Comments for So, what do you do on a lazy afternoon... 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 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:19:27 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification So, what do you do on a lazy afternoon... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html Sat, 09 May 2009 08:27:25 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-05-13 For awhile there we used the Limbers as mobile field messes with special trays built to hold beer.

My kind of Gunners, that.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88712 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88712 Wed, 13 May 2009 13:33:55 -0600 Comment from Colin on 2009-05-13 We had 3 25pdrs at my unit complete with limbers, one was modified as a funeral gun. My old unit has nw restored a FAT to pull them, I will post some pictures. Back the 25pdr and limber was fun, as the ay to keep them straight was the reverse of backing a normal gun. The Limber had a fluid operated brake system, with the master cylinder connected to the drawbar. For awhile there we used the Limbers as mobile field messes with special trays built to hold beer. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88710 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88710 Wed, 13 May 2009 13:14:34 -0600 Comment from olga on 2009-05-10 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88589 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88589 Sun, 10 May 2009 14:10:56 -0600 Comment from Boyce Williams on 2009-05-10 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88578 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88578 Sun, 10 May 2009 10:27:04 -0600 Comment from Stan/Tx on 2009-05-09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTcXUnYuIq0


]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88574 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88574 Sat, 09 May 2009 19:37:40 -0600 Comment from wolfwalker on 2009-05-09
Armorer, I seem to recall reading of a bunch of Army guns that were derived from Navy designs ... and even a few that were just taken directly from the Navy.  Like the 16-inch 50-caliber rifles originally meant for the battlecruisers Lexington and Saratoga.  When they were converted to aircraft carriers, the guns were transferred to the Army and turned into coast-defense guns for several East Coast ports during the big coast-defense build-up in 1940-43. 
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88572 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88572 Sat, 09 May 2009 17:49:02 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-05-09
I don't believe he invented range tables, those were in existence before he entered service - range tables were printed in the caissons of artillery during the Civil War.

But he did develop the techincal procedures for controlling the guns by central direction, vice independently by the turret captains. 

He was an excellent Gunner.  I suppose that's a given, what with his command of HMS Excellence...

Oh, and Kaj?  -10 for spelling.... one a, one r, two g's, and three h's, plz.    8^D]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88570 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88570 Sat, 09 May 2009 16:31:51 -0600 Comment from kaj on 2009-05-09
I have no doubts Castle Aarghh will find him an interesting theme for an article.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88569 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88569 Sat, 09 May 2009 16:03:35 -0600 Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-05-09
If you checked out the other videos (The one with the red shirts training) who would have seen two girls on the team...with very big...biceps. Red Leg Girls, John...what is this world coming to?]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88568 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88568 Sat, 09 May 2009 14:55:09 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-05-09
From the *linked* article...

This is a competition rooted in that most politically incorrect of imperial conflicts, the Boer War. In 1900, the entire British Empire rejoiced after British forces, besieged inside the South African town of Ladysmith for 119 days, were finally relieved. They owed their salvation, in part, to 280 Royal Navy sailors, even though Ladysmith is 100 miles inland.

The men of the Naval Brigade removed six guns from their warships and placed them on hastily-constructed gun carriages. These were moved inland first by rail, then by mule and, ultimately, by hand and ingenuity. Once in action, they brought down enough withering fire to drive off the Boers and liberate the diseased and starving garrison.

Queen Victoria was most impressed and dispatched a congratulatory telegram to the Naval Brigade, who returned home to a euphoric welcome. They were soon re-enacting their heroics at the Grand Military Tournament which, in due course, became the Royal Tournament, the annual celebration of the British Forces.

Fishmugger - thanks for the warning.  If I see you smiling, I'll punch you in the nose.  If you aren't smiling... I'll punch you in the nose.

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88566 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88566 Sat, 09 May 2009 13:49:33 -0600 Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-05-09
Oh! 11B40...you can call an artillerymen anything you want...they can't hear worth a damn...so just do it with a smile.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88565 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88565 Sat, 09 May 2009 13:38:03 -0600 Comment from 11B40 on 2009-05-09
Perhaps it's my ex-infantryman's deathly fear of both artillery and artillerymen, but would someone please explain to me why the Royal Navy has a "field gun".  Is it in case they go aground? ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88564 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88564 Sat, 09 May 2009 12:43:30 -0600 Comment from Paul Zimmerli on 2009-05-09 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88562 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88562 Sat, 09 May 2009 11:30:11 -0600 Comment from GaMongrel on 2009-05-09
Question is, did they hit what they were shooting at?
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88560 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88560 Sat, 09 May 2009 10:22:30 -0600 Comment from Ron on 2009-05-09 I was in Portsmouth in 1994 and was able to see one of the teams practice. It was one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88558 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88558 Sat, 09 May 2009 08:51:38 -0600 Comment from Flea on 2009-05-09 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88557 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/05/so_what_do_you.html#comment-88557 Sat, 09 May 2009 08:51:00 -0600