Subdeacon Joe Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Why has field artillery been metric basically since the invention of hydraulic recoil damping, e.g. 75mm, 105mm, 155mm, but naval artillery is still in general in imperial measure, e.g. 3"/50, 5"/38, 8"/55? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foul Mouth Frank Shutz Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Squid are slow learners. If it wasn't for the Marines they would sail over the horizon and never find their way to shore again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocWard Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Why has field artillery been metric basically since the invention of hydraulic recoil damping, e.g. 75mm, 105mm, 155mm, but naval artillery is still in general in imperial measure, e.g. 3"/50, 5"/38, 8"/55? This is just a guess, but it could be from the fact that we used the French 75 during WWI and kind of stuck with the metric usage as a result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 This is just a guess, but it could be from the fact that we used the French 75 during WWI and kind of stuck with the metric usage as a result. I had thought of that, but given our stubbornness, it seems odd that we didn't call that 75 a 3", and the others 4" and 6" respectively. But I wouldn't bet against you. Come to think of it, the tubes on our modern "Horse Artillery" (tanks) is also metric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mariner Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Squid are slow learners. If it wasn't for the Marines they would sail over the horizon and never find their way to shore again. Know how to take out a whole platoon of marines without firing a shot. Through wet sand on the wall and yell hit the beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Dunno. I was in an 8 inch howitzer batallion. If coerced we would say "203 mm." Of course, our sister batallions had 175mm howitzers on the same chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sides Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Naval guns are measured by diameter and length of barrel to get final designation for weapon system, ie; 5" 38 is a 5" bore with a 190" long barrel. A 5" 54 is a 5" bore with a 270 inch long barrel etc....then you get to my personal favorites the 16" rifles, you got to love a 2,750 pound projectile traveling 21 miles to wipe out a target. Only one naval piece I crewed was in metric, and that was a MK75 - 76mm. Great gun, water cooled rapid fire, was on all the FFG7 (Perry class frigates) and hydrofoils (Pegasus class) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Naval guns are measured by diameter and length of barrel to get final designation for weapon system, ie; 5" 38 is a 5" bore with a 190" long barrel. A 5" 54 is a 5" bore with a 270 inch long barrel etc....then you get to my personal favorites the 16" rifles, you got to love a 2,750 pound projectile traveling 21 miles to wipe out a target. Didn't the Japanese battlewagons have 19" guns (rifles?) in WW II? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Hand Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Squid are slow learners. If it wasn't for the Marines they would sail over the horizon and never find their way to shore again. Just remember "squids" are the most intelligent form of marine life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubborn Dutchman, SASS # 61363 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Didn't the Japanese battlewagons have 19" guns (rifles?) in WW II? The Yamato: 1941 & Musashi: 1942, battleships of Japan carried 9-18.1"/45 guns along with 6.1" and 5" guns. http://www.combinedfleet.com/ships/yamato <- the link if you wish to read more. Dutchman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapeshot 8553 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Why has field artillery been metric basically since the invention of hydraulic recoil damping, e.g. 75mm, 105mm, 155mm, but naval artillery is still in general in imperial measure, e.g. 3"/50, 5"/38, 8"/55? Up until WWI, all our artillery pieces were measured in inches. the Largest breech loading field gun up until then was the 3 inch M1905. Coastal Artillery ranged from 10 to 12 inch rifles and were mostly mounted on a disappearing carriage. Once we entered the "Great War" we relied on the French to supply our Field Artillery units with guns and ended up with 1890's vintage French 75mm and 155mm Howitzers. After that, to be comptable with European ammo, we stayed with the Metric system for all but the 8 inch Howitzer and the Costal Artillery Guns. The Eight Inch gun fired projectiles compatable to the guns used on the US Navy's Cruisers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker, SASS #55963 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Some of the coastal guns used in Hawaii were actually naval guns removed from the Saratoga when her 8- 8 inch guns were replaced with 5 inch guns. Both Lexington (CV-2) and Saratoga (CV-3) were originally built with 8 -8inch guns as heavy cruisers were seen as their main threat. Experience with Coral Sea showed that aircraft was the real threat and the 8inch guns were useless as they were too slow firing and didnt have the elevation capability to be useful against aircraft. Aircraft carriers after this point were built with dual purpose 5 inch guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foul Mouth Frank Shutz Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Just remember "squids" are the most intelligent form of marine life. Who's going to break the news to Flipper and Gomer Pyle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foul Mouth Frank Shutz Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Know how to take out a whole platoon of marines