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[Jim Phaserman 0]

it seems like I answer as many questions about Military Tech on the boards I go to as R. Lee Ermey does, so I figured I'd start a Military Hardware Q & A thread. so, if you've been dying to know the scoop on some peice of Military Hardware, or want to know the origins of something, ask me here, and I'll do my best to answer it. By no means do I know everything, but I will try and find the answer to your Questions if I don't already know.

[ussacclaim 0]

Cool deal Jim, I think R Lee Ermey (Gunney as they call him at the office! B) ) is awesome and yes I HAVE seen Full Metal Jacket!

 

Hmmm, let me think of a good one for you...

 

Here's one:

 

What were some of RAF aircraft used in WWII?

[Odo 0]

And your problemn is

you spout it you answer it

Click for Spoiler:

Live and die usa

[Sgt. Phaserman 0]

if the Ensign doesn't mind, I'll field this question.

 

Some RAF Aircraft used were as follows:

 

Hurricane-Cloth covered fighter, armed with 8 .303 caliber (7.7 mm) machine guns, used for Anti-Bomber Ops during the Battle of Britain

 

Spitfire-at first armed with 8 .303 Caliber (7.7 mm) machine guns, later armed with 4 .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns and 2 20 mm cannons, it was the hero of the Battle of Britain

 

Misquito-the premier recon and medium bomber aircraft of the War used by England, it was one of the most versitile aircraft used by any country.

 

Lancaster-England's homebuilt response to the American B-17s and B-24s

 

this is not a complete list, though.

[Jim Phaserman 0]

if the Ensign doesn't mind, I'll field this question.

 

Some RAF Aircraft used were as follows:

 

Hurricane-Cloth covered fighter, armed with 8 .303 caliber (7.7 mm) machine guns, used for Anti-Bomber Ops during the Battle of Britain

 

Spitfire-at first armed with 8 .303 Caliber (7.7 mm) machine guns, later armed with 4 .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns and 2 20 mm cannons, it was the hero of the Battle of Britain

 

Misquito-the premier recon and medium bomber aircraft of the War used by England, it was one of the most versitile aircraft used by any country.

 

Lancaster-England's homebuilt response to the American B-17s and B-24s

 

this is not a complete list, though.

Sure, Darryl, answer the question for me! On your face and gimme 25, Sergeant!

 

In addition to the ones Darryl said, the RAF also used Tempests and Typhoons as ground attack aircraft, as well as using many different American models. the Bristol Beaufighter served as a long range escort for coastal command's Short Sunderland flying boats. the RNFAA (Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm) used the Supermarine Seafire, a carrier based version of the Spitfire, as well as the Fairey Baracuda and Swordfish torpedo bombers. the Grumman Martlet and Avenger (American made aircraft, the Martlet is known to Americans as the F4F Wildcat) also made appearences for the RNFAA.

[Star Trek Fan 0]

Will you tell us classified info???

[Jim Phaserman 0]

There is no such thing as stupid questions, Jim...There is no such thing as stupid questions, Jim...There is no such thing as stupid questions, Jim...There is no such thing as stupid questions, Jim...

 

No, I won't divulge classified info. besides, I'm only an O-1 (ensign) and I am not an Intell officer, so my security clearence is relatively low.

[Star Trek Fan 0]

There is no such thing as stupid questions, Jim...There is no such thing as stupid questions, Jim...There is no such thing as stupid questions, Jim...There is no such thing as stupid questions, Jim...

LOL!!! :(

 

In an average wartime, when is bedtime/wake up time???

[Jim Phaserman 0]

You mean lights out and reviele? Well, most of the time, it's 22:00 (10:00 PM) for taps, and between 04:30 and 05:30 for Reviele. that goes for wartime or peace time. Colors are raised at 08:00, and lowered at dusk.

[TheDoctor 0]

What's the standard assalt rifle carried by a marine?

[Jim Phaserman 0]

By a United States Marine? the M16A1 or A2. .223 caliber (5.56 mm), wieghs about 7.5 or 8 pounds fully loaded, including a 30 round detachable box magazine. add-ons include a bayonette and an M-203 40mm grenade launcher. Variants of this weapon include the M-4 carbine, which is essentially the same weapon with a shorter barrel better suited for Close Quarters Battle.

 

This is from US Marines Factfile: M16a2

 

Primary function: Infantry weapon

Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing and Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Inc.

