These videos from the 40s are extremely informative and easy for anyone to understand. Fascinating stuff and well worth watching. @Turtledude @Talon @ButterBalls @Steve N
I understood the fundamentals of 90% of this but these videos have a way of breaking it down so simply using a model, that even people who have no clue about guns can watch these videos and walk away having a very good understanding of their operation. They really are simple machines using a series of genius steps. Truly works of art if you are remotely mechanically inclined and appreciates such things. But if you don't see them as the tools they are you will probably be repulsed by such information.
Yep. That's how they work. No mention of Gatling guns though, although even they share the same principles and ammo.
They do not teach them the finer aspects of the operating systems. I didn't mention you because of course I know you already know all of this like the back of your hand....
So you really think the army is turning out gunsmiths and they teach them about every mechanical aspect of every operating system? Like they teach this to every grunt? Find me a modern video made public about it and make a believer of me.
I'd be surprised if they did not show such videos, be they new or old, to all grunts. People DO learn stuff in the military. I'll let some of our younger vets weigh in on the matter. When do you suppose they stopped the training? Whether I am right or wrong, they were good videos nonetheless. People spoke differently back then, and even in the 60s. Its American accent, but different.
Interesting - here's a little trivia to boot: Since I've had some interaction with these folks I couldn't help but notice the insignia in the background at the beginning of the film: Here's their full logo - the bomb and flame is located above the crossed-cannons at top: I don't know where the Ordnance Corps was based in the 1940s but today it operates out of Fort Bragg-Adams (formerly Fort Lee) in Virginia along with the USA Quartermaster and Transportation Corps. The Army Sustainment (Logistics) University is also located at Fort Bragg-Adams: https://alu.army.mil This is what separates a first class military like our own from a second and third rate force such as the Russian Army. A lot of people have wondered why the Russkies didn't roll over the Ukrainians in 2022, and what passes as "logistics" in Putin's amateurish, conscript army that doesn't have a professional NCO corps is one of the main reasons why. A couple of years ago Brad Lendon wrote an excellent article about Russia's piss poor logistics abilities, and this is a problem that was also on display during their 2008 invasion of Georgia: What images of Russian trucks say about its military’s struggles in Ukraine https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/14/europe/ukraine-war-russia-trucks-logistics-intl-hnk-ml/index.html LOL - My favorite pic: It's real easy to overlook its importance, but the old military maxim "An army marches on its stomach", attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte and Frederick the Great of Prussia, is testimony to the central role logistics has played in warfare since the dawn of History. A first rate military such as our own can conduct two wars at the same time on the other side of the planet while a crap army such as Russia's can barely manage one conflict on the other side of its own border. Needless to say, if you can't get soldiers, weapons, ammo, comms, fuel, food and other supplies to the battle front in an effective manner, you're going to fail in war. Remember when the Russkies got stuck in a 40 mile traffic jam during their failed attempt to take Kiev? LOL "Amateurs talk strategy. Professionals talk logistics." -- General Omar Bradley
another point-something I have read numerous times and then confirmed by my nephew who is a LtC in the US Special Forces and former XO for the SF in Afghanistan he noted that the difference between the SF as well as the Rangers (where he did three mideast combat tours) and the Russian Spetsnaz is that while the Russian soldiers are very good, they are not trained to operate independently. so if a platoon of Spetsnaz loses its NCO they are far less effective than a green beret platoon in the same position. My nephew noted he prided his organization on teaching its operatives to function independently if needed.
Yup, and the rigid structure also explains why the Russians have lost so many senior and general officers in Ukraine - they have to be up front in person in order to direct their units, which exposes them to enemy fire. I can't believe I'm citing an article from this publication, but the author provides a nice primer that explains why our military embraces tactical flexibility and the Russians don't: Quick Explainer: Why doesn't the Russian Army have "real" NCOs (Sergeants)? https://www.dailykos.com/stories/20...n-t-the-Russian-Army-have-real-NCOs-Sergeants It's kinda funny - a lot of the problems with the Russian army were exposed during the 2008 invasion of Georgia, but none of the problems got fixed, which is why the Russkies have underperformed so badly in Ukraine. Putin has been fond of developing flashy weapons systems that make great headlines and get his flying Internet monkeys to beat their chests, but he hasn't done jack to improve the ordinary, fundamental aspects of his army that aren't sexy, and a lot of Russian soldiers have gotten killed on account of the negligence of their civilian leadership.
