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Date Posted: Tue, January 18 2005, 19:52:57
Author: Harry Larsen
Author Host/IP: 63.231.58.172
Subject: Re: Arty and Accuracy
In reply to: Nate 's message, "Welcome Home, Soldier" on Fri, January 14 2005, 4:55:04

Wayne,

You are right on about the Artillery guys. The guys working the guns were outstanding in their accuracy in lining up their guns to the stakes, leveling, double-checking their settings, etc.

Marines had it worked out so it would be as fool-proof as possible. The F.O. had to give the correct coordinates, however, and let the LT at the battery know how close he wanted the rounds to fall. Danger Close was an expression we were well aware of. We always double-checked the target, the map coordinates, and the calculations we sent to the guns. No target was ever considered anything but "important." Then we gave the data to the LT on watch and he checked it again. I can't remember a time my data was wrong and the LT caught it, but it is possible. I do recall one night-time fire mission when we fired the wrong charge and the round was 5 miles off target (uninhabited jungle with nothing around for 2-3 miles, as I recall). And yes, we knew the map coordinates of friendlies. We were in constant contact with Regiment HQ either via radio or landline (when I was stationed at Red Beach near DaNang).

Then, the responsibility lay with us all and the absolute last thing we wanted to hear was "cease fire!" because our rounds landed too close. We were primed with adrenaline (never alcohol) for every fire mission. You can imagine the "rush" we got each time we got a radio call requesting a fire mission. Each and every time I thought we had a chance to nail charlie's behind to the wall.

I can guarantee that no one in 3rd 175 guns ever had a man on duty who wasn't sober. It was unthinkable. Not only did we have an LT (sober) on duty in the FDC, but we had the watch sgt (sober), the radioman (sober), the guys who did the plotting and calculations (sober) the guys on the guns (humping rounds, setting controls under the guidance of another watch sgt (all sober). Not a one of us would have worked with anyone who wasn't 100% sober or 100% straight. An artillery battery in action is a beautiful thing to watch. Not ballet, you understand, but precision and teamwork that reminds me of Olympics sports teamwork--every guy there knowing his job, making sure everyone else was doing the same, and executing the mission flawlessly for each and every radio (or land line) call to action.

But, that is not to say mistakes weren't made. Or that ammo wasn't perfectly predictable. Our gun barrels eventually wore out and were replaced regularly before they lost any appreciable accuracy (a couple hundred rounds through the tube was all that was allowed).

Now the sad part...the 175mm gun, while featuring a flat trajectory and capable of almost 20 miles, was a frightfully inaccurate artillery piece after all. The Army knew it and the Marines quickly learned it. As a result, we fired only when there were no friendlies around. At the end of my tour, our fire missions were primarily H&Is (harrassment and interdiction) and often at night when no one could see if we were effective. That was a morale buster for guys humping 175 pounds of steel and HE in a 3-foot package.

When they got off duty, there was no chance they'd have to be on again until their duty roster said so. So...those muscle men could enjoy their two beers (or more) when off duty.

As for me, I doubt I drank half a dozen beers during my entire tour. Never touched anything illegal, either. I was too scared of being under the influence when charlie decided to lob a few our way. I didn't want to live to regret having a beer and not having 100% of my wits about me. I was 23-24 at the time and one of the oldest guys in our battery. That probably had a little to do with it.

But essentially, I just wanted to do the best job the best way I could while over there and trusted that my buddies were of the same mind. I know they were.

Semper fi,

Harry

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