Recent content by RetPara

The TOW Mule was not a real long lived weapon system.... When I got to the 82nd in '79 one of the AT Plt Sgt's in my Bn had a picture of one in his Plt CP. While the Corp went to the M151 in the late 70's it was about that time the Army started to phase out the last of the Mules in Abn units...

Bils AT system... same folks that gave us the Carl Gustav RR that the Rangers use. The corkscrew effect is normal right after a ATGM launch. No matter how much you train the gunner, there will be a couple of seconds the back-blast of the launch will wipe obscure the sight picture. After the...

Trivia.... The Mohawk was originally designed as a ground attack aircraft for COIN back in the 50's. The USAF blew a gasket and major lube over the Army flying an armed fixed wing bird. Per the Key West Agreement of 1949 (?) the Air Force got fixed wing and the Army got rotors. Last of 'em...

The trikes were used by Air Force CCT and Army Rangers. Most of the racks used today on ATV's for weapons and such are direct descendent's. The trikes were phased out as more upgraded M151's and Land Rover Defenders came on the scene. The current ATV's are used a lot in A'stan right now...

Small point of order... The comment 'the more I drive it; the better it runs'... is dead on. Most military vehicles are hanger queens compared to civilian made vehicles. The best example of maintaining by driving was when I had a section with a M113, M109, CUCV blazer, and a deuce. Once I...

Thank y'all for the welcome. At the VA, I'm in HR. In the Army I was MI weenie, mostly with Abn units. Had all three colors of berets before I pulled the plug. If y'all have questions on equipment ask away.

Retired from the Army after 17 years AD and 4 years AD in the Marines. Now living in Michigan. Moved up here after we retired from Fort Bragg so my daughter wouldn't meet someone like me. Now work (?) for the VA in PDRA2.