This vintage informational film showcases the different conventional and nuclear-capable howitzer and rocket weapons systems used by the U.S. Army's Field Artillery.
I was radio repair in a light infantry unit. I managed to get assigned to the mortar platoon for a summer camp where we went to Ft Carson. Ammo bearer. During chow one day two of us got left to guard the mortars, me and another newbie. Yup, they called a fire mission while the rest of the guys were at the mess tent. Two rounds HE quick. My shot was four bags and a high angle. His was two bags and a low angle. They called the drops. We hit less than six feet apart thanks to the coaching and instruction from the veterans. At the time weapons was three 81mm mortars and two 106 recoilless rifles. They transitioned to TOW about six months later. Having good artillery has been a game changer for the US military since WW2. Whether you want to talk about Ching Lee and his 16" sniper rifles, the tricks USS Texas employed on D-Day or the thousands of rounds fired from everything down to 40mm, those guys save infantry lives on OUR side of the conflict. Thanks to all you cannon cockers.
My dad was in a Louisiana NG 8" howitzer unit. Number of bags changed the arc of fire substantially. His unit was visited by the women calculators who worked up the firing charts that showed how many bags get over to hit an object so far away.
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If you do not hear what artillery says on the net. You never, ever say, "Repeat Your Last." Because they will.
ReplyDeleteI don't need to see this video. I know the difference between incoming and outgoing fire. I learned that lesson quickly.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up my father was in the artillery, my early childhood was spent at Ft Sill and Ft Bliss
ReplyDeleteI was radio repair in a light infantry unit. I managed to get assigned to the mortar platoon for a summer camp where we went to Ft Carson. Ammo bearer.
ReplyDeleteDuring chow one day two of us got left to guard the mortars, me and another newbie.
Yup, they called a fire mission while the rest of the guys were at the mess tent.
Two rounds HE quick. My shot was four bags and a high angle. His was two bags and a low angle. They called the drops. We hit less than six feet apart thanks to the coaching and instruction from the veterans.
At the time weapons was three 81mm mortars and two 106 recoilless rifles. They transitioned to TOW about six months later.
Having good artillery has been a game changer for the US military since WW2. Whether you want to talk about Ching Lee and his 16" sniper rifles, the tricks USS Texas employed on D-Day or the thousands of rounds fired from everything down to 40mm, those guys save infantry lives on OUR side of the conflict.
Thanks to all you cannon cockers.
My dad was in a Louisiana NG 8" howitzer unit. Number of bags changed the arc of fire substantially. His unit was visited by the women calculators who worked up the firing charts that showed how many bags get over to hit an object so far away.
ReplyDelete