Pics from the Sandbox

[ColonialMarine0431]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/SA_image_060523_3m.jpg
MORTAR EXHAUST

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/SA_image_060518_2m.jpg
QUICK SMOKE BREAK

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/SA_image_060511_3m.jpg
WITH IRAQI CHILDREN

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/SA_image_060414_10m.jpg
COUNTER MEASURES

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/privates.jpg
NEVER LET AN E-1 DRIVE!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/PlaneCar_040304.jpg
OOOPS !

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/pimp.jpg
YO ! PIMP MY RIDE !

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/f-14.jpg
F-14 TOMCAT FLYOVER

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/apache.jpg
APACHE

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/4idmemorial.jpg
4TH ID MEMORIAL

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20II/alasadairbase.jpg
AT AL ASAD AIR BASE.
DR. STRANGELOVE? IS THAT YOU?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20II/speedbump.jpg
IRAQI SPEED BUMP

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20II/seanightssunset.jpg
SEA KNIGHTS AT SUNSET

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20II/relieved.jpg
WHEN YA GOTTA GO, YA GOTTA GO


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20II/lizardgunner.jpg
LIZARD GUNNER

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20II/hummercolumn.jpg
HUMMER CONVOY

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20II/gotthrust.jpg
GOT THRUST?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20II/combat.jpg
IN COMBAT

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marines_in_Iraq_1.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marine_with_BAR_in_Iraq.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marine_in_Iraq_14.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marine_in_Iraq_12.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marine_in_Iraq_11.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marine_in_Iraq_8.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/LCpl_Scott_in_Iraq_3.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Big_Gun.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marines_in_Iraq_5.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marines_in_Iraq_15.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marines_in_Iraq_19.jpg

[Baboonass]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20I/SA_image_060523_3m.jpg
MORTAR EXHAUST






Mortar Exhaust???


Uhh, nope.

[CPLHUNTER]

Just pressure I would imagine?

[ColonialMarine0431]

Mortar Exhaust???


Uhh, nope.

I know. It's sand. That's the label on the pic my buddy sent.

[TROJANII]

That F-15 accident was stateside.

[Baboonass]

I know. It's sand. That's the label on the pic my buddy sent.



Gotcha.


Cool pic all the same.

[Baboonass]

Just pressure I would imagine?



Setting round.

The first round you send usually sets in the ground a few inches depending on how firm the ground is.

We used a 60mm mortar, but I am by no means a proffessional mortar man.

[CPLHUNTER]

Interesting, I'm no mortar man either, just familiar w/ handing out the rounds...

[godfather]

It's called seating the base plate, never seen it do that before but it does look cool.

[Baboonass]

It's called seating the base plate, never seen it do that before but it does look cool.



That's the term I was thinking of.

Thanks.

[godfather]

Anytime mate.
gf

[HorrigEn]

Vietnam? :)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marines_in_Iraq_15.jpg

[Sabre]

^No need to be c*cky, the bloke obviously can't afford a daysack and is happy to deal with stoppages caused by damaged link or kinked belt and doesn't mind half a pound of dirt going through the working parts for every 200 rounds...

Seriously though, put your link in a pouch/daysack people. It's just good drills. What's he going to do when the gunner needs more link and the rounds are zipping past? He'll have to put his weapon down, stick his head and arm up to get the link off him, then pass it over before being back in the fight. If it's in a pouch, then it's easier to get. If it's in a daysack then it keeps the rounds clean and organised.



(back on topic) Nice photos by the way!

[Baboonass]

^No need to be c*cky, the bloke obviously can't afford a daysack and is happy to deal with stoppages caused by damaged link or kinked belt and doesn't mind half a pound of dirt going through the working parts for every 200 rounds...

Seriously though, put your link in a pouch/daysack people. It's just good drills. What's he going to do when the gunner needs more link and the rounds are zipping past? He'll have to put his weapon down, stick his head and arm up to get the link off him, then pass it over before being back in the fight. If it's in a pouch, then it's easier to get. If it's in a daysack then it keeps the rounds clean and organised.



(back on topic) Nice photos by the way!


Well, not really.


I carried my link for years like this with no real issues. I even used to spray paint it, never caused any malfunctions or stopages.

You don't have to pull the belt over your noggin, just break it and pull. It takes a bit of practice but it is a lot faster to get rounds in the weapon than digging through a pack.

The problem was the loose link hanging out of the weapon, when it was feeding it tended to gather sticks and crap.

