Ask a Soldier

[Flying Pig]

Slugs not very accurate for that kind of work, I would think. Barrel is not rifled and the slug itself isnt exactly milled for accuracy either.

To be honest at the ranges it's expected to be used I'm not sure it would have to be, but point made

Not to mention having the power to blow an entire lock mechanism right out of the frame.

If you really want to; we always preferred actually removing the door - reduces its status as a choke-point considerably and means it's a lot harder to just wedge shut later on if for whatever reason the fighting moves - not to mention the fact that it's infinitely more fun.

Wasn't thinking of MBTs. More of what Mobboss said. Incidentally, how are rocket launchers handed out? Or is it just more prudent to call in armor or air support for enemy entrenchments and armor?

Everyone can expect to carry a one-shot rocket-launcher called the '66' or 'LAW' (although realistically nowadays they probably wouldn't give everyone one for Afghanistan, but it would certainly be two per ten-man section at least) and the platoon has the Javelin - formerly the MILAN - which is a guided missile system; and they're talking of bringing in a specialist weapon for blowing holes in enemy structures. For enemy entrenchments the best thing in my experience has always been mortar fire; rocket launchers are for putting one hole in something solid like a wall or tank, although they have been used for taking out snipers in Afghanistan. We always use air support if we've got it, ditto any asset - at the end of the day an enemy killed by the RAF is someone you don't have to fight up close during the assault.

Heh, I figured I'd get a good haul out of you.

I really liked the Grenadiers'. Its so simple with only the flutes and drums, and yet so evocative. You can tell straight away that it has a lot of history behind it.

Let's go international, here's a few from Finland.

March of the Guard Battalion, nowadays the regimental march of the Guard Jäger regiment in Helsinki. My favorite of the regimental marches, even though it wasn't my unit.

March of the Finnish Cavalry. From the Thirty Years' War. Probably the best known of Finnish marches, in that someone in continental Europe might have heard it.

Hakakomppanian marssi. (Don't know how I should translate it.) The best of the stuff that was made during Winter and Continuation war.

Jäger March. Obligatory for an infantryman.

March of the Vyborg Battalion. March of the Karelia Brigade these days. I don't care for it all that much, but it's what I mostly marched to.

I'm going to be humming a few of those today - nice ones.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

For enemy entrenchments the best thing in my experience has always been mortar fire

Distributed in generally the same number as the launchers too, right?

although they have been used for taking out snipers in Afghanistan

Nice to know some unusual things I see in Battlefield match up with real life.

 

[Flying Pig]

Distributed in generally the same number as the launchers too, right?

You have one light mortar crew per platoon, and then each battalion has one platoon of heavy mortars with a range of about 5 kilometers, backed up by artillery guns.

Nice to know some unusual things I see in Battlefield match up with real life.

That one actually provoked a huge argument over on the other forum I visit, which is mostly old and bold - the vague consensus emerged that it's not a great solution, but at the end of the day it's infinitely better than having to tell one of your squaddies' mothers that her son was killed on duty. Yes, the thing cost £100,000 - but even without considering economics soldiers' lives are worth far more than that

 

[MobBoss]

Distributed in generally the same number as the launchers too, right?

Mind you, i'm a remf, but no. I dont think we have any squad/man portable mortars in our inventory any longer. Usually there will be a section or specific squad for mortar support organic to the infantry unit itself for that kind of support. Your typical squads or fire support teams can carry a LAW/AT type of rocket, but certainly not a mortar. Mortars be really heavy.

Being a big guy myself, every single time I have to do squad training and go on patrol, I end up having to carry some extra ungodly heavy piece of equipment. I always get loaded down with the radio, or the T&E stuff for the MG, or loads of extra ammo, etc. It sucks I tell you.

FP: do the brits still use manpad mortars that you guys hump around yourselves? If so, ouch.

 

[Flying Pig]

FP: do the brits still use manpad mortars that you guys hump around yourselves? If so, ouch.

Yes; one light mortar team per platoon, then the mortar platoon as part of the battalion's support company. It's a nice thing to have around, to be honest, since it means you as a platoon commander can quickly get some IDF down without having to even use a radio. That said when I actually had that job officially I ran recon platoon and I rarely took one out; we needed to be fast and light and weren't so keen on giving battle at any opportunity, so preferred to leave it at home

Being a big guy myself, every single time I have to do squad training and go on patrol, I end up having to carry some extra ungodly heavy piece of equipment. I always get loaded down with the radio, or the T&E stuff for the MG, or loads of extra ammo, etc. It sucks I tell you.

Don't know what you mean. Carrying the GPMG (or SAW to you lot) is worth every ounce of weight for the look on childrens' faces when you go through their village, cam-cream on face, beret on head, and Great Big Gun in hand... oorah!

I agree with that. Equipment is replaceable, but lives and experience aren't. I wonder if that factors into questioning a soldier's actions such as blowing up an ammo dump to take out a pressing threat.

