Baghdad Battles - A Frontline Report

Strategypage.com ^ | 2003 | An Insider

[GeorgiaYankee]

I've read other threads about this battle and realized that I'd seen video of it on NBC, at the time it was simply called "the battle under the bridge".

I saw a soldier with an injured leg limping to the end of a vehicle to return fire, while another was tending to his wound. Another soldier fired at the enemy while being carried off on a stretcher! I also remember the soldier who tried to move the burning truck full of ammo. It was shot by David Bloom's cameraman.

[Travis McGee]

At least!

[nutmeg]

ping!

[Matthew James]

Thanks! Abrams BUMP!

[Lil'freeper]

Think anybody will ever scream in terror at the sight of a Stryker?

Only if it's tipping over in their direction.

[M1Tanker]

Ok, for all you who fired 105s, and some 90s, on your tanks, here are samples of M1 120mm fire commands.

Remember we now have Sabot, HEAT, MPAT (Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank: A heat round that penetrates bunkers and flys faster, but can be used as an anti-aircraft round vs helos). There is a cannister round on the way too.

Here is a single Tank v Tank fire command and what it means with morning levity added:

TC: "Gunner Sabot Tank": Hey Gunner, wake up! Shoot this tank with a sabot. Loader, ensure sabot is loaded.

Gunner: "Identified": Hey, I am awake and I see the target.

Loader: "UP!": Round loaded, safety off, and I'm out of the way.

TC: "Fire!": Self Explanitory....

Gunner: "On the way": I am pulling the trigger, get ready for the boom! He pulls the trigger just as he says "way".

TC: (depending on effect)
"Target, cease fire!": You hit the tank and I see nothing else you can shoot at...for now.
"Lost, reengage": I have no idea what you THINK you were shooting at, but THIS is the target.. Now do it again!
"Short/Over/Left/Right, reengage": You missed and the round hit here.... Either it's you or the computer that's screwed up, but I'm betting on you.. Do it again!

The commands are similar for other rounds and the COAX machine gun.

For multiple engagements commands encompase all the targets by type and what target has priority.

TC: "Gunner sabot Tanks! Right/Left/Near/Far tank first!"
or
TC: "Tanks!! Right/Left/Near/Far tank first!": Obviosly, unless the TC is going to overide the gunner's controls (or he doesn't have a gunner), the command "gunner" is considered redundant.

There, that SHOULD alleviate some confusion.

Remember, give a man a duck and he lives for a day. Teach a man to duck and he may live longer.

[oyez]

bump

[Voice in your head]

I don't think that there were any fire commands used in Iraq. I would be suprised if anybody said anything other than "Sh*t!! Over there! Shoot!"

[M1Tanker]

Actually, you'd be surprised how many there probably were. The old addage "train as you fight" holds true. With 5 tons of main gun, 50-100 lbs rounds, and another 15 tons of hydraulicly powered turred moving around on a moving set of treads, fire commands become essential.

losing a friend and fellow soldier to enemy fire is terrible, but losing one to a stupid, preventable, accident is even worse.