Jack_Crow
Enlightened
Hi all,
Gordon has posted some new photos.
I was given the chance to drive an M113 around the parking lot.
This photo shows the only one taken during the 'drive'. Unfortunatly Eric who took it, waited until my arm was in the way of the face. Some would say this is an improvment.
Try
http://www.obscure-reference.com/hosted/RadioMike/DSCF0533.jpg
The LT Im taking direction from is my S6. He is the one I run past any questions about what is ok to post and what isen't. He is amazed and real pleased with the support from home. LT D. is a cool dude. Another Italian in Arab land.
............................................
In this one Im trying to get my borrowed helmet straight. Tracks may look big, but inside they are tight for a FAC. (Fat Assed Civilian)
The
http://www.obscure-reference.com/hosted/RadioMike/DSCF0534.jpg
http://www.obscure-reference.com/hosted/RadioMike/MIKE.jpg
What can I say, everyday is an adventure. The experience was amazing.
This track used a steering wheel and a fancy gear shift. Standard break and gas pedal. At no time did I get it above 4 mph. In this parking lot such things are not safe. Trucks, hummers, and these little things called Gators are alwyas moving around. Visibility is very limited, even driving with the seat up and my head above the vision blocks. The brakes were very responsive.
BTW did I tell you the temp, that day hit about 115? That metal box was painful to kneel on. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
..................................................
I have sent to Gordon some additional photos from a class on thermite grenades. We were issued some in the event the equipment has to be destroyed in place. (read that we get over run, not a likely thing)
So if those post, there is the text for them...........
.......................................................
Hi all,
Just a reminder that this is not an ordinary job.
4009
We got issued some thermite devices to destroy the sensitive equipment should we be overrun by a hostile force. Since I'm the only one here w/o a military background a class was arranged to demonstrate the equipment. This photo was snapped in the Humvee as we went to a safe place, outside the gate. This was also my first trip in an up armor Humvee. Im hoping to be allowed to set off some smoke units the next time there is a need. Smoke units and these things have the same pin and spoon handle triggers.
4014
Every good story should have a beginning, middle and an end. Here we meet the thermite grenade. Somehow the red color should be more vivid. This package is mild and polite, with no hint of the fury hidden within.
4015
Group photo of Sgt. Casper, grenade, and guess who.
4017
Sgt.Casper sets the thing off, drops it into a cement cup on top of a bit of armor plate, as you can see his feet in the photo, he is trying to get away ASAP! The shower of sparks was more impressive than this daylight photograph lets on. The Sergeant kept us away from the device and the smoke. Just a point of information, this is a guy that likes to blow up land mines. He lives for this kind of thing.
4018
This is the best of four photos I took during the 'burn'. Right now the device is cutting a path through cement that made up the bottom of a cinder block. Most of these demonstrations take place on an engine block. We didn't hump one out to the weeds this trip. So we used this scrap of armor plate and this cinder block. Toward the end of the burn, we see molten metal oozing out from under the block. It's a mind blower for me to see that much molten metal in only a matter of a few seconds.
4022
To do this properly you need a deep, resonant voice. Then say "Only you can prevent desert fires". Like there is a lot to burn out here. It's a dead landscape. Even a pyro and a jug of gasoline would have a bad time burning anything. So 'Smokey' the MP drowns what was left of the grenade. Three liters of water get poured on this and as you will see in the next few photos, it's still red hot.
4026
This was about 5 min after the sparks and water treatment. See how the cement is still glowing bright red/orange. There was a good scorch mark on the armor plate. If we have to use one of these on mild steel that our racks are made out of, look out, it will burn its way through the equipment into the floor.
4027
When this demo was arranged, we went out there with four vehicles. Guys pulled security for us during the class. We were about a click (kilometer) from the base, outside the gate.
So that's the news from the war zone. An exciting week. Looking forward to the next chance to mush around in an APC again. This time taking the long path around the motor pool, up and down some cuts in the ground.
