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'King of Battle' rules over enemy in Fallujah
Marine Link ^ | August 21, 2004 | Sgt. Jose E. Guillen

Posted on 08/21/2004 3:34:34 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl

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To: Cannoneer No. 4

But specifically, how do you call out a rain of steel on a target 20 meters to your north? If I am at 35d20'56"N and 24d15'45" what do I do to call the fire and how close do I accept hits to me? What got me thinking was "We were soldiers" and how they called in fire. Is it that accurate? and how to insure the coordinates?

Thanks for the reply though.


21 posted on 08/21/2004 4:32:40 PM PDT by doodad
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Is there anybody who even comes close to training fighting men as well as the USA? I THINK NOT!

God bless these Marines!

22 posted on 08/21/2004 4:58:33 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: Cannoneer No. 4
"This is what we live for," Vargas said. "We only do this twice a month, but this is what we like. We're artillery. We're not happy unless things go boom."

God bless Texas!

23 posted on 08/21/2004 5:04:56 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl (No, brave, free, reporter in Iraq, reading the daily AP news wires - that is *not* "ALL from Iraq.")
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To: doodad
The accuracy of those gunners is nothing short of amazing.

They can lob those shells literally miles away and hit something the size of a house if they want to.

The math is pretty complicated, but the military term for it is "TOT" which stands for 'timed on target' fire. They can actually coordinate volleys of shells from different positions and time them so that every shell arrives at the same spot over a period of seconds.

I wasn't a cannon cocker, Canoneer can explain the math much better than I can.

"Danger close" usually means the enemy is just about within the effective burst radius of the shell our guys are firing.That can be pretty scary.

I hope that helps.

L

24 posted on 08/21/2004 5:06:36 PM PDT by Lurker ( Rope, tree, liberal. Adult assembly required.)
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To: doodad
ADJUST INDIRECT FIRE

You wouldn't call in artillery on a target 20 meters from your position unless you were extraordinarily desperate. Danger close is 600 meters.

25 posted on 08/21/2004 5:08:35 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: doodad
It's Scary - Firing Heavy Artillery Close to Friendly Troops
26 posted on 08/21/2004 5:29:27 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4; doodad

But I can't tell you how many times we called artie on ourselves in Nam because of the lousy maps we were issued! LOL

Semper Fi,
Kelly


27 posted on 08/21/2004 5:50:18 PM PDT by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1/5 1st Mar Div. Nam 69&70 Semper Fi http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
"It's so much harder to clear rubble than to clear buildings that are already standing."

I wonder why that is? I would just make smaller rubble.

28 posted on 08/21/2004 5:53:43 PM PDT by AndrewC (I am a Bertrand Russell agnostic, even an atheist.</sarcasm>)
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To: kellynla

That is more to the heart of the matter. The math I would still like to hear, but real world I figured that was the case.


29 posted on 08/21/2004 5:56:55 PM PDT by doodad
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

Can you imagine the adrenaline on that gun when you know you're backing your bros and taking out jihadis?

That's a awesome recruitment poster.


30 posted on 08/21/2004 6:32:48 PM PDT by I got the rope
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To: doodad

I believe that they adjusted fire using a polar coordinate system. They gave their position as a KNOWN POINT (using grid coordinates to the FDC. Then they gave the FDC (fire direction center)a distance and azimuth (direction to the target. The FDC calculated all the angles and directions for the guns. By adjusting fire danger close you could easily bring in the rounds to 20 meters if you have confidence in your cannoneers. This is suicide! The 105 rounds could take you out at 50 meters.


31 posted on 08/21/2004 6:39:57 PM PDT by I got the rope
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To: doodad
If I am at 35d20'56"N and 24d15'45" what do I do to call the fire

You know where you are in Lat/Long. What you need to know is where the target is is 6-digit grid coordinates. When you figure that out, get on the horn:

REDLEG57, this is DOODAD71, Adjust Fire, over.