Granted, I switched over to the 100 round boxes when London Bridge came out with the pouches and soft box that attaches to the weapon. It's a lot cleaner and easier to manage, but the reloads are not as fast.

[godfather]

I agree but you don't have to take it off mate, you just break the links. Sometimes in MOUT you see ammo worn like this. The idea is they don't get dirty enough to cause a stoppage and they are faster to get into the gun.

[godfather]

Sh1t, you beat me to it Match :)

[Baboonass]

Sh1t, you beat me to it Match :)


LOL.

Here's a pic.

1200 rounds of link, yaa hoo.

I was 22 then, I got a lot smarter about how many rounds I personally carried as I got older. Around 30 I was only carring 800-600.

[Sabre]

Fair one about breaking the link, obviously you'd have to break it up anyway.

"With a loop of 200, load!" doesn't really work... :D

Still, it's not terribly practical when crawling along the ranges in Brecon. DS solution is always a pouch or daysack for any ammo, though I've found down the front of my smock works well too.



(Also, it just wouldn't do to appear too American, now would it?)

[Sabre]

LOL.

Here's a pic.

1200 rounds of link, yaa hoo.

I was 22 then, I got a lot smarter about how many rounds I personally carried as I got older. Around 30 I was only carring 800-600.

Good stuff! Hey, I'm 22 and I've already learned less is more!

[Baboonass]

Here's the box set up.

[CPL Trevoga]

^No need to be c*cky, the bloke obviously can't afford a daysack and is happy to deal with stoppages caused by damaged link or kinked belt and doesn't mind half a pound of dirt going through the working parts for every 200 rounds...

Seriously though, put your link in a pouch/daysack people. It's just good drills. What's he going to do when the gunner needs more link and the rounds are zipping past? He'll have to put his weapon down, stick his head and arm up to get the link off him, then pass it over before being back in the fight. If it's in a pouch, then it's easier to get. If it's in a daysack then it keeps the rounds clean and organised.
(back on topic) Nice photos by the way!

Believe me dude, they stress the same a lot in infantry school, Fleet, but some dudes just like wearing it Rambo style, it's sort of fashion accessory I would say.

[Baboonass]

Believe me dude, they stress the same a lot in infantry school, Fleet, but some dudes just like wearing it Rambo style, it's sort of fashion accessory I would say.


Obviously the Marines are going to have a different way, and standard of managing this.

Typically you guys work in teams, with NSW, it's an individual weapon.

Anyway, there was a time when there just wasn't any other way to carry all of this link. I used 1 quart canteen pouches and sewed on fastex buckles to the top, but there would only be enough room for 600 rounds if you really squeezed them around your waist, (with all of the other 2nd line gear). I tried the 2 quart canteen pouches but they just sucked all around for carring link. Predator packs seemed novel, untill you had to hump all of your link on your back, or had a stoppage and couldn't get to your link without taking off your pack or having someone help you.

The "frito bandito" look had it's ups and downs. It was easy to get link fast, and distributed the weight really well, but it conducted heat away from you when it got cold, it was shinny, hard to jettison if you went in the drink, got caught up in the rest of your gear, and hung off your gun which really sucked when running around.

It really does depend on your situation.

What do the Marines issue to carry link?

[Sabre]

It's a bit tricky trying to cram it all in your belt kit. I can fit around 100rds in the PLCE mag pouches. I've got three of them on my left and one big empty utility pouch on the right that can squeeze another 250-300 in. After that it goes in my daysack. You just work on the basis that you'll either form a baseline in cover or have broken contact by the time 600+ rounds have gone down range and have time to get at your daysack. Although it is an individual weapon in the light role, the other blokes usually carry some spare link just in case.

[wamp]

Obviously the Marines are going to have a different way, and standard of managing this.

Typically you guys work in teams, with NSW, it's an individual weapon.

Anyway, there was a time when there just wasn't any other way to carry all of this link. I used 1 quart canteen pouches and sewed on fastex buckles to the top, but there would only be enough room for 600 rounds if you really squeezed them around your waist, (with all of the other 2nd line gear). I tried the 2 quart canteen pouches but they just sucked all around for carring link. Predator packs seemed novel, untill you had to hump all of your link on your back, or had a stoppage and couldn't get to your link without taking off your pack or having someone help you.

The "frito bandito" look had it's ups and downs. It was easy to get link fast, and distributed the weight really well, but it conducted heat away from you when it got cold, it was shinny, hard to jettison if you went in the drink, got caught up in the rest of your gear, and hung off your gun which really sucked when running around.

