annoy him. Gunner's mate Carr literally died with the actual last round in his arms, the Sammy B. having shot her after magazine empty. Herman Wouk had a good passage about it in "War and Remembrance", about how Americans fight when we don't have the material advantage. M'self, I've not won many fights, but I think I've always given a good account of myself. . .
 
By fdcol63 on January 28, 2008 7:15 AM
One of the most awe-inspiring stories of "direct fire" that I can remember is that of 2/77 FA (commanded by then LTC John Vessey) and the Battle of Suoi Tre (or FSB Gold) during Vietnam: http://www.eleven-bravo.co.uk/the-war/combat-forces/fsb-gold06.php http://www.flyarmy.org/panel/battle/67032120.HTM http://www.vietnamtripledeuce.org/RecommendationOfPUC_FSB_Gold.pdf
 
By Murray on January 28, 2008 6:59 PM
I took out one of them new fangled "gunpowder jobbies with a manganol launched HVFS round yesterday. Had the archers running too but I did take an APFS round to the shoulder during the melee.