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/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:08:59 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite. You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place... Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:59:17 -0600 Well, of course, John. Canada has always had kewler stuff longer than the US military. Our only good ideas are the ones we steal. But we've got better PR, so we get the credit. And, being 'Murican, we started out with something similar, and then built it bigger and more expensive. So there! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68342 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68342 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:51:19 -0600 We've had them since 1992 or so, called "Coyote". Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68340 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68340 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:42:08 -0600 There is nothing new under the Sun. I saw on the Web, a while ago, an image of British troops using a portable observation tower in the Boer War, I think. Or maybe even in (gasp) Mesopotamia! Heck, for all I remember, I saw it here, or consequent to a link from here! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68310 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68310 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:50:30 -0600 RPG or VBIED magnet An RPG gunner would have to be both quick and *good* to nail one and a suicider wouldn't have a whole lot of luck getting close to one -- from what I know about the towers, they're placed in secure sites, not just plunked down, set up and left to fend for themselves. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68306 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68306 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:16:09 -0600 I haven't seen these obs. towers in deployment videos, but my experience with mil comm vehicles is that such tall towers are a pain to erect, and NOT erected quickly (you have to attach and secure guy wires). Summation: RPG or VBIED magnet, and their small numbers in the field makes them VERY attractive targets to run an ambush against. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68302 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68302 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:50:42 -0600 What can we say Fuzzy....the Armorer is fiesty! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68288 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68288 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:55:19 -0600 " ... unlike SWWBO, who's a Thompson fan ..." Just another reason I like Beth. LOL]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68285 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68285 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:25:36 -0600 the not terribly informative but amazingly preachy Cliff What are you doing? Trying to call him out? Shhhh.... ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68278 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68278 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:53:41 -0600 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/ltg_kiley_kindl.html ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68277 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/hi_fires_6_jan_2.html#comment-68277 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:48:43 -0600