without firing a shot. Through wet sand on the wall and yell hit the beach. Be careful it's not one of the outside walls or the hole they knock through it will let water in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Cassidy #45437 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Up until WWI, all our artillery pieces were measured in inches. the Largest breech loading field gun up until then was the 3 inch M1905. Coastal Artillery ranged from 10 to 12 inch rifles and were mostly mounted on a disappearing carriage. Once we entered the "Great War" we relied on the French to supply our Field Artillery units with guns and ended up with 1890's vintage French 75mm and 155mm Howitzers. After that, to be comptable with European ammo, we stayed with the Metric system for all but the 8 inch Howitzer and the Costal Artillery Guns. The Eight Inch gun fired projectiles compatable to the guns used on the US Navy's Cruisers. Since the OP's question has been answered, I'll lend my own by-line to the mix: "Field Artillery: Lending dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Why has field artillery been metric basically since the invention of hydraulic recoil damping, e.g. 75mm, 105mm, 155mm, but naval artillery is still in general in imperial measure, e.g. 3"/50, 5"/38, 8"/55? I lost most of my hearing to 203 mm guns. I didn't know they were called that until after I left the batallion. 1st Battalion 75th Artillery, 8" Self Propelled. 7th corps Artillery, US 7th Army. and yes, nuclear capable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I lost most of my hearing to 203 mm guns. I didn't know they were called that until after I left the batallion. 1st Battalion 75th Artillery, 8" Self Propelled. 7th corps Artillery, US 7th Army. and yes, nuclear capable. Well Noz, I lost most of mine to the M1 Garand, the 81mm mortar and 106mm Recoilless rifle. What was that you wuz saying? What ear protection? We don't need no stinkin ear protection...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 Up until WWI, all our artillery pieces were measured in inches. the Largest breech loading field gun up until then was the 3 inch M1905. Coastal Artillery ranged from 10 to 12 inch rifles and were mostly mounted on a disappearing carriage. Once we entered the "Great War" we relied on the French to supply our Field Artillery units with guns and ended up with 1890's vintage French 75mm and 155mm Howitzers. After that, to be comptable with European ammo, we stayed with the Metric system for all but the 8 inch Howitzer and the Costal Artillery Guns. The Eight Inch gun fired projectiles compatable to the guns used on the US Navy's Cruisers. Thank you. You confirm DocWard's guess above. I knew that someone would come up with the information for me. Since the OP's question has been answered, I'll lend my own by-line to the mix: "Field Artillery: Lending dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl." You know why Infantry is called "The Queen of Battle," don't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTH-PACIFIC,SASS #59402 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Squid are slow learners. If it wasn't for the Marines they would sail over the horizon and never find their way to shore again. just remember the jarheads come under the navy comand we give the job of standing on the quater dech to look purdy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Do I detect friction between two of the Department of the Navy factions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Ya know the Squids and Jarheads have been at eachother since they started , Kinda like the Grunts and Treadheads, Cannoncockers , Ect . We may scuffel amongest each other but ya outside folks best leave us alone , lest we all take ya out . Inter-service riviley comes under the heading of on feilds of friendly strife . CB (former GRUNT) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Ya know the Squids and Jarheads have been at eachother since they started , Kinda like the Grunts and Treadheads, Cannoncockers , Ect . We may scuffel amongest each other but ya outside folks best leave us alone , lest we all take ya out . Inter-service riviley comes under the heading of on feilds of friendly strife . CB (former GRUNT) GRUNTS IS GUD! But I wuz a straightleg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 BMC Leg and Mec also played with air envelopment a little . kinda miss it , mostley I miss my mind . LOL Looks like we hijacked this one pretty good . CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foul Mouth Frank Shutz Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Do I detect friction between two of the Department of the Navy factions? Mostly, but having started this little fracus, I confess to being ex-Army (unlike Marines, there is such a thing as ex-Army), having a little fun at the expense of the squid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Squid are slow learners. If it wasn't for the Marines they would sail over the horizon and never find their way to shore again. I thought the Marines just go where the squids take them. The squids might sail off the edge of the world but the marines will make sure they are safe all the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Smokepole #29248L Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Probably because Squids don't have cannons or artillery. They have Naval Rifles..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Smokepole #29248L Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 just remember the jarheads come under the navy comand we give the job of standing on the quater dech to look purdy The Marines are part of the Department of The Navy..... The Men's Department..