The Big Guns downrange...

[TheDisturbed1]

Hello THR! I've been a memeber for ages, but havent logged on in months... Now, we have internet in our RLB's down here on the Pakistan border at RC South, Afghanistan. Guess the FOB if you must lol.

For the past few months, my Battery has been aggravating fellow sleeping soldiers with some Illum missions and terrain denial with our oh-so amazing M777A2's.

We always use MAC charges over here, and instead of the common round used in the rear (M107DC), we use the heavier M795 HE rounds most of the time, except for when shoot beyond 13/14 Miles, then its M549A1, HE RAP (Rocket Accellerated Projectile).

But, what is a typed-up experience without pictures? Boo-hickey. Thats why I uploaded some for y'all. These photos are of Charge 4-H. The highest we can shoot is 5-H, which can cause mechanical issues (destroyed the accumulator on one gun).

As a bonus, a video clip of calibration with 4H. Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZjNH2fQPiE

 

[DC3-CVN-72]

Awsome pistures ! Thank's for taking the time to share them with us, also thank you for your service to our country. Keep your head down & fire for effect !!!

 

[peyton]

No wonder your neighbors don't like you making such a racket in the FOB. I am at Camp Liberty in Iraq and we quit shooting back a long time ago. The guys who you are doing fire missions must love the effects of your shells on the bad guys.

 

[eye5600]

So much for the .50 BMG guys who like to think they're the big guns!

 

[Ryder]

It looks like it has a bayonet mount

You guys better get some masks. Dust particles smaller than 5 microns are extremely hazardous to your lungs. By the sounds of those coughs some of you guys are well on your way to having silicosis.

 

[Jim_100]

Is that the projectile in the 5th image? Thanks for the photos and your service.

 

[orvpark]

now thats what I call "big bore"!
'
thanks for sharing

 

[C-grunt]

You guys still use those cluster munitions? Those things are fun to watch when they hit. Sound cool too.

 

[saturno_v]

These guns are the minumum acceptable for grizzly bears.....

 

[fireside44]

I'm thinking a couple grains less Unique should cut down on the flash enough to make that thing perfect for a nightstand piece.

 

[essayons21]

I hate you guys so much.

Countless hours of lost sleep you owe me, and for what? If I need light I've got lights on my truck.

 

[hank327]

Is that the projectile in the 5th image?

Yes it is.

 

[c919]

Needs a silencer.....

 

[DNS]

Yep, thats the minimum acceptable caliber for camel season

Mike

 

[John Wayne]

The guy at 1:17 looks a little disoriented from the blast, to say the least.

 

[psyopspec]

Be safe down there man, thanks for the pics. The big guns up here rattle my B-hut at night. It's comforting.

 

[CooperThunder]

First of all, thank you for your service...and second, thanks for sharing those photos.

 

[TheDisturbed1]

Thanks for the support guys!

The howitzers get used quite a bit... We shoot at least once a week for pre-planned targets, We havent had a TIC since august.

I got more videos to upload that go along with some of those other photos.

As for dust, its horrible. MRAP's get stuck way too easily, and I've seen several Strykers get stuck too.. Stuff is thin, light, hangs in the air for a while.. But the lungs sorta get used to it.

 

[sksnssbn]

Nice picks.

I served in the US navy myself. on SSBN 740 = ohio class submarine.
sometimes I wish my unit was called up. in 2002 we were on alert and had our Trident D-5's spun up and locked cocked and ready to rock. Nuthin like multiple W88 warheads @ 500 kilotones each to end the fight. But nobody had the guts to order us into the fray.


P.S

I always liked the big guns and badly wanted to serve on BB61 USS Iowa. With her 9 16" guns; shells @2700lbs and 540 lbs of cordite.

SKSN

 

[TexasRifleman]

Three things...

1_ Thanks for your service, stay safe.

2_ Thanks for the pictures.

3_ HOLY CRAP

(And yes I would think that would be protected under the Second Amendment, I want one)

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

That looks like the desert airstrip in the middle of nowhere in south Afghanistan that we occupied in September of 2001. I was with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit then and the place was called Camp Rhino.

It looks like it has a bayonet mount

That's a hitch for attaching the gun to a truck. But it does look like a bayonet.

 

[TheDisturbed1]

Top two photos are from Kandahar Air Field as we staged prior to the push to our FOBs, the following pics were from a FOB I wont name, but its South east of KAF.

Its funny, our other platoon actually towed the howitzers with an MRAP...

 

[wishin]

Thanks for the great descriptive photos, but most of all for your service. Stay safe.

I served in the US navy myself. on SSBN 740

Hey SKSN, my son commanded the USS Rhode Island (Blue) until this past year - small world.

 

[iScream]

Cool pictures and video. My grandfather was a "Command Sergeant Major" at Fort Sill, Oklahoma before I was born. I really don't know what that title means but I'm told it's pretty high up for an enlisted guy. He passed when I was really young but one of the few memories I have of him is always being told "those aren't guns you hear son, those are artillery". Well, that and being called Linus 'cause I carried my security blanket.

I never served but I sincerely appreciate what you guys are doing for us over there.

-Chris

 

[ClayInTX]

iScream,

Even generals listen to what a Command Sergeant Major has to say.