Any Artillery guys.

[woody66912]

I watched this vid of Artillery being fired, The thing i don't understand is the white bags, and why there are being removed from the ammo canister?, and moved down the line. Then tossed to the side?.
LiveLeak.com - Army Artillery Soldiers Fire M119 Howitzer to Discourage Enemy Activity in Logar Province

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

Anti stat bags is what I figure but not sure

 

[FastFission]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

I believe they adjust the powder charge for each shot to get the range they need. It looks like they are counting the bags. I suspect that they remove a set number of bags from the cartridge for each shot, and count the leftover bags to check that the charge is correct.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

They are adjusting for range.

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

I was a fire control technician (that's gun fire not fires) in another service. They are using separate charges. Fast Fission has it right. The shell and the canister (to make up a round) are separate. They pour the powder into the canister, place the shell on it and put it in the howitzer. the bags (silk to avoid static) are saved and reused. The shells are disposed of.

 

[woody66912]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

I was a fire control technician (that's gun fire not fires) in another service. They are using separate charges. Fast Fission has it right. The shell and the canister (to make up a round) are separate. They pour the powder into the canister, place the shell on it and put it in the howitzer. the bags (silk to avoid static) are saved and reused. The shells are disposed of.

That's what I thought, just was not sure Thanks guys. But why are tossed just before pulling the trigger?.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

Soldier that's throwing the two powder charges, is in charge of the gun. The round is delivered to him, all of it. If no order to fire they can unload the cannon and put the round back in stock with the original full charge.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

REPEAT! FIRE for effect!

Oh the old 13B's will remember that

It's just a charge adjustment. The Mortar crews use flat charges that look similar to plastic and they pull off what they don't need http://i51.tinypic.com/wh1efa.jpg and some look like interlocking plastic rings http://www.army-technology.com/contractor_images/armtec/mortar_propellant_3.jpg

These are 105 charges http://photos.imageevent.com/ricklarson/ammunitionphotos/websize/PICT0742_1.jpg which are smaller then the 8" charges http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii30/MAVERICK155/FORSALE014_zps411cd034.jpg

However the beast of the artillery charges are the 16" http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-50_mk7_Korea_powder_bag.jpg

 

[avenger79]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

hooyah!!!
13B here.

setting charge with powder bags. (edited to remove comment about guy in charge). powder guy was generally lowest rank followed by fuse guy.

That looks like a 105mm howie. Never had the pleasure. (never wanted to either LOL) totally different than firing the bigger guns.

it is amazing when I think back to cutting powder (removing bags from the charge) while smoking. Throwing a point detonated (fire on contact) fuse to the guy setting the round, walking around carrying rounds like it was nobodies business even though they were full of explosive.........ah the good old days. LOL

I was the knucklehead who wanted to drive a self propelled. great job until it rains/snows/ or you get fired on. LOL those little windows never really worked, just keep your head out in the open.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

lways wanted to get a ride on a ship to fire 16's....

I got to fire 8 inchers, that was interesting especially out in the open. you just "flow" with the recoil. Our guns were 155 self propelled, and at Bragg I was put on a 198 which is a 155mm towed. got out of that gig as fast as I could. Took a sargeant major's driver position.

although it was interesting being the first unit to air drop a towed 155mm howitzer. it didn't end well the first time, but it came along later. never understood why they wanted us to drop the guns as we were "legs" but I guess easier to bring us in by helo and have the guns dropped ahead of time or something. guns hauled by helo go slow and make big targets. LOL

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

The big guns are the 16 inch 50's. 2700lb projectiles for a distance of 25 miles+.
When they fired them in Nam it would clean out an area of 200sq. yards or more. There wasn't any need for grunts. They (Navy) could have sunk the country.

Found a web picture of the First 16in. 50's on the Iowa Class Battleships.

 

[rbh]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

I watched a 9 bag hot?? on a 155mm, it moved the ground from the giving end, thank god I wuzz not on the receiving end.

Cordite is king.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

the National Defense Authorization Act 2007, requiring the battleships be kept and maintained in a state of readiness should they ever be needed again. Congress has ordered that the following measures be implemented to ensure that, if need be, Iowa and Wisconsin can be returned to active duty:
1.Iowa and Wisconsin must not be altered in any way that would impair their military utility;
2.The battleships must be preserved in their present condition through the continued use of cathodic protection, dehumidification systems, and any other preservation methods as needed;
3.Spare parts and unique equipment such as the 16-inch (410 mm) gun barrels and projectiles be preserved in adequate numbers to support Iowa and Wisconsin, if reactivated;
4.The navy must prepare plans for the rapid reactivation of Iowa and Wisconsin should they be returned to the navy in the event of a national emergency.

These four conditions closely mirror the original three conditions that the Nation Defense Authorization Act of 1996 laid out for the maintenance of Iowa and Wisconsin while they were in the Mothball Fleet.

Link:
United States Naval Gunfire Support debate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[southkogs]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

I was on board the Wisconsin a couple years back … Those guns are amazing. Humorously, the charge bags are the same general principle as the artillery in the video. Powder bags are a weeeeeeee bit bigger though.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

I heard from a friend in the Navy that a ship as pictured above firing three 16"'rs at one would move the ship sideways almost 30 yards!! Now that's recoil.

I was stationed in Germany with the artillery units on the same post.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

hey Bob -- when and where? I was in Baumholder (sp) 86-88 and graf in '91

yes 155 will move earth and 8 inch is very impressive..

however even amongst the proudest Dagby's 16 inch guns on ships are the king of arty. LOL I have seen some video somewhere of the ship moving while firing 16's.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

I heard from a friend in the Navy that a ship as pictured above firing three 16"'rs at one would move the ship sideways almost 30 yards!! Now that's recoil.

Dunno' about that - though, you're essentially shooting 6 VolksWagons 25 miles so it makes sense. The other thing I found amazing was that at battle stations there were 70 men per gun turret. I think it was 3 decks tall, but it still doesn't look like it holds 70 guys.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

Here is the personnel count answer Battleship Guns: "16 Inch Gun & Turret" 1955 US Navy Training Film for Iowa Class Battleships - YouTube

 

[LongLine]

Re: Any Artillery guys.

I'm surprised that building is still standing. Only Army "cannon-cockers" would fire over their own lookout.

Semper Fi

Tom B.
(LongLine)

p.s. yes they're removing charge. Two ways to control range are elevation and amount of charge.