Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Gene Econ
1. The gunner isn't about to hit a damn thing while the Jeep is moving.
2. The gunner best have an acute sense of muzzle awareness when shooting the MG.
3. Even that little 7.62 rocked the M-151 if fired at 90 degrees from the vehicle.
Given the statements I made based on my experiences with this combination, I would not want to be the Jeep that has a M-2 barrel over the front of its hood when it fires many shots in succession. Overpressure is immense and this probably causes severe wear on the Jeep's hood, radiator, and other innards.
Gene
|
Our Jeep is/was set up for recon operations. We also realized Gene's three points.
Long range night movement to a hide site, spend and hour or so covering tracks and setting up cammy nets, hiding all glass and setting in for the day. Repeat until you got where you were going.
The jeeps had a beefed up suspension, better tires, roll bar, equipment racks, four point seat belts and a few other minor modifications. The .50s were used at a range but only with everybody well clear. Rat Patrol we were not. Even at slow speeds and all the heavy ammo etc, stored on the floor the jeep was real top heavy with the gun up there that high.
The jeeps were kept down at 5th Group forward's location at Ft Bliss, Tx. Battalions would rotate through there for 2 months of training about once a year. They sling load under a 47 real nice. Some people in 5th Group have made some real long cross country movements in those jeeps.
Depending on where we were going we would have to take two types of cammy nets. Wait until almost sun up, pick the best color and scurry like ants covering everything.
We had chewed over the fact of really firing the critter and decided that it would only be done if we were going like a bat out of hell the other way and the gunner was firing over the rear. Once again, with somebody standing the jeeps were really, really unstable.
A lot of teams got some good training on those jeeps for a number of years. A little vehicle like that could be found in just about any country, Land Rovers prefered, and the rest of the equipment was low tec and mostly organic.
Pete