fadedsun Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Spent 2 weeks in the field living inside an AAV. Did nearly 15 splashes, one live infantry beach assault, saw an amphib assault ship drop 20 tracks off and attack the beach, lots of live-fire gunnery w/ 50 cal heavy machine guns and 40mm GLs, driving, night shoots, field maintenance..you name it we did it. A) I nearly sank a 3 million$ AAV after the engine died in 10 foot waves. After putting it in N to start the cummins again, it wouldn't start, so the senior enlisted on the vehicle whacked it back into N via a trick I didn't know and the vehicle made it back to shore, safely, but not after the radio came alive with "BEACH RESCUE BEACH RESCUE WE ARE SINKING" and water going in through the crew fan vents into the back. B) Had an AAV catch fire and the crew abandon ship (batteries short circuited) only to watch the waves push the smoking AAV back to shore (engine was running, water tight still), 2 houras later the vehicle was put back into service with new batteries and wiring. C) Qualified as an advanced machine gunner with the .50 and mk19, learned I'm capable of first shot hits up to 2000 yards. D) Started several range fires at range 221 E) Schooled the rest of the battalion on the Abrams tank and had a Lt Colonel call me "Pickle", which was then and is my radio call sign now F) Had 60,000 rounds of .50 cal and 30,000 of 40mm HEDP plus 10,000 7.62 and 5.56 (SAW/m240) delivered to the range, and managed to blow through most of them G) Did an actual beach assault with infantry on Red beach H) Carried around an m16a2 (Sheesh, I miss my m4) and got some good dinner/MRE pics I'll post later I) Took a shower twice the entire two weeks-the first night I was there and the 2nd to last night-we did surf swim qualifications (Dumped in the ocean 500 yards from shore and told to swim). I still smell bad! J) I took quite a few pictures of the night shooting (tracers+m2hb+mk19=awesomeness) and my m16a2, plus s/ns so you colt afficionados can tell me the pedigree of my rifle (Plus videos) K) Got to play with an m1a2 abrams on Red beach..it's smaller inside than you think. L) My body is still rejecting the fancy mexican food my grandad took me out to thursday. I've been eating MREs for 2 weeks and so now that I'm in the rear all this civy food is making chili and bean farts seem like a warm tropical breeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 The pictures will be up tuesday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Do they do package tour holidays at your place? :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 Do they do package tour holidays at your place? :-D Requires an 8 year committment and a physical, but yes! I split my lip open on the track shroud armor..put so much force into tightening a nut on the sprocket that the nut stripped and the breaker bar lost grip and I went face first into the track shroud armor, leaving a bloody mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 ..put so much force into tightening a nut on the sprocket that the nut stripped Surely you should have been applying the correct torque as detailed in the manual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Surely you should have been applying the correct torque as detailed in the manual? The Churchill servicing schedule instructed the driver to tighten the wheel nuts every day at first parade. There were an awful lot of wheel nuts on a Churchill. They were all rigorously serviced prior to D-Day - nobody wanted his tank to break down. They hit the beaches in Normandy and lots of them promptly lost wheels as the nuts sheared - over-servicing. On CVR(T)s we were issued a torque wrench and ISTR there was only one or two settings. No problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 On CVR(T)s we were issued a torque wrench and ISTR there was only one or two settings. No problems. The CVR(T) torque wrench is set, the value can not be adjusted. When a different value is needed, for the sprockets, then an adaptor is used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 The CVR(T) torque wrench is set, the value can not be adjusted. When a different value is needed, for the sprockets, then an adaptor is used. Yes I was sure there were two different settings required but that the wrench had one fixed setting. Thanks for putting me right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antar Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 The pictures will be up tuesday... It is now Wednesday !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 It is now Wednesday !!!! Not where he is, it's Monday & only Tuesday here :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Rolling up i-5 to Pendleton from San diego Almost at 3rd tracks My issued m16a2 rifle Armaments to be mounted in AAV..extras were in case one system went down, or we were swarmed by civilians on the way to the range.... A pair of m16a2s! One is mine and the other the Crewcheif's (Sgt). Tracks getting ready for the field The beast and I Heading out to the range, just crossing the "marguerita" Stop to make sure everyone is briefed about the next few miles through the canyon My station during the drive to the range. My primary toys-m2hb, mk19, plus my backup-m16 is also visible. The turret is a very tight squeeze..if you have mag pouches on, good luck. They're going to get snagged on something. Through the canyons, almost at the range. Unloading 4 7 tons full of ammo My mk19 my m2hb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Linked belts of 40mm Woody Harrelson decides to try the 40mm HEDP au jue Waiting for range control to give us the go ahead to fire Dinner pic, AT style-m16, 40mm gernades, MRE The beauty of the area we were in MMmmmmm more belts of 50 ENGAGE! END PART ONE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Surely you should have been applying the correct torque as detailed in the manual? The issue was rectified after proper tools were issued and white markers handed out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Part two (still at the range) That's a fire HIGH up in the mountains started by a tracer. It died off..eventually. As we are leaving the range, one of the Corpsmen taking a photo. Quick dinner before we left. MMMMMMM steak. Leaving the range. headlights on Back at the ramp Leaving the ramps, on the beach heading towards red beach for our amphib ops A happy comm guy..nothing to fix! Cheese and crackers..always a delicious snack! 3 Tracks go off to investigate an intruder into our area..an Lcac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Rapid fire pictures of a track going into the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Woody Harrelson at it again When God created the Earth he gave California a double portion of beauty..this is my evidence Our royal thrones What we hate doing the most-busting track Another Corpsmen enjoying the beauty of God's creation under 28 tons of alluminum and steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 A 4th Tank battalion Abrams that came out to play with us. This is where I earned the callsign "Pickle" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 I'm so ronery...so Ronery... The Abrams as it was leaving. It went about a half mile down the beach, flipped a U turn, and went flying by at top speed, engine racing. It sounded like a jet aircraft! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Couldn't let my sense of humour not get posted over here too [span style=font-size: 12pt][span style=font-weight: bold]Looking for the Mohamedans...[/span][/span] Mohamedans found! ENGAGE!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 :argh:And he gets paid for this!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Cracking pictures many thansk for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fadedsun Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 :argh:And he gets paid for this!! It's like tank day...for 2 weeks! I have some youtube vids up, night fire, driving, etc. look under m name of kcimb or just wait, I'll put them up here shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamsd Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 great pics any more :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recymech66 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Great pics I love Armour, and I'd give my right arm for some Jelapeno cheese spread, awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Burley Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Some nice pics of the Amtracs there. Just one question?. Are you a reserve corp unit??. As i thought all front line units had converted to the M4??. By the way have you seen that great but very sad documentary on the 3rd Battallion 25 Marine divisions time in Iraq??. Any more pics would be most appreciated:thumbsup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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