mikegolf

Commander, Yes, in spite of the absence of a CR2 commander's seat in my removals, I did enjoy the tour. Three of my favorite years on active duty.

Recollections of an '09 retiree. 1. The smell: there is nothing else in nature like the smell of a tank interior. They vary greatly based on the model. For example, the Abrams, everything from the M1IP to the M1A2 SEP Mod 2, smells like hydraulic fluid, dirt, and general crew supplied funk based on length of time in-situ. The Challenger 2 has a more pronounced oil/grease smell due to the lack of hydraulics. I was never in a Challenger 2 for more than a 24 period on ranges so I cannot attest to the funk level. Most self respecting schools instructors took advantage of the evening down time before night firing to get back to the house for some dinner and then back out to the range. 2. Comfort Ergonomics: Apparently, we in the US missed the boat on this gem. I think the thought process of US tank designers was comfort equates to complacency. A numb fourth point of contact equals a vigilant crew. The CR2 Commander's seat is marvel of engineering. Compared to the Abrams, it is like a lazy boy recliner. In any case, as mentioned previously, you have to have a contontionist background to acheive any level of comfort. That being said, after multiple nights of 2-3 hours of sleep, it's amazing how comfortable you can be in the gunner's seat with your CVC wedged between the CCP/GCDP and adjacent wiring harnesses during stand to. 3. Noise Level: It's a tank, it's loud. The whine of the engine, the rumble of the tracks, the whine of the hydraulics, noise of machine gun fire. Note that the main gun firing isn't loud inside the tank, just a whoosh of air and clank of the stub base hitting the rat trap. 4. Creature Comforts: Abrams: none. Everthing is an option not installed at the dealership. Most veteran tank commanders have a one burner stove of various designs for making coffee, heating water, etc. The exhaust does a good job of heating water to shave, but makes the coffee taste a bit funky. I has a reserved spot in the front of the TC's sponson box for mission essential gear, load plan be damned. CVC bag with extra maps, alcohol pens, mini Pelican weather proof cases for the GPS, iPod, and cell/BlackBerry for mission support. (I.E. calling the FSC to find out where the hell the ammo is, calling range managers to get targets fixed, reporting stats to 3 shop staff, etc.

Most crews were wearing the IOTV/IBAS vests with SAPI plates, at least in my last OE. They wore them stripped, and added the MOLLE vest when dismounted to carry ammo, IFAK, etc. It is hot in the turret, but with the threats in our neighborhood, safe was always better than sorry. We were required to wear them both at home station and while deployed.

I am still for sorting out the whole African Swallow vs. European Swallow issue that is still on the table. Once that is resolved, we can put to rest the laden/unladen issue, and finally move on to the finer points of the M1A1 FCS. I am hesitant due to the length of time that has elapsed since attending that fine school, and my distinct lack of experience on anything resembling an A1 since. Got to love going to M1A1 MG school from an M1A2 unit, then ending up on Strykers.

Defense Acquisitions is a dubious enterprise on both sides of the pond. Does anyone know if the impact of FRES being announced will have the knock on effect of killing any future deveolpment of sim upgrades for existing platforms (Scimitar/Warrior)?

To be fair, the M1A2 is different from the M1A1 in that the Dual Axis Head Assembly (DAHA) moves the head mirror of the GPS in both AZ and EL planes. On the A1, the head mirror only moves in the EL plane. The AZ plane adjustments on the A1 are made by everyone's favorite part of fire control class, the dreaded lead screw. That bit of voodoo kit that was discovered in cave somewhere near the Dead Sea in a partially buried amphora in 1979. This is why the reticle on the A2 stays centered in the FOV even when COAX is selected, you are firing over the side, you have a new driver, and a gunner with slightly better visual accuity than say Stevie Wonder or Louis Braille.

Thank you, I will be here all week <gets coat> </gets coat>

I am not sure, but it was laden, and was not European or African.

You are correct. On the M1A1, there is an MRS lever above the gunner's head. When he moves the MRS level to "in" it moves a prism wedge into the optical path resulting in the GPS field of view being centered on the MRS on the end of the gun tube.

Having come in on the tail end of the Cold War (1987), and getting to Germany in 1990, it proved to be an interesting time. Being able to drive up B19 north from Schweinfurt through Melrichstadt, and then over the former Inner-German Border to Meiningen was surreal. Almost like watching the Wizard of Oz in reverse. Everything went from technicolor to black and white when you crossed the former border. It was like going back in time 20 years or so. The GSFG border station at Meiningen was already looted out and vandalized, but it was still possible to see where everything was. I remember the repeated AFN infomercials regarding not photographing or video taping the withdrawl of the GSFG from the former East Germany back east into Russia. The upshot was the proliferation of Thuringer style bratwurst. Smaller, and more spicy than the garden variety in nothern Bavaria at the time.

