One of the loooong time readers of the blog is a member of the Nevada Army National Guard (and kick ass World of Warships player). Recently, his unit converted from Bradley mounted Cavalry back to his true love, M1 mounted Armor. And of course, after conversion, there's a requirement for live-fire qualification. And as everyone knows, the important thing about a live-fire quals ins't the gunnery, but the moto video!
Delta Company motivational video from Ben Holden on Vimeo.
I'm feelin' motivated after that viewing!SFC Dunlap 173d
Posted by: SFC Dunlap 173d RVN | 08/22/2017 at 01:10 PM
We didn't get to wear those cool Tanker suits while I was in. This is so unjust.
Posted by: Quartermaster | 08/23/2017 at 09:47 AM
We had the CVCU's. but, could only use them during level I gunnery. NOMEX, nice and baggy with a ton of zippered pockets. and a trap door to boot.
Posted by: Eric The OC tanker | 08/23/2017 at 11:39 AM
Is that a pair of Deuces up top or has some mad munitions guy thrown a 25mm up there?
Posted by: Captain Ned | 08/23/2017 at 04:11 PM
The Tank Commander (TC) has an M2 .50cal at his hatch (on the right, facing the front of the turret). The loader, to the TC's left, has an M240 7.62mm.
Speaking of the 25mm, one reason the M1 has a massive 4000 round magazine for it's coaxial M240 is that the space was originally intended to mount a coaxial 25mm M242. Eventually, that was deleted to save about $100,000 per tank.
Posted by: XBradTC | 08/24/2017 at 09:18 AM
The tank carries just under 11,000 rounds of 7.62. But true that they considered a 25mm coax. They also considered a MK19 instead of a .50 cal. Would have been some significant stowage problems.
What i miss the most from my command is shooting. This video reminds me why! I had a plan to make the ultimate video during my last gunnery but it fell through. It involved the knocking down of trees and unmanned cameras placed downrange of firing tanks.
Posted by: Esli | 08/24/2017 at 12:46 PM
Way cool video, thanks.
Paul L. Quandt
Posted by: Paul L. Quandt | 08/24/2017 at 03:02 PM
XBradTC & Esli, thank you. I grew up as an Air Force brat (Dad did ROTC requirement in a missile silo in Kansas) so those finer points of ground combat units are things I need to learn the hard way.
Posted by: Captain Ned | 08/24/2017 at 06:29 PM