This is REDLEG57, Thank you for calling the 25th Infantry Division's automated artillery support request line. Please be assured that we will attempt to assist you with all available resources in the shortest time possible.

For air support, please call the U.S. Air Force at 1-800-BOMBNOW.

For naval gun fire, please call 1-888-SEASICK.

If you are attacking a fixed enemy position, please press 1.

If you are engaged in mobile defense, please press 2.

If you are defending a fixed position, please press 3.

If you are setting up a hasty defense or are about to be overrun, please press 4.

If you wish to cancel a prior fire mission request, please press 5. Press the star key at any time to return to the main menu.

If you are using a TA-312, remain on the line and one of our customer support counselors will be with you shortly.

Please select the type of fire mission you would like.

If you would like 81 mm or 4.2 inch mortars, please press 1.

If you would like 155 mm howitzers, please press 2.

If you would like advanced munitions, such as fuel-oil explosives or scattering mines, please press 3 to speak with one of our soldier advocates to complete our brief Advanced Firepower Usage Survey.

If you would like to request chemical or nuclear weapons, please press 4 and hold the line. The Secretary of Defense will speak with you as soon as possible.

Enter the map coordinates of the target you would like to strike, followed by the pound sign.

If you need to enter map grid designations, please use the star for a "q" and the pound sign for an "i."

Please remember to verify your coordinates and that your request may take several minute to process. [Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep]

You have entered co-ordinates 32364519.

If this is correct, please press 1.

If this is incorrect, please press 2 and re-enter the coordinates. Thank you.

Please enter your battalion, company and platoon passcodes, each followed by the pound sign. As soon as we verify your passcodes, we will begin processing your request.

If you have forgotten your passcode, please contact 1-800-IFORGOT for a temporary passcode.

Please enter your passcode now. [Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-#, beep-beep-beep-beep-#, beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-#]

Thank you. [Pause] Your passcodes have been verified and your request will be processed.

We strongly suggest that you and your comrades take cover as soon as possible.

Thank you for using the 25th Infantry Division's artillery request support line and have a nice day.


32 posted on 08/21/2004 6:52:49 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

ROTFLMAO!


33 posted on 08/21/2004 6:56:20 PM PDT by I got the rope
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To: doodad
CALL FOR FIRE
34 posted on 08/21/2004 7:00:20 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4
HAAAAAAA

Yes one large pepperoni with mushrooms, one works, oh and a democrat special: cheese, extra cheese, mushrooms, and tofu.

Seriously though, did you guys regrid your maps down to lower coords (my Dad was 2 tour vet and I grew up with Bragg maps) by drawing lines in important areas? The maps I have seen I could have mapped geology on, but would have never trusted a precise arty or air stike without modification.

35 posted on 08/21/2004 7:02:57 PM PDT by doodad
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To: doodad
The standard military tactical map is 1:50000 scale. Each grid is a square kilometer. To figure out your 4-digit grid location, read bottom, then side; e.g., NK4578.

To figure out your 6-digit grid, eyeball it or use a square protractor to get NK455785.

To get your 8-digit grid, sharpen your pencil and get out your magnifying glass to get NK45527857.


36 posted on 08/21/2004 7:18:50 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: Ros42


37 posted on 08/21/2004 7:18:56 PM PDT by F14-VietVet (Never Forget 9/11 !)
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To: Ros42


38 posted on 08/21/2004 7:20:13 PM PDT by F14-VietVet (Never Forget 9/11 !)
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To: doodad
Determine the Grid Coordinates of a Point on a Military Map
39 posted on 08/21/2004 7:23:10 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4
Understood. I was in ROTC as well as geology so I like maps. Underfire: was a protractor used or premarked map?

Other question: was the arty accurate enough to give precise or did you give "windage" to make sure nothing fell in your area.

Thanks for the help and patience and service all who replyed. You may have ensured my Dad came home; who knows?

40 posted on 08/21/2004 7:39:04 PM PDT by doodad
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