Comments for So, what was that gun crew doing?

So, what was that gun crew doing?

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:18:33 -0600

Hmmmmm. There's this pic from a post Field artillerymen of Battery A, 2-218th Field Artillery, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, fire a 105mm shell from a howitzer at Yakima Training Grounds, Wash., during the unit's annual training Aug. 9. Photo by Sgt. Chad Layton of Battery A, 2-218th Field Artillery, Oregon Army National Guard. Okay - I first brought up this pic in this post ten days ago. It's a pretty picture, and does show how a muzzle brake works to reduce recoil - but to this artilleryman's eyes there were just too many things wrong with it. But, as I said, I never served the light guns during my career, except in the very first months of it, when I was in the Officer's Basic Course. And I was never manning the guns during the night portions of our training, I was either a Forward Observer or a Fire Direction Officer at night during what was termed the "3 day war" capstone exercise. Heh. We were still living under the Carter budget at that time. Not too long later that exercise went to 6 or 7 days. That sort of thing is expensive, it's one of the first things cut back when money tightens up. But I'll back out of that rathole and back over into the original one. Who knew rats went condo?

Comment from jim b on 2008-09-20

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:42:59 -0600

Ah yea as a former Marine Artie type I love the 105 and all it's tricks. (I did get better and pick up the 0302 MOS as a first additional MOS because I am basically a killer .. so I can say I got better)

I recognise this specific round these guys are shooting. It's a US Army twinkle twinkle round.

They do it because they like pretty colors.

I understand it takes one full click off the max range but it's good for morale.

Either that or the the danged thing just ate another Psy Ops phamplet round again.

Pass the Scoresby please.

Comment from Heartless Libertarian on 2008-09-20

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:21:26 -0600

Making it all the more dangerous is the time of year - August 9th. Yakima Training Center is a tinderbox in the summer. The WP ban usually starts in late April or early May, followed soon thereafter by a tracer ban.

Colleage of mine had his mortar platoon start a 30k acre fire - stopped when it hit the Columbia River - when Range Control wasn't paying attention and cleared them to fire WP.

I hope these guys had a water truck nearby.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-09-20

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:04:32 -0600

Rich, I don't believe so. Just loose tension, I think.

Comment from Rich on 2008-09-20

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 06:14:36 -0600

Does that Rusky in Ossetia have a busted track?

Comment from Argent on 2008-09-20

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:45:52 -0600

I also have tinnitus and have had so since birth. There are ways to learn to live with it with near zero impact.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-09-20

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:16:06 -0600

You might go for a re-eval there Mr. Allison. I was given 10% for it.

Comment from jsallison on 2008-09-19

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:11:32 -0600

Harrumph, VA told moi that my tinnitus was not service-connected as there was no evidence of head trauma in my 20yrs worth of records and only 'head trauma' could cause tinnitus. Didn't take me up on my offer to demonstrate head trauma by standing them between two M551s as they simultaneously go off...

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-09-19

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:05:14 -0600

Mad Roger - no rum that I *know* about... this *is* Castle... ARGGHHH!!!

Pogue - I believe it *is* an M119, hence why I left that stuff all mushy. But, in a normal fire mission, the rest of the crew would be at their gun stations.

Argent - yes, indeed, we are *supposed* to wear hearing protection.

And I did. And it didn't help, that much. 10% of my VA disability comes from the tinnitus...

Comment from Mad Roger Cash on 2008-09-19

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:42:38 -0600

Argghhh! an honest officer! No Rum at the gun? We'll nay take yer scurvy slack lubber's arse w'us when we go on the account, on the Spanish Main!

Comment from Pogue on 2008-09-19

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:09:13 -0600

Officially yes - usually foam earplugs. The section chief and gunner frequently had one ear unprotected to better hear the fire mission. But since we knew when we were going to fire not problem, just put your fingers in your ears. As an amusing aside, several years ago we had a family day with a live fire demo where the wives/girlfriends were allowed at the guns. The first peice to fire was actually behind and to the left of our position. (The loudest place to be is in front of the muzzle brake.) My wifes comment was. " I knew it was going to be loud, but I didn't know it was going to be f---ing loud! " That went over pretty well with the crew.

Also, John, Is that an M119? I know the gunner actually fires them from the left side.

Comment from Argent on 2008-09-19

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:53:48 -0600

Do artillery people usually not wear ear protection?

Comment from Boquisucio on 2008-09-19

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:40:09 -0600

Could they have stuffed a kerozene ladened rag in between charges, just for Sheiße 'n Giggles?

Comments for So, what *was* that gun crew doing?

So, what *was* that gun crew doing?

Comment from jim b on 2008-09-20

Comment from Heartless Libertarian on 2008-09-20

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-09-20

Comment from Rich on 2008-09-20

Comment from Argent on 2008-09-20

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-09-20

Comment from jsallison on 2008-09-19

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-09-19

Comment from Mad Roger Cash on 2008-09-19

Comment from Pogue on 2008-09-19

Comment from Argent on 2008-09-19

Comment from Boquisucio on 2008-09-19

Comments for So, what was that gun crew doing?

So, what was that gun crew doing?