Posted on 07/18/2019 4:22:09 AM PDT by tlozo
Yes. The M-2 uses the mil scale. 17 + mils to a degree. Accurate to 10 mils.
Much more accurate than a lensatic compass.
I guess in today’s thinking one would consider the TACFIRE as a server for all the unit’s VFMED and BCS systems at the batteries and the maneuver units’ fire support elements.
You and I (I'm guessing) had the M198. I have to say I had old man skepticism towards the M777 when I first heard about it. But I've got to see it up close a few times, and it's a beautiful gun. The weight reduction is incredible, and it was kind of funny seeing that curved ramming staff.
I haven't heard about it being more difficult to emplace and displace, but it seems the much lighter weight should make it easier to manhandle on awkward ground, etc...
I do miss fire direction -- loved that job, and the sharp Marines that were in the 0844/0848 MOS's.
I agree with the sentiment on all the posts here. I personally carry paper maps at all times and multiple dissimilar electronic nav devices.
...but lets just play devils advocate for a second. The military has a matter of weeks/months to train someone with barely a highschool education to be able to do their task accurately/reliably/consistently in such a way that they will be able to do that job under fire. They don’t have a lot of time to teach several ways of doing the same thing. Hence it makes sense that they might a bit over eager about simplifying training and not teach old school methods. And even if they do cover old school methods, if they don’t constantly retrain them personnel will quickly forget how those methods worked. Hence the military (the largest educational institution in the country) has to continually evaluate what their people need to know and also what methods they are using to teach those things. It is no surprise that they often have to re-evaluate and change course.
Without the information about upper air wind direction and strength, as well as upper air densities, Artillery loses a lot of potential accuracy, especially first strike accuracy.
Those radiosondes can be jammed with a gps jamming system.
There are a couple of work arounds...
I do not know how widely deployed they are.
Last I heard, the manual methods were no longer being taught for combat support meteorology types.
My boss’s dad was an artillery spotter in Korea. He told me about this one:
“That round was short”
“How short?
“Behind me”
Reminds me of the scene in Apollo 13 where Lovell in a critical time shortage is calculating their position in his head and on a worksheet and calls the numbers down to mission control and within a couple of minutes with slide rules and paper they calculate the correct numbers for the LEM computer.
Ping.
I will not condemn progress that's been made.
Those who do condemn and criticize, based on PAST experience's, perhaps decades old, are full of it.
Without computers, the B-2 CANNOT fly. That's just the way it is. I don't think computers are the issue here, just having multiple capabilities, including the old manual ways. The increased rate of fire and accuracy that advanced systems provide is a GOOD thing for American forces, no?
Yet because of this article, a select few have just to chime in how wrong it is to “rely” on computers like it's some kind of disaster that some idiots don't see.
To me, the article says no such thing, except to be prepared incase certain advanced technologies fail, even if that scenario is unlikely. Otherwise, there's a lot of advantages for us to use these new technologies. That's how warfare generally evolves. We could not fight with massive attacks and barrages like WWII. Those days are over; precision wins far more.
I thought I read somewhere the Air Force is going to bring back Navigators for many of their aircraft. They REALLY need to get back in the cockpits of the tankers. Thankfully, the B-52s still have their Navigator but I am not sure if they are trained in the old ways of navigating. I am pretty sure the B-1B Navs don't.
I’m not one of those who condemn the use of computers and know their usefulness. I feared the loss of manual skills as the ultimate backup when the computers failed and the troops still needed fire support. I remember being told that “computers were the wave of the future and that the old ways would NEVER be needed again.” This article shows that some “old ways” need to be remembered, sort of like wilderness survival techniques.
I understand you, and appreciate your service and remarks.
I’m just looking at the reality that much of our prowess in military affairs is with advanced technologies more than all else.
Of course good soldiering and spirit is still # one, but our distinct advantage over other nations is in modernity.
I was just Air Force comm-computers. We barely trained in any combat skill. I did a lot of joint duty in the Pentagon and DC, got plenty of ribbing from my Army/Navy/Marines counterparts about that (even though they were all comm-computer types, too). As I used to say then, “If things get so bad they have to give me an M-16 and put me on the flight line, we’re REALLY SCREWED!”
Hand Salute to you!
"About a decade ago" was 2009. Barry Hussein was pResident. Most Americans will never know the true extent of damage that evil man did to American national security.
Back in the stone age, I got familiarization training in artillery FO and plotting. I was amazed how accurate the manual method is at putting steel on target.
USCG started pulling their chart tables off the bridge, even for bouy tenders.
Idiots.
Good! Thanks for the ping.
I put in 9 years in the DC area in various Army and Joint intel assignments, to include a stint in the Pentagon; and then 22 years as an Army historian at Ft. McNair. And Andrews AFB was just 5 miles from our house.
A good SP/4 13E could derive manual firing data faster than the old FADAC.
The Navy first needs to learn to look out the windows and notice the large oil tanker or container merchantman that they are about to ram.
AFFIRMATIVE!!!!!!
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