RANGER AGAINST WAR: Soldier's Handbook Errors <

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Soldier's Handbook Errors

______________

Since our last contest went over like a lead zeppelin, Ranger offers another chance. In line with his fascination of minutiae:

Find the errors on this cover
of the
1 September 2006
Soldier's Handbook?



O.K., it's not exactly the cover of the Rolling Stone, but it's close enough for government work. Answers to follow.

Labels:

45 Comments:

Anonymous RangerHazen said...

No minorities are represented and the AG suffers under "don't ask don't tell" ? LOL :)

Seriously... When TRADOC is run by butter bars what do you expect? :)

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 1:28:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous fasteddiez said...

Well, the gunner's got the MG set up on the tripod, so why's the bipod still extended?.....could fuck him up if he hat to shoot downhill, all of a sudden (I can't see if the T and E is set up, pic is not clear enough).

Also, this is a 2006 document, and you have your warrior protagonists dressed up in old woodland cammie Mufti. That's all I can think of for now.

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 2:18:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Rez Dog said...

Laying your ammo belt out on the ground like these guys would increase the likelihood of a jammed weapon.

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 2:25:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Lisa said...

Good work, fasteddiez and Rez Dog. You caught two good ones.

RangerHazen: You are a wag and a provocateur. That gains you points at RAW :)

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 4:40:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Fasteddiez,
Every time we have a contest you drop down on it.
I also picked the bipod as a problem.
My list will be pubbed in 3 days.
The camo uniforms are not an issue of concern as they were correct for the time frame.
Hint- you are close for 1 item i caught.
Rez Dog,
Definitely the ammo is not being properly protected from trash and dirt.
I'd use a poncho, etc. as a ground cloth to protect it.
Hint- is there anything else about the belt?? Hint-Wanat and Waygul.
Thanks for putting on your tactical hats.
jim

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 4:50:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Ranger Hazen,
Only a wrong dude from California would pick up on the AG.
We're not concerned with Ass Rangers here, we're only doing tactical issues.
Hell, this gun might be set up on Brokeback Mtn.
No wonder they threw you off of Socnet.
You're just not right.
jim

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 4:58:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

fasteddiez,
As a point, i'm assuming that the t&e is locked onto the gun. It appears to be, but is really hard to tell.
I'll bet my bars and assume that it's as i stated.
So -off you go.
You're close on the camo uniform cmt. Look closely.
jim

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 5:02:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Ranger H,
Would it be a EEO complaint if a minority had to hump the MG or Ammo?
jim

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 5:03:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous fasteddiez said...

I tried to blow up the ammo belt with the windows magnifyer, but all it does is blur it some more. I think those two are using a belt of blanks. Is that appropriate on a publication such as this?????

Would a discriminating voyeur not assume that the DoD is "Shooting Blanks."

As for the cammies, The patch signifies SF? (I'm asking here because I am not as hip on army unit designations) If so, Is that appropriate, or a faux pas?

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 5:13:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous fasteddiez said...

Also, Should the AG be feeding the belt from an ammo box or whatever other more modern packaging is provided for (cardboard container bandoleers), for grunts on the move, instead of sending a message that the belt is fully laying on the Ground?

Might one assume that the dandyesque AG was wearing the ammo "Pancho Villa" style? (A forward looking style statement in Southeast Nausea, to be sure, though thoroughly scorned by the Machine Gunner Cognoscenti)

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 5:24:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Underground Carpenter said...

Hi Jim,

All the initials bewilder me--AG? TRADOC? T and E? I've never been in the military, and haven't a clue what those mean.

The thing I notice is the lack of eye protection. I wouldn't ever fire a gun without safety glasses.

Dave

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:10:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Iris Dement said "Easy's getting harder every day."

I dunno..but "back in the day, every goddam M-60 I ever fired fed from the other side.

Small wonder the other team is winning.

Trick questions? New Army? Transposed fotos?

Do I win a Tshirt? 50 Gallons of gas? 100 dollars worth of Groceries?

There it is.
Deryle

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 11:37:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous RangerHazen said...

You funny man Jimbo...I'll bet the house these two dudes are butterbars in IOBC. More than likely they both went to work for Cheney after they graduated.

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 11:40:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous fasteddiez said...

Deryle

First of all, that is not an M-60 in the picture; it is
the M-240 (Its' replacement). As to your firing m-60's feeding from the right side, perhaps there could be an explanation. However, some examples show that your machine guns were one off's, or tailor made for southpaws.

Consider: These Lads or These examples Or
Here, the tech drawing showing the feed tray on the left and the ejection port on the right; How bout this Helo Borne Hard Charger.

The only other explanation is that you were in the Nam on planet Htrae, our reverse polarity twin (where everything is back asswards). We cannot see it because it is on the other side of the sun
and circumnavigates the brilliant ball on the same axis, at the same speed as us earthlings. You probably zigged when you shoulda zagged, tripped. and fell through the time/space continuum.....and here you are.

