Airborne

It was around 500ft in WWII.. Right before I got out (1985) I heard they were experimenting with chutes to drop at below 500 ft...Yeah, unlike our fallshirmjager brethren, we jumped with most of our equipment--light mortars, dragon AT launchers, rifles,, etc....we could hit the ground rockin'....... At 800 ft, upon exiting we counted to 4 , if you didn't feel the opening shock (it was obvious) you had maybe 1-2 seconds to pull your reserve or splat!!!!......Chris ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

HowardB--We used two types of chutes--the old T-10 which was round/solid and had little manueverablity and the MC1-1B which had some panels removed from the back to allow air through-this gave forward motion and by pulling on toggles you were able to 'steer' somewhat better. The T-10 was used more during 'mass tactical' jumps--multiple planes, many people in the air at once--you didn't want troopers (esp newbies) able to steer around all over the sky-too much chance of mid altitude entanglements... My first jump actually wasn't bad--out of a C123 Provider (mini C130 2 engines).. After the 2+ weeks of training it went fine..the 29 after that were worse--I knew what to expect.. The exit depended on the type of a/c.. C-130 or other turboprop a/c required a rear/side door exit --staggered both doors and a good jump up and out. The C-141B Starlifter (4 engine-jet) required a 'walk' out at a 45 degree angle--you didn't want to jump out and up into the jet blast....the jet definately was a nicer ride but a stronger opening.. Two of my best jumps were "hollywood" jumps--no combat equipment, daylight and exited via the rear tailgate--once out of a C-130 and once out of a C7A Caribou..Those were awesome... Edit--I forgot to mention--all jumps were with a static line to open the chutes...most efficient way to deploy many troopers from low altitude.. Most of my jumps were from 800 or 1000 feet. Combat SOP is 500ft with no reserve chute...... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet [This message has been edited by Airborne (edited 08-15-2000).]

Congrats, Now picture doing the same thing in a military a/c (bumpy nap-of-earth flying by reserve pilots) , with combat gear and at night, with maybe 500 other paras around you.. Half of my jumps were at night--you get a different perspective...and this is in peacetime..... As a humorous aside....My first jump with the 82nd Abn Division (6th jump) was on a cold Jan night. I exited ok, had a good canopy and was basically enjoying the ride. When I estimated approx 100ft off the ground (tree level), I went to lower my equip but, couldn't because I 'saw' other 'jumpers' below me--didn't want to entangle..I couldn't get away and clear of them, and at the last minute realized I was about to strike the ground.. What I actually saw was the shadows of parachutes in the full moon...what a newbie..... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fionn: Hey, can anyone point out 3 errors with the La Gleize KT?.. It's actually pretty simple but virtually no-one cans ee them until they're pointed out.) <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Fionn, I'm game, but where can I find a picture of it?????? Got a link??? (Edit) I just ran across a photo of a knocked out King Tiger at La Glieze. It had at least 6 bazooka dings in it.. Is this the vehicle they restored? Unfortunately, it is a closeup of the front--being inspect by 82nd Paras.. Chris ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet [This message has been edited by Airborne (edited 08-14-2000).]

I had MechBrigade on the C64. Carriers of War was good too..... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

I'd say its a Wespe--but the picture of one I have from DAS Reich shows 5 road wheels--not 4 as in your picture----interesting..... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

Don't forget the M203 grenade launcher (M-16 + 40mm grenade tube)---very nice if somewhat awkward to carry and heavier....... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Michael emrys: For some reason I'm reminded of a folk saying from west Texas: "He couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were printed on the heel." Michael<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> This was in the movie "Gettysburg". The one Maine Regiment deserter uses this to refer to the Union high command... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Red Devils: What the hell was the name of that movie where German soldiers pretend to be Polish paratroops in Southern England to try and kill Churchill? That was kinda cool. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Wasn't it "The Eagle Has Landed"? ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

He's baaaaack!!!!!! We'll be looking for that AAR on Germany, too... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Red Devils: did anyone else enjoy "When Trumpets Fade" on HBO last year? Not bad for TV. PS, HBO is doing " Band of Brothers", by Stephen Ambrose next summer. Stephen Speilberg is directing, I believe. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I liked "When Trumpets Fade".. Speilberg doing an Ambrose book-- that scares me.... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by howardb: So in other words your president isn't "real people" ? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> No he isn't--he's a joke...... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

I really liked Carriers of War . Also, started with Mech Brigade and there was a pretty cool (for its time) game on Napoleonics called Battles of Napoleon. ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

For those of us you can't search or scroll... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

Deja vu'

We just did this..... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

Outstanding read!! Great to hear how it all started.. Looking forward to CM2 and can't wait to dive into the desert in CM3..... Keep up the excellent work, gents. Chris ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dell Wade: I agree Thin Red Line What Island was it? All the major actors bit it 15 minutes into their roles. The major star was always in a daze about some island he was on. I almost fell asleep at that movie.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> It was Guadalcanal and yes , I got real tired of the main character staring at butterflies and daydreaming... To be honest, I didn't think the book was much better..... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

I forgot Thin Red Line---Hated it.... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

A Bridge Too Far Saving Private Ryan (at least the 1st part) Battleground Patton (except for the use of modern vehicles) The Manchurian Candidate (not really a war movie per se) Gettysburg ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

I too nominate: Big Red One Battle of the Bulge (all time worst) HeartBreak Ridge Anything with Stallone--First Blood was somewhat tolerable--forget the rest. I liked Midway except for the battle scenes of the wrong a/c flying. And yes, there is a korean war jet crash landing....I still love to hear C.H. say "You get paid to fly fighter planes not sit on your bunk and cry over your girlfriends picture. You better watch yourself, Tiger, or some hot-shot Jap pilot is gonna flame your ass" (edited in cable version). ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

Be careful using group moves. Generally, everyone is moved forward but you may want to then adjust the poor shleps that are left out of cover. I use it during movement-to-contact but, once the lead starts flying, I move everyone individually..... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

When I was in HS there was no way I was going to college. Fortunately, I took advantage of and qualified for Army college benefits. After 4 years in the Army jumping out of planes and killing tanks, I was ready for college. I have absolutely no regrets about joining the Army (I went in at 17) and oftentimes regret not putting more time in. I was really into military history, war games and such, and knew I wanted to go into a combat arms MOS.. I wanted 11H (infantryman) in the 82nd Abn Division. The day I signed up, there weren't any positions available so I took 11H (Heavy Anti Armor Weapons Crewman -TOW) I got a 4000 dollar bonus just for choosing that MOS and an additional 6000 for college. The enlistment bonus' and college aid are much higer these days--I was in 81-85.... As for the physical requirements--I went into the Ft. Benning infantry/jump school weighing in at 129 pounds and approximately 16 weeks later weighed 145...Best of luck.....Chris ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

Time to back off of CM a bit , partner..... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TankDawg: Of the Ambrose books, Band of Brothers is very, very good. Jeff<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I really wanted to read this book (having been a paratrooper myself), but one thing stopped me.. I looked through the photographs and came to one where the caption read something about how the gallant defenders of Bastogne held out against the SS Panzer divisions....Correct me if I'm wrong but Bastogne was in the 5th Panzer Army (Manteuffel ) sector, which had no SS troops. Nitpicking maybe, but that kind of makes me wander how accurate the text is going to be. In truth, I did enjoy Ambrose's D-Day and a friend bought me Citizen Soldiers... ------------------ Land Soft--Kill Quiet