Length: 39.63 inches (100.66 centimeters)

Weight, with 30 round magazine: 8.79 pounds (3.99 kilograms)

Bore diameter: 5.56mm (.233 inches)

Maximum effective range:

Area target: 2,624.8 feet (800 meters)

Point target: 1,804.5 feet (550 meters)

Muzzle velocity: 2,800 feet (853 meters) per second

Rate of fire:

Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute

Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute

Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute

Burst: 90 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Unit Replacement Cost: $586

 

Features: The M16A2 5.56mm rifle is a lightweight, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder- or hip-fired weapon designed for either automatic fire (3-round bursts) or semiautomatic fire (single shot) through the use of a selector lever. The weapon has a fully adjustable rear sight. The bottom of the trigger guard opens to provide access to the trigger while wearing winter mittens. The upper receiver/barrel assembly has a fully adjustable rear sight and a compensator which helps keep the muzzle down during firing. The steel bolt group and barrel extension are designed with locking lugs which lock the bolt group to the barrel extension allowing the rifle to have a lightweight aluminum receiver.

 

Background: The M16A2 rifle is a product improvement of the M16A1 rifle. The improvements are:

* a heavier, stiffer barrel than the barrel of the M16A1;

* a redesigned handguard, using two identical halves, with a round contour which is sturdier and provides a better grip when holding the rifle;

* a new buttstock and pistol grip made of a tougher injection moldable plastic that provides much greater resistance to breakage;

* an improved rear sight which can be easily adjusted for windage and range;

* a modified upper receiver design to deflect ejected cartridges, and preclude the possibility of the ejected cartridges hitting the face of a left-handed firer;

* a burst control device, that limits the number of rounds fired in the automatic mode to three per trigger pull, which increases accuracy while reducing ammunition expenditure;

* a muzzle compensator, designed to reduce position disclosure and improve controllability and accuracy in both burst and rapid semi-automatic fire;

* a heavier barrel with a 1 in 7 twist to fire NATO standard SS 109 type (M855) ammunition which is also fired from the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). This further increases the effective range and penetration of the rifle cartridge. The M16A2 will also shoot the older M193 ammunition designed for a 1 in 12 twist.

 

 

All information from this factfile is non-classified.

Edited April 16, 2004 by Ensign Jim Phaserman

[nik 0]

Hey! This is cool! I'll have to think of some good ones!

 

Here's a few that have been killing me:

 

What's the top speed of an aircraft carrier? Is it true that they sometimes have to change their orientations for takeoffs and landings based on the wind?

 

Also, what's the top speed of a submarine (any sub, I guess)?

 

Is it true that battleships pitch wildly when they fire their biggest guns? (Do you guys

call them "guns" or something more intimidating?)

[Jim Phaserman 0]

What's the top speed of an aircraft carrier?  Is it true that they sometimes have to change their orientations for takeoffs and landings based on the wind? 

 

Aircraft Carrier's top speeds are generally accepted as greater than 30 knots. and I don't have much experience with Carriers, but if they need the boost, they will sail into the wind. it gets more air going over the wings of planes taking off and landing.

 

Also, what's the top speed of a submarine (any sub, I guess)?

 

I'm glad someone asked. I used to serve on subs. US Navy subs are generally acknowledged to be able to excede 20 knotical miles an hour (23+ miles per hour, 36.8 +kph) submerged.

 

Is it true that battleships pitch wildly when they fire their biggest guns?  (Do you guys

call them "guns" or something more intimidating?)

We call em guns. I was just 9 when the last Battleships were decommed, but from what I understand, they were actually very stable gun platforms, even when they fired a full broadside of primary (on the Iowa class battleships, their 9 406.4mm [16 inch] guns) and secondary (5 inch (125 mm)) guns.

[Jim Phaserman 0]

Once again, I would like to note that I will not answer questions regarding anything that is classified. this includes troop movements (not that it matters, I don't have that information) or any weapons/ships/aircraft that may or may not be in developement.

[fenriz275 0]

Why did they cancel the Comanche helicopter project?

[Jim Phaserman 0]

to my knowledge, Commanche was well behind schedule and way over budget. at the time the decision was rendered, I believe they felt Commanche to be a waste of resources.

[cptwright 1]

so does that mean the apache shall remain the leading chopper, technology wise, or is there another in the works?

 

BTW cool idea mr irmy. lol. thats a great show, so this is a great thread. as far as the m16 goes its the A2, the A1 was vietnam era, and compared with the A2 is a peice of junk i guess, thats the one that jammed, and malfunctioned a lot. i like the AR15, i have the lower, and am waiting for some cash to buy the rest of the parts for it.

[Red Shirt Volunteer 0]

so does that mean the apache shall remain the leading chopper, technology wise, or is there another in the works?

 

BTW cool idea mr irmy. lol. thats a great show, so this is a great thread. as far as the m16 goes its the A2, the A1 was vietnam era, and compared with the A2 is a peice of junk i guess, thats the one that jammed, and malfunctioned a lot. i like the AR15, i have the lower, and am waiting for some cash to buy the rest of the parts for it.

I saw an interview with some soldiers in Afghanistan and they said they were picking up AKs whenever they found them because they're more reliable and pack more of a punch than M16s. Then again, some of them were tank crew and didn't have much more than a pistol if I remember correctly.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named 2]

OK, what is the difference between an O-1 and an E-2? :(

[Jim Phaserman 0]

Tank crews generally don't have much more than pistols, but the latest M-16 models are a major improvement over the first issue ones.

