I'm personally convinced the trusting one's instincts
is the key not only to combat survival but to combat success. Be it ESP, Spidey Sense, intuition or instinct is is critically important in combat. Those that do not have it (and there are some, about 20% or os in my estimation) don't have any business being there. Like any human attribute, it's more pronounced in some than in others but a lack of it is not good. Particularly in a Commander -- and no experienced Commander will ever discount it from a good subordinate.
Saber said:
Quote:
'...(I can already hear the howls that will come from this over-simplification…)"
AhhhooooooooOOOO...
Aside from equal accuracy within range, a terminally guided projectile (which the 105 howitzer has not...), a far, far higher rate of fire and a much greater bursting radius of the HE (and WP) shell and thus a more lethal hit (not to mention a longer lasting Illum round), no 120 Mortar owning Commandante is going to give up HIS tubes to get two more artillery tubes that belong to someone else. Totally correctly in my view.
In Afghanistan and Iraq, the FArty (is that the correct abbreviation?) is not terribly busy and thus is responsive; in a busy war, they can be terribly unrespsonsive -- centralized control is not all it's cracked up to be; it'll divert your DS tubes to a "higher priority" target set in seconds.
I'd also suggest that anyone concerned with being inside of his own artillery range is being unduly cautious and that should rarely if ever be a consideration. Yeah, I know -- but the guy that wrote that was sitting in an air conditioned building. Things in the real world aren't always that helpful...
I agree with you that each echelon directly supported by artillery should actually own the tubes. That is totally doable technically but not politically, the Artillerists will kill to protect their ownership. I mean, they still insist on LTs for FOs in spite of the waste of Officers on unneeded tasks that most FD NCOs can do as well or better. Does keep the Branch population up, though...
The Javelin is a great weapon, no need to haul the TOW. Humping 81s isn't all that bad and the ammo problem is manageable (ammo problem is solved by fire discipline -- not one of the strong points of the US Army...).
I'm personally convinced that trusting one's instincts
is the key not only to combat survival but to combat success. Be it ESP, Spidey Sense, intuition or instinct is is critically important in combat. Those that do not have it (and there are some, about 20-30% or so in my estimation) don't have any business being there. Like any human attribute, it's more pronounced or stronger in some than in others but a lack of it is not good. Particularly in a Commander -- and no experienced Commander will ever discount it from a good subordinate.
Saber said:
Quote:
'...(I can already hear the howls that will come from this over-simplification…)"
AhhhooooooooOOOO...
Aside from equal accuracy within range, a terminally guided projectile (which the 105 howitzer has not...), a far, far higher rate of fire and a much greater bursting radius of the HE (and WP) shell and thus a more lethal hit (not to mention a longer lasting Illum round), no 120 Mortar owning Commandante is going to give up HIS tubes to get two more artillery tubes that belong to someone else. Totally correctly in my view.
In Afghanistan and Iraq, the FArty (is that the correct abbreviation?) is not terribly busy and thus is responsive; in a busy war, they can be terribly unresponsive -- centralized control is not all it's cracked up to be; it'll divert your so-called DS tubes to a "higher priority" target set in seconds.
I'd also suggest that anyone concerned with being inside of his own artillery range is being unduly cautious and that should rarely if ever be a consideration. Yeah, I know -- but the guy that wrote that was sitting in an air conditioned building. Things in the real world aren't always that nice and easy...
I agree with you that each echelon directly supported by artillery should actually own the tubes. That is totally doable technically but not politically, the Artillerists will kill to protect their ownership. I mean, they still insist on LTs for FOs in spite of the waste of Officers on unneeded tasks that most FD NCOs can do as well or better. Does keep the Branch population up, though...
The Javelin is a great weapon, no need to haul the TOW. Humping 81s isn't all that bad -- there was no 60mm Standard A for many years in the 50s and 60s -- and the ammo problem is manageable (the ammo problem is solved by fire discipline -- not one of the strong points of the US Army...).
Hmm. Knew the word but just remembered that it
was also part of the old American Legion song, Mademoiselle from Armentiers; the part in the chorus that is "...hinky, dinky, parlez vous..."
Since hinky is defined at your link, dinky is generally construed as being of poor quality and 'parlez vous' is obviously French, I can only conclude you're indirectly bashing the French and that's not nice... :D
Still, hinky or spidey -- it's really important to have it. And heed it.
Nah, that dude needs a shave and a haircut,
his nose is too small, he's wearing fruit boots and he's got his hat on in the house. Nope, not me. :D
Not to mention he can carry a tune... ;)