It really does depend on your situation.

What do the Marines issue to carry link?

Alot of 240 gunners carried their links in either pouches or in a small daypack of sorts, just depended on what unit you were in. Some Marines would use the pouch that the saw box mags would come in and fold them in there. Of course you would always have the guy that had them on his chest rambo style. Every unit had "that guy"

[CPL Trevoga]

Obviously the Marines are going to have a different way, and standard of managing this.

Typically you guys work in teams, with NSW, it's an individual weapon.

The "frito bandito" look had it's ups and downs. It was easy to get link fast, and distributed the weight really well, but it conducted heat away from you when it got cold, it was shinny, hard to jettison if you went in the drink, got caught up in the rest of your gear, and hung off your gun which really sucked when running around.

What do the Marines issue to carry link?

If MG team gets attached out, they spread the ammo load with the squad they attached too. Everybody gets a box of 200, mg guys would carry the most, all depends on the mission. I'm not sure that there are "special" ammo carrying equipment, it's usually "dumpstuffinyourasspack"

[godfather]

I'm sure these guys have more recent knowledge than I do. The 100 rnd boxes came in a bullsh1t pouch with a long strap. On a field patrol we had 100 on the gun, a few 100 in a SAW pouch on the 782 belt, and a few boxes slung. The AG carried a sh1tload more and better be Johnny on the spot to make sure your gun never went dry or was reloaded asap.

[Baboonass]

If MG team gets attached out, they spread the ammo load with the squad they attached too. Everybody gets a box of 200, mg guys would carry the most, all depends on the mission. I'm not sure that there are "special" ammo carrying equipment, it's usually "dumpstuffinyourasspack"


LOL, same with NSW as far as everyone carring the extra rounds.

I can see why a Marine MG gunner or assistant gunner would want to bandolier rounds then. If there isn't a practical way to carry link and you need to have rounds fast, this is the fastest and most effective method.


The 100 round link pouches are the bees knees, (LBTC).

You just need to tape up the cardboard boxes a bit and fashion a handle out of the tape to pull it out of the pouch.

[godfather]

When we are in a MOUT environment we went Poncho Villa style :)

[Geezah]

I'm 22

You're kidding aren't you, I was for sure you were older than that, you just come across as being older?

[Devastator]

Cool pictures... I really like 'em...

[Con-man]

Nice going mate, these pics are definately worth saving to my Iraq collection.

[Sabre]

You're kidding aren't you, I was for sure you were older than that, you just come across as being older?

Well, I'm old in terms of mp.net! I'm sure I said how old I was when I started to post here.

[Geezah]

Well, I'm old in terms of mp.net! I'm sure I said how old I was when I started to post here.

I can't remember you mentioning your age until this thread. Don't take it as a knock though, you're 22 but you have a world of knowledge and experience. I just assumed(you know what happens there) you were older than me ;)

Wish I was 22 again, thems were the days, Camden Palace on a friday night, back when it was Orange and Chris Paul was the man in charge:)

[Sabre]

F***in hell mate, no need to start swinging the lantern! :D

Well, what I lack in experience I make up with....well not enthusiasm.....hmmm...




.....give me a minute here....











.....well, I'll get back to you when I've thought of something!

[lrrps]

Vietnam? :)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/ColonialMarine/IRAQ/Sandbox%20III/Marines_in_Iraq_15.jpg

Desert Marpat in Vietnam, you must be kidding.

[godfather]

Desert Marpat in Vietnam, you must be kidding.

So tell me, does a blinding flash of the obvious hurt?

[USMC Tanker]

Desert Marpat in Vietnam, you must be kidding.

This may be a giant leap in academic greatness, but I do believe that he is referring to, rather sarcastically, the manner in which this Marine is wearing his ammo belts, similar to the way grunts used to do it in Vietnam.

Just wild guess though!

[Baboonass]

LOL.

You guys are mean.

[godfather]

We're mean? Dude, dont even start.................YOUR mean!

[Baboonass]

We're mean? Dude, dont even start.................YOUR mean!


No, I'm straight forward and honest, these days precieved as a bad thing.

I'm the Simon Cowl of MP.net.

[Hollis]

Damn boots always fighting over the obvious. :bash:

[HorrigEn]

This may be a giant leap in academic greatness, but I do believe that he is referring to, rather sarcastically, the manner in which this Marine is wearing his ammo belts, similar to the way grunts used to do it in Vietnam.

Just wild guess though!

Exactly....