Phrases that I learned to fear in my Army career: 1. "In my experience" when said by a Lieutenant 2. "Y'all watch this" said by any NCO, SSG or above. 3. "LOGPAC is on the way" said by the 1SG. (usually meaning LOGPAC was in a geographically disoriented condition) 4. "I proofed the scenario" said by a CO/BN commander. 5. Any phrase beginning with "Hey, Mike Golf..." in the preparation/execution phases of gunnery. 6. "I can get that" said by any supply sergeant. 7. "Trust me" said by any mechanic, but especially the team chief. 8. The enemy SITEMP as briefed by any S2

Stout: Guinness, Dublin, Ireland Ale: Badger Ales Tanglefoot, Blanford Forum, Dorset, England (Oh how I miss the Badger...) Lager: Fosters, Ok, went simple here... Weizen: Maisels Kristall Weizen, Bayreuth, Germany Bock: (And all around best general purpose, utility beer) Shiner Bock Worst: Bud, anything with "Best/Old/Ice/Light/or a carb count in the title.

From the Texan Anglo-USian gunnery contingent: Y'all need to quit with all the Rarden talk. You are giving me nightmares. I left sunny, wind-swept Dorset three years ago, and the mere mention of Rarden has given me flashbacks of teaching 30mm mech. Thanks to the continuous prep sessions, I think I could probably still teach it to this day....though I don't think I would want to. The worlds longest part name...ever.

The ammo storage issue was the one true show stopper that I saw during my time in the UK. Being familiar with the current ammunition stowage locations, and very familiar with the requirements of 120mm smooth bore ammunition, I knew it was going to be a large undertaking involving a substantial redesign due to the current layout. It will be interesting to see what the boffins come up with.

Someone had to throw the Popeye's flag....a guilty pleasure. I don't even get chicken when I go. Just a large red beans and rice with a few biscuits. Yum. The owner's of Popeye's had an upscale chain for little while. There was one in Lake Charles, LA I know for sure. I think they were called Copelands. Very nice place to eat. They had a jazz brunch on Sunday mornings. Best thing I ever ate came from Copelands. Colossal shrimp, stuffed with home made crab dressing served over tasso with a butter cream sauce. I could actually hear my arteries hardening, but it was worth it.

REM-Half a World Away

I got there in 2004 when they were doing the initial fielding. They even made us "schoolies" from the Gunnery School go up to the Signal School at Bovington (which we lovingly referred to as Monkey World) to take the BOWMAN new equipment training course. I actually went twice. Once for the the initial version where they didn't have the actual kit, but showed you computer mock-ups etc, and again when they had the kit installed on a few CR2s, Warriors, and the odd FV432.

To be fair, didn't GD step in and take over the Bowman issue when Augusta/Westlands had trouble delivering?

That seems a bit baseless. Ft. Hood does not have the "best of everything", by any stretch. As a tank MG that was there for three seperate tours, I can assure you that training at Ft. Hood is a challenge. Just trying to get on a small arms range, let alone, a DMPRC, DMPTR or other maneuver range is difficult. If you are referring to the original DMPRC being sited at Ft. Hood, that just made sense. Hood had/has the highest concentration of armored units of any installation in the Army, why wouldn't you put it there? Your assertion that Hood has the best of everything can be refuted with regard to the original DMPRC as well. The range was the test bed, as such it lacks many of the changes/improvements that have subsequently been incorporated into follow on builds. So no, Hood does not have the best of everything.

Will have to check that one out. I am relocating to the San Antonio area soon, and we are looking at real estate out that way, NW of the city. Small family owned places are always better, in my opinon, than the chains. Real food needs the same revolution here in the States as it has recently seen in the UK.

Just have to chime in on the coax storage. The ports were purely for viewing remaining ammo quantity. About loading the thing, I agree, there was no more disheartening sound than the schlunk of the ammo tipping over before it was fully loaded. It worked well, but sure was a PITA to load correctly. The one area that I think should have been improved was the spent brass box. The design could have been improved. The location and rear lip, front clip design were not overly stable. I spent several hours over the course of my tenure as a gunner cleaning up spent brass and links from the turret floor and the ever popular sub-floor. Nothing will test your flexibility and dexterity more than fishing spent brass and link from the sub floor.

I know for sure that Sparks posts on YouTube with the Dynmicpara pseudonym. I haven't ever seen him stoop to claiming any SF background though. That's a stretch even for him. The link on the militaryphotos story at Defense Tech featured an exchange with Sparks about his combat experience in Iraq. He would not back up his assertions of combat service. I got tired of listening to Sparky prattle on about "how it is in Iraq" while I was on the ground just east of Sadr City..... Nothing like staring in the face of bat **** crazy to make you appreciate lucidity.

In the tradition of continuing my culinary quest for excellence in the chili cheese dog arena, I recently tried a new venue. Now, my loyalty for first and second place will always lie in the city of my birth. Toledo, OH is the home of Tony Packo's Cafe, the best chili dog on the planet. It also boasts Charlie's Coney Island, a close second. I recently relocated to the Washington DC metro area for my post Army retirement employment. I have found a number three dog that is an actual challenge to the first two. Ben's Chili Bowl in northern DC makes a pretty awesome dog. Hot, spicy chili and an option for either a 1/4 pound all beef dog, a half smoke (smoked sausage) or a turkey dog (heresy). I really like the sign over the cash register. "People that eat for free at Ben's: Bill Cosby. Then, lower on the sheet, Michelle Obama, and the Obama girls. BUT, not Barack Obama, because Bill Cosby said so"