So if you ever have to fire a machine gun, or for that matter, a Matty Mattel, in the future, and you are a lefty Sin Loi. Since, as luck will have it, some of the casings will eventually bounce of foreign matter and make their way to your mug, and down the front of your shirt. Been There, experienced that. I am a tighty righty but have had to fire lefty as the situation required,

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 12:50:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Hazen,
They are wearing a 25 Infy patch, but that could be for show.
In the 8th ID i posed as a Pvt. for a news show. I fired laws and they filmed me to show the folks back home how my skinny ass was standing between them and the communist hordes.
I guess i was successful.
jim

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 2:46:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Dave,
AG is assistant gunner.
T&e is the traversing and elevating hardware for firing the gun as a medium or heavy application.
Tradoc is Training and Doctrine Cmd as opposed to Forscom which is Forces Cmd.
These are 2 major 4 star commands.
The split is between manuever deployeable forces and non deployeable assets that train those bad boys.
jim

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 2:50:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Terrible said...

Camouflage, cover, concealment.

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 4:12:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger The Minstrel Boy said...

i've seen some lefties who managed just fine with bolt action weapons. myself, i got tired of the spent casings hot & fresh going into my face and started shooting righthanded.

although, to me it looks like the gunner's face is wee bit close to the stock and lock. any kind of major burst would loosen his bridgework.

(i am always on the lookout for that sign, means you don't have a shooter on the trigger. one of the first times i used a scope i got right up on that shit, and bam, got myself a "dumbshit" ring around the eye)

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 4:18:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Terrible said...

Let me clarify my comment.
Camouflage - I'm referring to their face camo.
Cover - lying on flat ground in the open? They couldn't find a ditch or hillock?
Concealment - OK I admit I don't know what's in front of their position. I just know in that photo they stand out like targets.

As to the ammo belt issue.... I don't see any tracers in there. But as has been pointed out it isn't really clear.

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 4:24:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Terrible said...

MB, I've got a leftie neighbor who shoots his right hand bolt actions no problem. So used to it he says he'd rather not have a left handed rifle. I thought the gunner looked like he was pulling up mighty far onto the gun too. First thing I noticed actually but I thought hell maybe that's how the kids do it these days. lol

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 4:27:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger The Mad Dog said...

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
- G. K. Chesterton

"But if someone has a gun and is trying to kill you ... it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun."
- Dalai Lama

Balls out and gone battle rattle, Jim. How you doin'? Hooah, Boss. All the best...The Mad Celt

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 5:37:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey...

My reference to "the other side" was comparing to the picture you posted.
Appears , on my computer, that those lads are about to fire some kinda weapon--whatever its nomenclature is--that's being fed from the right side.

Wait...

Oh...I see...They be pointin' that thing my way..why..it is ..

everything a young fighting stiff needs these days...
and fed from the LEFT as well..

Oops..
Dyslexia morphed into bassackwardness..

Old..not dead...

Deryle

Don't guess I win anything, huh?

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 11:21:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Terrible,
Good choiced.But bear in mind that this may be a hasty firing position, but if it were then why the tripod?
jim

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 8:56:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

MB,
I'm not into the M240 and never used one, but is his rear sight flipped up in the use position?
I believe the AG feeds from the left by design and ergonomic considerations.
In a stoppage situation , if he were on the right he might get in the gunners way when trying to clear the gun.
Same goes for barrel change, quik change under enemy pressure.
I believe the 240 and 249 to be superior weapons IF fired at moderate rates with controlled manipulation.
jim
jim

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 9:03:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Terrible,
Many gunners remove tracers to protect their location, if they can't move after shotting .
The belt is a nother concern to me- can you figgur it? This is a mensa test- infantry style.
There are no tracers b/c these sare blanks- the gun had a vasectomy.
There is a item of concern on the camo- can u find it? Come on boy can you- as the Acid Queen said in Tommy.?

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 9:10:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Terrible,
Your point on dead space is well taken.
The world was built for us killers and it always provides dead space, cover and concealment.
A good ldr would set up his people accordingly. in fact they usually do so themselves.
jim

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 9:13:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

MB,
The first rule of machinery-you gotta be smarter than the inanimate piece of eqt.
We know this in the Army.
If the scope bit you, you had inprpoer eye relief OR a faulty spot/stock weld.
BTW, i've done this consistantly when excited.
jim

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 9:16:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Deryle,
We call it THE MILITARY RIGHT.
JIM

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 9:43:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Dale,
We done be missing you.
I'll advise 1SG to drop you from the DFR roster.
jim

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 9:55:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Terrible,
I get up tight on any weapon that i fire.
This is a result of firing heavy recoil pieces and my National Match Competition training.
You cannot fire accurate rapid fire unless you are tight in and roll with the recoil and come out of it manipulating your trigger and reacquiring the target in a speedy manner.
This is a lost art from my viewing all the gun mags.
jim

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 10:06:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous fasteddiez said...