Have fun
Jack Crow in Iraq
Gordon has posted some new photos.
I was given the chance to drive an M113 around the parking lot.
This photo shows the only one taken during the 'drive'. Unfortunatly Eric who took it, waited until my arm was in the way of the face. Some would say this is an improvment.
Try
http://www.obscure-reference.com/hosted/RadioMike/DSCF0533.jpg
The LT Im taking direction from is my S6. He is the one I run past any questions about what is ok to post and what isen't. He is amazed and real pleased with the support from home. LT D. is a cool dude. Another Italian in Arab land.
............................................
In this one Im trying to get my borrowed helmet straight. Tracks may look big, but inside they are tight for a FAC. (Fat Assed Civilian)
The
http://www.obscure-reference.com/hosted/RadioMike/DSCF0534.jpg
http://www.obscure-reference.com/hosted/RadioMike/MIKE.jpg
What can I say, everyday is an adventure. The experience was amazing.
This track used a steering wheel and a fancy gear shift. Standard break and gas pedal. At no time did I get it above 4 mph. In this parking lot such things are not safe. Trucks, hummers, and these little things called Gators are alwyas moving around. Visibility is very limited, even driving with the seat up and my head above the vision blocks. The brakes were very responsive.
BTW did I tell you the temp, that day hit about 115? That metal box was painful to kneel on. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
..................................................
I have sent to Gordon some additional photos from a class on thermite grenades. We were issued some in the event the equipment has to be destroyed in place. (read that we get over run, not a likely thing)
So if those post, there is the text for them...........
.......................................................
Hi all,
Just a reminder that this is not an ordinary job.
4009
We got issued some thermite devices to destroy the sensitive equipment should we be overrun by a hostile force. Since I'm the only one here w/o a military background a class was arranged to demonstrate the equipment. This photo was snapped in the Humvee as we went to a safe place, outside the gate. This was also my first trip in an up armor Humvee. Im hoping to be allowed to set off some smoke units the next time there is a need. Smoke units and these things have the same pin and spoon handle triggers.
4014
Every good story should have a beginning, middle and an end. Here we meet the thermite grenade. Somehow the red color should be more vivid. This package is mild and polite, with no hint of the fury hidden within.
4015
Group photo of Sgt. Casper, grenade, and guess who.
4017
Sgt.Casper sets the thing off, drops it into a cement cup on top of a bit of armor plate, as you can see his feet in the photo, he is trying to get away ASAP! The shower of sparks was more impressive than this daylight photograph lets on. The Sergeant kept us away from the device and the smoke. Just a point of information, this is a guy that likes to blow up land mines. He lives for this kind of thing.
4018
This is the best of four photos I took during the 'burn'. Right now the device is cutting a path through cement that made up the bottom of a cinder block. Most of these demonstrations take place on an engine block. We didn't hump one out to the weeds this trip. So we used this scrap of armor plate and this cinder block. Toward the end of the burn, we see molten metal oozing out from under the block. It's a mind blower for me to see that much molten metal in only a matter of a few seconds.
4022
To do this properly you need a deep, resonant voice. Then say "Only you can prevent desert fires". Like there is a lot to burn out here. It's a dead landscape. Even a pyro and a jug of gasoline would have a bad time burning anything. So 'Smokey' the MP drowns what was left of the grenade. Three liters of water get poured on this and as you will see in the next few photos, it's still red hot.
4026
This was about 5 min after the sparks and water treatment. See how the cement is still glowing bright red/orange. There was a good scorch mark on the armor plate. If we have to use one of these on mild steel that our racks are made out of, look out, it will burn its way through the equipment into the floor.
4027
When this demo was arranged, we went out there with four vehicles. Guys pulled security for us during the class. We were about a click (kilometer) from the base, outside the gate.
So that's the news from the war zone. An exciting week. Looking forward to the next chance to mush around in an APC again. This time taking the long path around the motor pool, up and down some cuts in the ground.
Have fun
Jack Crow in Iraq