edward_n_kelly

Left on the fields of Flanders.... Sounds like the old joke - she was only unfaithful to her husband twice - one with Harry Faversham-Smith-Halton and the other time with the Band of the Grenadier Guards! Edward

De-Tracing is even better!! pulling out every 5th round and then relinking so you don't start fire down range. Bad enough for an Infanteer but AFV's carry tens of thousands of rounds.</font>

Yes - was looking at that before I posted. Having served with "drop shorts" and "ginger beers" over many years (and had the pleasure of keeping pace with them in the Sergeants' Mess as well) - a painful experience (the morning after)... As one of the Shop Stewards (one of my RSMs) for the most powereful union in the army (the Sergeants' Mess) - I like the similie - said, "You only get a hangover if you stop drinking !" Edward

So now for some "in" jokes....sigh ! UBIQUE - except where you want them and when you want them ! Edward

De-Tracing is even better!! pulling out every 5th round and then relinking so you don't start fire down range. Bad enough for an Infanteer but AFV's carry tens of thousands of rounds.</font>

Its actually a fairly standard tactic with towed AT guns. Rarely do they stand and fight in real life as they do in CM, slugging it out, round for round with a tank. They'll fire a few rounds, if they don't score a hit, then they'll limber up and scoot. While best on the defensive, obviously, its also a tactic which was used quite successfully with light AT guns on the offensive. The Germans were particularly adept at the aggressive use of AT guns on the Eastern Front. </font>

Mobile bath units - the dreaded secret weapon of the British Army (armed of course with tripod mounted Brens!) Proper roles and equipment tables (including all CES) for the War Graves Registration Units …. The ubiquitous ice cream and coke machines of the US Army - have rubbish will travel. Ability for Germans to light their dugouts with a strategically lit match - what else is all that sauerkraut useful for? Appropriate ranks and entitlements for the unit mascots including rations and equipment including appropriate weapons. Edward

Hmm. This, or something like it, may almost be a sensible suggestion. Have to think about it some more... Michael</font>

Makes the assumption that the British will expend all their ammunition per day where it is stated that the actual expenditure for the Germans was 1500 to 2000 rounds per day. What was the average expenditure per day for the British ? Anyone have access to British (and for that matter German and US) Staff tables which give the planning figures for ammuntion expenditures under the various conditions of comabat (attack, defence, stong enemy action or "quiet time", etc)? These will give what the planning staffs predicted and ordered forward for the DPs/APs for each side - actual expenditure would vary a little from these "well worn" guesstimates. (The supply of ammunition and the assets to use them (artillery/tanks) were one of the main complaints of the Canadians with the attacks on the Channel Ports and the Scheldt) So the KAR98 was in doctrine and in practice only for self-defence ? Edward [ April 02, 2002, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: edward_n_kelly ]

Yes, I remember reading that now. The great advantage of the German system was that it allowed them to recover and repair their damaged tanks and demolish the British ones. Don't recall hearing of any advantages of the British system though I can imagine a few possibilities. Michael</font>

Hi For tthose of you interested in British in NW Europe. Try ABC (that's the Australian Broadcasting Corporation) on Tuesday 2APR02 at 0125 hrs (local time across the country). "They were not divided" (1950) is the story of two "pals" one English one American who join the Guards (prior to Pearl Harbor). They end up in Guards Armoured Division. Made with authentic equipment (much of it just coming out of service with UK forces). Even the elusive Bren tripod makes an appearance (if I remember correctly).... (Notable for Terrance Young (Dir) later director of the first 3 Bond movies and Demond Llewelyn of similar vein and a little know actor named Christopher Lee...) Edward.

Also very useful as a fly guard - those bush and horseflies could be as bad if not worse those pictures of fly covered personnel in the Western Desert. Thankfully the dung beetle program is lessening this problem.... Edward

Been away for a while ? Regular Oz Army IFI (initial free issue) of all uniforms. Working dress (cams, etc) is replaced on the basis of damage or loss for which the user is not responsible. All other is replaced through the UMA (uniform maintenance allowance). (Army can be very flexible about what it regards as IFI/UMA items particularly when a change of dress is brought in like the early '90s for new service dress – it was UMA for Regulars and IFI for Reserve.). Field Equipment (like packs, webbing, etc) is free and replaced as necessary (similar caveat on loss/damage). Reserve IFI and replacement on a needs basis (at no charge unless loss/damage is held to be member's responsibility) Work dress IFI and replacement as needed (similar caveat on loss/damage) Field Equipment (like packs, webbing, etc) is free and replaced as necessary (similar caveat on loss/damage). Mess Dress for Officers and NCO's consisting of "Blues" trousers/skirt and mess jacket (corps colour for winter, white for summer plus accoutrements) is now IFI and replacement from UMA or free (depending on Regular/Reserve). Formerly, the "Blues" (trousers/jacket - in those days male only) were issued, the rest was private purchase (a sore point for the Reserves....) Correct Edward

