RE: I was a gunner.

Posted by srdavis2000 (A) on November 1, 2016 at 16:12:05

In Reply to: RE: I was a gunner. posted by geezerrocket on November 1, 2016 at 12:35:14:

We trained on 105 mms at Fort Sill, OK. It was winter and you had to use a pick and shovel to make holes in the frozen earth to set the spades that kept the gun from moving backward during recoil. I hated those things. The 155s were self propelled. They would be mistaken for a tank by the uninitiated. Before we got the 155s we had 8" guns. It took two people to carry the round in a special made tray on that puppy. The sound made stuff fall out of trees 100 yards out.

Oh and hearing protection? You put your fingers in your ears. I'm sure they do better today. It was ridiculous. During the day, and most times there was someone giving the command to fire, but at night and other times, there was fire by radio. The people in the gun were in communication and knew they were firing. If you were just walking by the gun and it went off, I don't care how many times you experienced it, you jumped and your ears were messed up.

It really only took three to shoot. Normally a gunner (setting quadrant), an assistant gunner (setting deflection) and the guy ramming the round, installing the powder, and pulling the lanyard. You should typically have a squad leader checking the three. One person could do all of these tasks, but shooting would be slow.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - geezerrocket 09:06:49 10/31/16 (29)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - fantja 04:30:44 11/8/16 (0)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - fantja 01:23:20 11/2/16 (0)

There's a Battle of the Bulge Breakfast line in there somewhere... - musetap 21:29:14 10/31/16 (0)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - AbeCollins 18:35:07 10/31/16 (0)

Jeepers! - JDK 15:29:22 10/31/16 (0)

Actually mate, that kind of food especially for gunners, _was_ because - Timbo in Oz 14:51:46 10/31/16 (11)

My dad was a gunner - JDK 20:10:27 10/31/16 (10)

Same here, 4017th. Nt - jdaniel@jps.net 21:36:30 11/8/16 (0)

I was a gunner. - srdavis2000 09:28:47 11/1/16 (2)

RE: I was a gunner. - geezerrocket 12:35:14 11/1/16 (1)

RE: I was a gunner. - srdavis2000 11/1/1616:12:05 11/1/16 (0)

Those can openers ..... - Timbo in Oz 23:19:38 10/31/16 (5)

Sorry Tim, - JDK 23:33:01 10/31/16 (4)

No need to be sorry. - Timbo in Oz 13:46:14 11/1/16 (1)

I have a little steam engine that runs on tiny hexamine tablets - JDK 23:17:35 11/1/16 (0)

Hexamine!!!! - Timbo in Oz 00:15:02 11/1/16 (1)

Good luck! - JDK 04:06:21 11/1/16 (0)

That is glorious - bullethead 14:47:55 10/31/16 (0)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - Mike B. 13:02:52 10/31/16 (6)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - mkuller 13:38:06 10/31/16 (5)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - Mike B. 16:11:16 10/31/16 (4)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - geezerrocket 18:36:58 10/31/16 (2)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - Mike B. 16:08:59 11/1/16 (1)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - geezerrocket 16:37:12 11/1/16 (0)

If you are going into battle... - FenderLover 18:22:36 10/31/16 (0)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - Inmate51 12:05:58 10/31/16 (0)

That would put me in a coma. (nt) - reelsmith. 10:00:15 10/31/16 (0)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - Douger 09:52:36 10/31/16 (1)

RE: Battle Breakfast.....Warning - Food Post. - geezerrocket 11:02:05 10/31/16 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: I was a gunner. - srdavis2000 11/1/1616:12:05 11/1/16 (0)

RE: I was a gunner.

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