Jim:

On the cammies: The AG has a new set while the Gunner's togs are faded. Bad presentation from a professional graphics point of view; not to mention that a potential enemy's eye might be drawn to the disruptive optical presentation.

PS I am not commenting in order to compete in the contest, as I have already won another.

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 12:18:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Lisa said...

fasteddiez,

You show yourself to have an aesthetic sense, but I think RAW was after something else (though he, too, enjoys a sense of harmony in camo-wear, if nowhere else.)

We'll publish answers tomorrow.

And yes, you are already a winner.

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 12:23:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Terrible said...

Well I'll look again to see what I can spot. I also immediately noticed the miss-matched uniforms but didn't consider that a tactical error. I'll see what I can come up with on the camo and ammo/weapon.

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 4:32:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Terrible said...

Well keep in mind that I wasn't infantry and only fired an M-60 with live ammo once and only a couple of times with blanks. But I was AG on the M-60 for a couple of days during the 2 week SF run PCT course I took. But hell that was almost 30 years ago. :-)

I pulled out a copy of FM 23-67 but didn't see anything in there to help me.

So anyway I saved the pic so I could blow it up to see if that helped. And all I can come up with is this:
1) If it were me I'd have some twigs and leaves stuck into the helmet band. And of course I already said I'm not impressed with their face camo much, that's one hell of a shiny cheekbone on the AG.
2) The AG could hold the belt a little better with his right hand? And what exactly is he doing with his left hand with the fingers curled under like that? Isn't it supposed to be open flat like his right?
3) And what's that orange thing on the side of the belt feed tray anyway?

Maybe the next contest can be on engineer/ADM stuff? ;-) just kidding.

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 5:09:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

terrible,
The AG should be in position to twist the belt in case of a runaway gun.
The orange thing is unknown object.
This could be a mistake , but i didn't count it as such.
jim

Monday, May 24, 2010 at 7:42:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

fasteddiez.
Contrary ti\o Lisa's statement you are not thr winnwer until the Commander issues the designee.
She speaks beyond her authority.
jim

Monday, May 24, 2010 at 7:47:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

fast edddiez,
This is not a Tommy Hilfinger contest.
The uniforms will not always natch. The AG may br a fng.
I have a pic of me in RVN wearing tiger stripes and they aren't even a close match. Maybe that's why i liked them.
jim

Monday, May 24, 2010 at 7:51:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous fasteddiez said...

Jim;

I said I was the winner of the LAST competition, and as such should not be competing in this one. Lisa just agreed about my last win. I just commented more on this thread because I like Mad Magazine's "What's wrong with this picture."

Monday, May 24, 2010 at 9:48:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous fasteddiez said...

I also have a partial solution to the gunner's goings on with his left hand. If you examine This Hard charger, you will notice his left hand is on the saddle of the stock (more deeply cut than that of the M-60), putting downwards pressure, and with the extended buck plate riding on his shoulder, the position provides mucho stability in this gunner's present fighting stance. "Hold it like a man," the MG instructors used to hector.

So our protagonist had his hand in the same place, but it was wrong in the picture of the book, because the tripod is in use. His left sandwich clamp should rest on the T&E so that he can disengage it quickly, or use the fingers to fiddle fuck with the traverse and elevation knobs. The tripod offers enough added stability as to negate the need to hold the rear of the weapon as in the Happy snap provided.

Monday, May 24, 2010 at 10:15:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Fasteddiez,
Thanks for the clarification, i thought i had an insurgency brewing.
What a relief.
All entries will get considered.
What did you think of my picks?
Thanks,
jim

Monday, May 24, 2010 at 3:54:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jim:

Sorry for getting back so late, but we had one of the Daughter Units in for the Holidays. As for your picks, there were some that I overlooked completely, and some Like the T&E's effects, where we were on the same page. I didn't celebrate Memorial Day, Just hung the Holiday Flag on its' 45 degree little thingamabob out front. Andy Rooney on 60 minutes had a good mini editorial this past Sunday. Any Blogeristas interested should go to CBS on the intertubes and see if they can find a Vidii of it.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 10:54:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous Sven Ortmann said...

Mistake not mentioned yet:

The MG2 should keep a smaller silhouette.

Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 9:30:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Sven,
A low profile and keeping low is the key to survival when on the 2 way rifle range.
This applies to life as well.
Over the years , i'm always amazed how professional soldiers emplace their MG's. It's almost like they don't expect counter fire of RPG's coming their way.
Thanks for your entry.
jim

Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 10:46:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know this would ruin the point of having a photo on the cover, but it doesn't seem like they are using proper cover or concealment.

Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 6:00:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Anon, jun 4,
Yep cover and concealment are real weak.
It's a poor photo.
Thanks for visiting Ranger , and thanks for commenting.
Obviously you were , or are a soldier.
jim

Monday, June 6, 2011 at 11:42:00 AM GMT-5  

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