On: Anatomy of a World War I Artillery Barrage

[thearn4]

I was an artilleryman is the U.S. Army. We get the machine gun fired over us in a trench during basic training (like everyone else), but that sounds like so much more profound of an experience. I kind of wish we did that here.

That said, I was enlisted (NCO), not a commissioned officer. For all I know, they may do something like that for (to?) the officers at Fort Sill.

[camperman → thearn4]

On that topic, artillery shells flying over you sound strange, like tearing a linen sail or sheet down the middle - no joke.

[13of40 → camperman]

I was in an infantry exercise at JBLM where they were firing artillery from right next to our position, and I remember every tenth round or so would have a defect that made it go zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzoooooommmm when it came out of the barrel.

[camperman → 13of40]

Ah yes, the whistling round. On the 105mm Light Gun this was from small gaps in the copper jacket around the shell that whistled when spinning.

[gonzo41 → camperman]

120mm rocket artillery incoming near Talil. Felt like an earthquake. Was great fun at the time, now I think back and wow...

[camperman → gonzo41]

Oh to be young and carefree again :)

It does feel like an earthquake. The most powerful subwoofer I've ever heard doesn't come close to the teeth-scraping body-slamming whump of a near miss from large ordinance.