 

Presently, the Apache is, and for the time being, will remain, the Army's premier attack helicopter. it remains to be seen, though, weather or not the Marines will get the Apache.

 

And Vanroy, an E-2 has been promoted, in some cases. Me? I may be an O-1, but I got promoted too (I was enlisted prior to getting my butterstripes)

[Lady Luthien 0]

Okay I got a very stupid question here but ehm in WOII woman werent allowed to fight on the earth but only they were used in the air,is that true and is that still the rule?

 

(sorry for my crappy so crappy english!!)

[nik 0]

Hey, Jim and Sarge, this is cool.

 

I have more submarine questions. When I was in college, I remember doing a problem about the attenuation of radio waves in water, and found that they don't go too far. Do subs have to surface to communicate with the outside world, or can they do it

just below the surface? How about with other subs while submerged? Is there a way...

without just pinging away Morse code on the active sonar?

 

I'm pretty much an embecile when it comes to things military, so I hope these questions don't sound like they are coming from a little kid.

[bearded ape 0]

how many miles is a knot?

[Jim Phaserman 0]

to answer a few questions here.

 

Luthien, during WWII, some nations allowed women to serve as infantry, including Russia, and some allowed them to be combat pilots. Today, at least as far as the US goes, women can be combat aviators and serve on front line warships (with the exception of submarines), but are still prohibited from ground combat.

 

Submarines communicate underwater using ELF, or Extreme Low Frequency radio systems. these ELF waves penetrate water better.

 

1 knautical mile is about 6,062 feet, or about 2000 yards, so 1.14-1.16 "Statue" miles.

[Tina 0]

Jim :(

 

Your the Man..I love R.lee

 

My question is : Where did all the Battleships go?

 

I know some of them are scraped,some are in mothballs and some are meausems

 

Which ones are which? And why did they get phased out?

[Jim Phaserman 0]

A perfect opportunity to show off some of the cool features on the Navy's website.

 

Click Here! for a complete list of all US Navy Battleships.

 

the Battleships were retired from service in the Early 1990's because it was felt that their jobs could be done by smaller vessels that cost less to operate. the Iowa class battleships, for example, had been refitted in the 1980's with modern radar and weapons, and could fire Tomahawk Cruise Missiles and Harpoon Anti Ship Missiles. However, a Ticonderoga class vessel that is 300 feet shorter, half as wide, and displaces 1/5 as much water with a crew about 1/8 the size can accomplish the same job. However, there are military historians (I am among them) who say the Battleships haven't outlived their usefullness yet. in fact, I subscribe to the theory that the Battleships were built 60 years too early. So, it's not a general concensus that the Battleship is no longer useful. Actually, I believe personally that a Battleship could be as powerfull a tool of diplomacy as any Aircraft carrier. being a gunnery officer myself, I can attest that those 16 inch guns could have been put to great effect in the latest Iraq war. utilising the newer, more powerful propellant formulas and Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) technology, it is possible for the Mk 7 16 inch (406.4 mm) guns to fire shells as far as 35 or 40 miles.

[ussacclaim 0]

being a gunnery officer myself, I can attest that those 16 inch guns could have been put to great effect in the latest Iraq war.

Hey! does this mean we can call you "Gunney"!!!???

[cptwright 1]

so does that mean the apache shall remain the leading chopper, technology wise, or is there another in the works?

 

BTW cool idea mr irmy. lol. thats a great show, so this is a great thread. as far as the m16 goes its the A2, the A1 was vietnam era, and compared with the A2 is a peice of junk i guess, thats the one that jammed, and malfunctioned a lot. i like the AR15, i have the lower, and am waiting for some cash to buy the rest of the parts for it.

I saw an interview with some soldiers in Afghanistan and they said they were picking up AKs whenever they found them because they're more reliable and pack more of a punch than M16s. Then again, some of them were tank crew and didn't have much more than a pistol if I remember correctly.

tis true, my buddy has 4 ak47's, they do pack much more of a punch, and are tons of fun to go plinkin with. i would like to get one after a while as well. just ask clint eastwood, the ak47 the prefered weapon of our enemy. heartbreak ridge, great movie.

[Jim Phaserman 0]

Don't call me gunny. Gunny is for US Marine Gunnery Sergeants and Master Gunnery Sergeants. and the AK 47 is more powerful than the M-16. the AK uses a 7.62mm round, as opposed to a 5.56 mm round for the M-16. However, after the Vietnam war, the Soviets came out with the AKM and AK-74 in 5.45mm, so the statement that the AK-47 is the prefered weapon of the enemy is somewhat dated, as the AK-74 has taken hold.

[cptwright 1]

i kinda figured its dated, but i just like saying it. plus i would prefer the 7.62 over the 5.65. more punch. but i do like the ar15 with the .223it works, and is great for plinkin.