As a general rule big bangs aren't a good idea since if you blow up that command building then any valuable information in there is lost, not to mention the issue nowadays with colateral damage and the fact that we often are FISH and CHIPS (anyone who gets that one has my respect). That's been the source of a fair few British casualties actually becasue the enemy open up from the door of a mosque and we can't shoot them because they're in a place of worship, but we know that if we did open fire then they'd have a propaganda victory and our good work would be eroded.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Thanks for both the answers, guys. Really find it interesting to see the view from another nation's armed forces. Still would like some other personnel to respond though.

the vague consensus emerged that it's not a great solution, but at the end of the day it's infinitely better than having to tell one of your squaddies' mothers that her son was killed on duty. Yes, the thing cost £100,000 - but even without considering economics soldiers' lives are worth far more than that

I agree with that. Equipment is replaceable, but lives and experience aren't. I wonder if that factors into questioning a soldier's actions such as blowing up an ammo dump to take out a pressing threat.

 

[Eat_Up_Martha]

not to mention the issue nowadays with colateral damage and the fact that we often are FISH and CHIPS (anyone who gets that one has my respect).

Fighting In Someone's House and Causing Havoc in People's Streets.

What's the life of an infantryman like outside of combat zones? Is it mostly training, or do they have you guarding warehouses or something?

 

[MobBoss]

FP: 'light' mortar is one of those oxymoronic things much like 'jumbo' shrimp. I bet there's nothing 'light' about it for the guy(s) that have to haul it around.

And to clarify what I was talking about, the 'traverse and elevation' i.e. T&E was what we used to call the setups tripod. It weighed far more than the actual weapon. The version that I had to carry a lot earlier in my career was the one for the M-60. Ow my aching back.

 

[Flying Pig]

Fighting In Someone's House and Causing Havoc in People's Streets.

Impressive, if slightly worrying - it took me a lifetime in green to get that sense of humour, what's your excuse?

What's the life of an infantryman like outside of combat zones? Is it mostly training, or do they have you guarding warehouses or something?

You're always either training or on operations, which can range from Afghanistan to keeping the peace in Cyprus or training the army down in Etheopia. Generally life away from the front involves a great deal of drinking, sunbathing in hot climes, and maybe the odd bit of running as well. That said you get odd jobs too - once we were called in to play prison guards in North Yorkshire following a strike there, and we filled in for hte emergency services during some floods once or twice.

FP: 'light' mortar is one of those oxymoronic things much like 'jumbo' shrimp. I bet there's nothing 'light' about it for the guy(s) that have to haul it around.

You are talking to one of the guys who has carried the thing (usually the most experienced platoon members fill the posts of signaller, mortarman and gunner) - it's carried by one guy, and the ammunition and tripod are given to someone else. It's definitely light compared with the GBFO mortar used by mortar platoon although I'll agree it isn't light - normally you would find a friend and give him some of your spare ammunitino or something to lighten your load.

And to clarify what I was talking about, the 'traverse and elevation' i.e. T&E was what we used to call the setups tripod. It weighed far more than the actual weapon. The version that I had to carry a lot earlier in my career was the one for the M-60. Ow my aching back

Ah, right, yes I can see your point. The way we use it just has the gun-mounted tripod like on the Minimi rather than the massive great set-up thing; it's a weapon which is designed to be used in firefights, not furniture displays! See this guy:

Spoiler gbfo image :

 

[GamezRule]

What is more professional: The USMC or the British Army?

 

[Flying Pig]

What is more professional: The USMC or the British Army?

Not even going there. However I do get the impression that we have a huge amount in common with our Marine cousins from America; at least if anecdotes and this guy's comic carry any weight.

 

[Quackers]

How do you cope with the fear of dying in combat and prior to combat?

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

once we were called in to play prison guards in North Yorkshire following a strike there

Were the prisoners aware that the new guards were people not to be trifled with?

 

[MobBoss]

Not even going there. However I do get the impression that we have a huge amount in common with our Marine cousins from America; at least if anecdotes and this guy's comic carry any weight.

Actually, I will offer my opinion here based on what I have heard of both. So that means the nod goes to the British guys, as the Marines can get a tad over-zealous with their 'GET SOME' attitude. But I would probably give the edge to the US Marines if you absolutely had to have something blown up immediately. Those guys absolutely love pulling triggers and not letting up until the ammo runs out or the barrel warps.

 

[GamezRule]

So, basically the Brits are more professional but the Marines are more gung ho?

 

[Ajidica]

I've done some reading about the middle ages that suggests a soldier could remain in intense combat for around ten minutes before reaching mental and physical fatigue. What would you say is the time it takes for mental and physical fatigue to set in for a soldier in an intense firefight situation?

 

[Princeps]

Which do you prefer: L1A1 or SA80?



Here's the rifle I served with in FDF.

 

[GamezRule]

M1A2 vs whatever the latest British tank is? I think it is the Challenger something? Throw the latest Leopard in there.

 

[stuge]

Here's the rifle I served with in FDF.

KaartJR or KarPr? I don't think it's used elsewhere.

If you don't mind me asking, what's your wartime designation?

 

[Princeps]

KaartJR or KarPr? I don't think it's used elsewhere.

If you don't mind me asking, what's your wartime designation?

I served in PorPR, which also uses RK 95. I'm in mortar communications and I'd probably be sent to the Helsinki region in wartime.