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Cassidy #45437 Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Ya know the Squids and Jarheads have been at eachother since they started , Kinda like the Grunts and Treadheads, Cannoncockers , Ect . We may scuffel amongest each other but ya outside folks best leave us alone , lest we all take ya out . Inter-service riviley comes under the heading of on feilds of friendly strife . CB (former GRUNT) Well I must be schizophrenic. I started out as an enlisted grunt, then got commissioned in the ordnance branch, then became a Reservist and switched to the Military Police Corps. I have a lot of brass sitting around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Looks like we hijacked this one pretty good . CB Gentlemen, feel free to hijack this to wherever you want. Kinda fun reading what all of you have to say. Just keep in mind as you fly it around that Triple A doesn't always mean the Automobile club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunnyRunner Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Dunno. I was in an 8 inch howitzer batallion. If coerced we would say "203 mm." Of course, our sister batallions had 175mm howitzers on the same chassis. Now the old Long Tom 175's were some real cannons! Hard to beat the accuracy of an 8 incher tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Smokepole #29248L Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 I was in a couple Cannon Cocker Units over the years too. We had 105's 155's, 175's. My units didn't have any 8" Guns but they were out there in other's... BTW, the 4.2 mortars are classified as Artillery. As mentione earlier, Artillery brings dignity to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl. As a Grunt, I loved Cannon Cockers unless they were sloppy and dropped their Ordinance short and hit us...Same with Zoomies..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Cassidy #45437 Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 You know, I've been in the Army for 17 years now, some active and some reserve, and have never even heard of a 175 mm. I've called for fire once in the real world, and seeing six 155mm rounds go off at a distance was rather disconcerting. I've also been on the receiving end of 107mm rockets and various sizes of mortars. Those were extremely disconcerting. I'll hazard a guess that seeing a 175mm go off must be a sight to behold! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocWard Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 I was in a couple Cannon Cocker Units over the years too. We had 105's 155's, 175's. My units didn't have any 8" Guns but they were out there in other's... BTW, the 4.2 mortars are classified as Artillery. As mentione earlier, Artillery brings dignity to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl. As a Grunt, I loved Cannon Cockers unless they were sloppy and dropped their Ordinance short and hit us...Same with Zoomies..... There is nothing quite like a short round lifting you up off the ground and dropping you back down again to make you want to check your shorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Church Key, SASS # 33713 Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 When I was quite young, my family had a summer cottage on Peddocks Island in Boston harbor, which is by Hull Gut, the main entrance to the harbor. The end of the island had an active fort, "Fort Andrews." During WWII, a jeep would occasionally drive down the beach telling everyone to: "Open your windows" as they were going to practice firing the 12" guns at a scow being towed by a tug with a really long rope. This was followed by big booms and tall splashes. I also remember them opening the sub nets and bringing convoys in/out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 You know, I've been in the Army for 17 years now, some active and some reserve, and have never even heard of a 175 mm. I've called for fire once in the real world, and seeing six 155mm rounds go off at a distance was rather disconcerting. I've also been on the receiving end of 107mm rockets and various sizes of mortars. Those were extremely disconcerting. I'll hazard a guess that seeing a 175mm go off must be a sight to behold! April 1970. It was about 2 or 3 in the morning. The temperature had finally cooled down to where your canteen water didn't feel like a warm bath. Things were quiet except for the occasional parachute flare popping off. After a shift in the TOC bunker I dragged myself back to my burrow for a few hours shut eye. A few more puffs of air into my rubber bitch, I arranged my poncho liner pillow just right, made sure Mattel rifle and mags were in reach, and I drifted off to sleep in the bottom of my tidy hole. Then the universe shifted. I awoke in a cloud of dust with my ears ringing. "Crap, RPG or mortars", I thought. "Can't I just get some shuteye without somebody trying to kill me?" Then another explosion rocked my world. I grabbed my steel pot and looked over the rim of my foxhole. No tracers. No screams. No trip flares. The firebase appeared quiet. Then I heard somebody faintly yell "Fire". My world went all topsy turvy again! I looked to my rear and in the dim light saw the humongous smoking barrel sticking up over some brush and pointing right over my position from about 50 yards away. It seems a battery of 175 SPs had moved in that afternoon and sometime during the wee hours they got a fire mission and swung around. Unfortunately my home excavated away from home was in the wrong place. As they loaded another Volkswagen-sized round again I grabbed my meager possessions and scurried away like a rabbit flushed from his hole. Spent the rest of the evening waiting for the ringing in my ears to go away. I'm still waiting. The bodacious 175mm Self Propelled Gun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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