Skipper, Where have you read this? It strikes me as very odd considering the fact that an AA cannon is designed to deliver HE shells to great heights, something that is achieved by maximizing the Vo of these, HE, shells. I'm pretty much certain that on some Flak 88's the HE shells actually had a higher Vo than the AP ammunition and unless there is something very special about the latter type of round the wear should not be higher when firing them. -- Gander and Chamberlain puts the average service life of an early Flak barrel to 2000 - 6000 rounds depending on barrel type. The figure is reduced to 1500 on the Flak 41. Finally, on the Pak's the number would be 1200-2000. M.</font>

What was the relationship between William Alfred Bragg and William Lawrence Bragg and the Canadian Corps in WWI pray tell ? Edward</font>

What was the relationship between William Alfred Bragg and William Lawrence Bragg and the Canadian Corps in WWI pray tell ? Edward

As a matter of interest, sound-ranging was developed by the father/son combination of William Alfred and William Lawrence Bragg. While the concept of sound-ranging was known, the Braggs brought to a practical solution. (William A was also instrumental in the development of ASDIC) It was not all back-room stuff. Lawrence Bragg was awarded the MC in 1918. The Braggs are unique in that they are the only father-son combination to be awarded a Nobel Prize (Physics 1915) and Lawrence is the yougest ever to be awrded the prize (and the one of the few to have ever delivered a Golden Jubilee (of his award) oration at the Nobel Institute). Both "did time" in Australia; the father as Professor of Mathematics at Adelaide University and the son was born and studied there until moving to Cambridge with the family in 1909. Edward

And providing protection for the equipment and crew from the inevitable retribution. Having dug quite a few in my time they are a pain in the bum because of the need for all round traverse on many occassions (makes it a big hole) plus the need to dig individual pits as well ! Edward

One of the great fallacies of WWII - "...PIAT fires with a spring..." !! Um... a "fallacy" is a conclusion arrived at from an illogical and disconnected set of facts, say for example, "The Nazis were German, therefore all Germans are Nazis." I think that you meant "misconception." I am curious, though, about the PIAT mechanism, as I've also been under this misconception. Just how was it propelled?</font>

One of the great fallacies of WWII - "...PIAT fires with a spring..." !! I would refer you to any reasonable reference on how the Projector, Infantry Anti-Tank actually works. They can be fired in/from a building but they have the same amount of noise on firing as a "twelve-bore" shotgun (I wonder why ?)

There is at least one instance of a Bren gun destroying a T34-85 (in Korea). A tad better than its (Bren) perception apparently in this forum.... Edward

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Warmaker: Interesting post again, Jason C. "Uncommon valor was a common virtue"-Adm.Chester Nimitz of the Marines on Iwo Jima "There's no such thing as overkill, just ensured victory"-Warmaker *shameless, self-quote* <hr></blockquote> Shouldn't that be "assured" victory ? Edward

Out of a matter of interest..... Was watching "Battle Stripes" (modern UK Pl Sgt selection course = Oz Sub2 for SGT RAInf). While conducting a defence in a simulated village one or more (bit hard to tell how many weapons were involved in the smoke and confusion) FN MAG58 (British L7) were being carried by one man on its tripod with a single belt - nos 2, etc carried more ammunition. Both "sides" - Pl Sgt aspirants and "enemy" (Gurkha "Demonstration" Company) had at least one of these combinations. Use of these weapons on these mounts in an urban situation was somewhat unexpected by me until I thought about it - streets make great killing zones in both enfilade (for the MGs) and defilade for other weapons....

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Vader's Jester: What is the diffrence between a heavy MG42 team and a light MG42 team? It is in essence the same MG of the same weight, ROF, ect. . . So why is one considered light and one heavy? I would understand if we were talking about a light MG38 team. That is a diffrent MG with diffrent weight and performance.<hr></blockquote> Heavy MG is now taken to mean anything above rifle calibre with (normally) non-explosive bullet (say .5 in or higher) Medium MG is now taken to mean rifle calibre with non-explosive bullet with sustained fire (normally tripod mounted) capability. (In WWII up until about 1944 the above two categories were amalgamated. British were first to distinguish due to .303 Vickers versus .50 Browning). Light MG is the rifle calibre section weapon usually bipod mounted. General Purpose MG used the same basic weapon (the MG34/42 were the first) to fulfil the same roles as the MMG and LMG using accessories (tripods, optical sights, etc). (Can be argued that as neither “fish no fowl” that do not necessarily do as good a job as specialised weapons but more expensive in capital and training) MMG compared to LMG – longer range (combination of sights and tripod) but required more ammunition (generally caused more crew to carry ammunition). Less flexible because of the “add-ons” to be able to move and engage targets at closer ranges.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ogadai: You don't think it might be the calibre of the round as it exits the muzzle? It might start at .311in but it is more than likely .303in after its been down the bore.<hr></blockquote> Actually I think you will find that the appellation ".303 inch" is the measurement of the diameter of the bore between the "lands" (the raised ridges between the groves). Similar means of measurement were used for the .300 calibre weapons. Thus the bullet diameter can in fact exceed this for purposes of sealing.