Post by BoW GaCAman on Dec 15, 2014 13:04:45 GMT -5
A friend and I were discussing ammo in the context of an armed robbery video, that reminded me of an incident in my early Army career. Since I don't talk about my service days very often, thought some of you would like to hear it, separately.
Funny story, from my M1 tankin' days. I was just a young soldier, and they stuck me up in the Commander's hatch with the Ma Deuce .50, ready to go. We did 2-hour shifts, and it was getting towards dawn and not only was I cold, but was starting to get sleepy, too. We were set up in a 'hide' position just off a dirt road, (at an intersection) and had the tank all camo'ed up, etc. All of a sudden just a few minutes before my watch time was due to expire I heard the unmistakeable roar of a PC [M113] coming from off in the distance and man was I AWAKE, then! We had no friendlies that were supposed to be moving about, so I was about 99% sure it was the opfor, moving up on us.
As the sound got louder/closer I got revved up in my mind, but had the sense to make sure the deuce was loaded and ready to go. As the PC rounded the corner I opened up with a really l-o-o-n-g burst of .50 BMG from Browning's honey. Tore the PC to 'shreads' (fortunately for him he only got hit by a laser, and on my end, blanks) and my aim must've been right on, because his kill light came on within seconds, and the 113 started shrieking like a banshee. They have a loud alarm that goes off to let everyone know a vehicle has been 'killed' that's embarrassing as hell for the crew, and to let the judges know to take it out of the fight.
The TC [Tank Commander] started yelling at me because all the noise had apparently awakened him from a sound sleep, asking me what I was firing at. I said 'this PC out here, that I just killed'. He popped up out of the loader's hatch next to me and said 'good JOB, White'! with a shit-eatin' grin on his face because HE would get credit for the kill, as the Commander. That was the first time I 'fired' the Ma Deuce in maneuvers, so it was most cool to have a PC kill to my credit, on the first belt out of the tank!
Funny story, from my M1 tankin' days. I was just a young soldier, and they stuck me up in the Commander's hatch with the Ma Deuce .50, ready to go. We did 2-hour shifts, and it was getting towards dawn and not only was I cold, but was starting to get sleepy, too. We were set up in a 'hide' position just off a dirt road, (at an intersection) and had the tank all camo'ed up, etc. All of a sudden just a few minutes before my watch time was due to expire I heard the unmistakeable roar of a PC [M113] coming from off in the distance and man was I AWAKE, then! We had no friendlies that were supposed to be moving about, so I was about 99% sure it was the opfor, moving up on us.
As the sound got louder/closer I got revved up in my mind, but had the sense to make sure the deuce was loaded and ready to go. As the PC rounded the corner I opened up with a really l-o-o-n-g burst of .50 BMG from Browning's honey. Tore the PC to 'shreads' (fortunately for him he only got hit by a laser, and on my end, blanks) and my aim must've been right on, because his kill light came on within seconds, and the 113 started shrieking like a banshee. They have a loud alarm that goes off to let everyone know a vehicle has been 'killed' that's embarrassing as hell for the crew, and to let the judges know to take it out of the fight.
The TC [Tank Commander] started yelling at me because all the noise had apparently awakened him from a sound sleep, asking me what I was firing at. I said 'this PC out here, that I just killed'. He popped up out of the loader's hatch next to me and said 'good JOB, White'! with a shit-eatin' grin on his face because HE would get credit for the kill, as the Commander. That was the first time I 'fired' the Ma Deuce in maneuvers, so it was most cool to have a PC kill to my credit, on the first belt out of the tank!