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Alexander
Heavy Horse Merc Brigade
Commanding Officer
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 828
Location: Canada
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 Posted: 06-Oct-2002 23:41 Post subject: So Very Cold! |
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The soldier's armoured squadron had deployed to the field late on friday night. The air was cold, and the wind carried a hint of snow. The soldier ignored it as he readied his vehicle for their upcoming operations. He was assigned as the commander of one of his troop's tanks, and as such, had much more pressing issues on his mind than the weather.
The soldier was the first one out of the outdoor compound, leading the entire squadron to the leaguer location where they would spend the night. The cold, night air whipped at his exposed skin, chilling him to the bone, as the tank sped off into the night. They occupied the leaguer by 01:30 hours and quickly set up the tents and sleeping gear they would need. The tank commanders all gathered together at the squadron commander's vehicle and were briefed on the tactical situation they would be faced with over the next two days.
The enemy's 6th Motor Rifle Division was preparing to mount offensive operations in the unit's area of responsibility, and had already placed platoon and section sized forces forward of their established borders inside friendly territory. The unit's mission: advance to contact, sweeping all enemy forces from the unit's assigned area.
The briefing finished, and the commanders all made their way to the tents, and tried to get as much rest as possible.
The commander awoke the next morning a few minutes before reville to the sound of something falling on his tent. He unzipped the door just enough to peer out and was shocked by what he saw. Snow! Everything was covered by snow. The vehicle crews awoke and quickly packed away all of their gear and started up their vehicles in order to prepare for the day's operations.
Once in the vehicle, the commander tried in vain to brush the snow away from his open hatch, however, the snow was falling too fast, maintaining a layer of white on top of the tank.
The soldier led his troop off to the attack position next, and the advance commenced. The entire Squadron advanced north into enemy held territory until the light began to give way, and the snow began to taper off. At that time the Squadron's supporting vehicles moved forward to resupply the hungry tanks. Once the vehicles were bombed up again, the soldier once again led his Squadron into a new leaguer position where they would spend the night, before awaking to do it all again the next day...
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So I went out on exercise with my unit this weekend. How amazing cold it was! It snowed all Saturday morning (to he point where we had white out conditions for almost 40 minutes!), before warming up just enought to melt the snow, causing all of the soldiers to get soaked to the skin!
It was my first exercise with my Regiment as a tank commander since I got my commander's course this summer. It was good to get out and be able to use the skills I had learned over the seven weeks.
Anyhow, I've just gotten back, and am very tired, and I have to work in the morning, so I'm going to head off to bed.
Alexander (Shivering Tanker!)
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War is God's way of teaching geography.
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Commanding Officer, North West Armoured Cavalry
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 07-Oct-2002 07:53 Post subject: RE: So Very Cold! |
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Snow?????? That's that white stuff that falls from the Heavens, right????
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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CO_17thRecon
Kell Hounds
Major
Joined: 10-Sep-2002 00:00
Posts: 1297
Location: United States
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| Posted: 07-Oct-2002 10:00 Post subject: RE: So Very Cold! |
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Well, so long as it's white snow... Better than the alternative!
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Jarylan Blackwell
"What the...?! Where did you get THAT?!"
"Creative aquisition."
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Ladyhawke
Clan Jade Falcon
Point Commander
Joined: 27-Sep-2002 00:00
Posts: 39
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| Posted: 07-Oct-2002 12:04 Post subject: RE: So Very Cold! |
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I like the snow....don't get much of it around here.
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Birds of a Feather
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Raven!
Clan Snow Raven
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1326
Location: United States
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| Posted: 07-Oct-2002 14:27 Post subject: RE: So Very Cold! |
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I thought of a question!!!!
Since when does canada have enough tanks to mount a training exercise? Or did you guys just drive around in Yugo's with cardboard on them to make them LOOK like a tank? 
Raven, pretending to be all innocent.... 
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 08-Oct-2002 07:50 Post subject: RE: So Very Cold! |
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I'll just sit here and watch as the Tanker runs over him with his 40 Ton Yugo.....Over and over.....
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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Alexander
Heavy Horse Merc Brigade
Commanding Officer
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 828
Location: Canada
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| Posted: 08-Oct-2002 22:20 Post subject: RE: So Very Cold! |
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I've actually had exercises where we're in Jeeps pretending to be tanks, and I've also, (once) spent an afternoon walking with two other guys pretending to be in a tank to practice hide routine! (That was kinda silly!)
Really though, we do have enough tanks to mount Squadron sized exercises at all of the major training areas nationwide (19 tanks in a Squadron, BTW). There are plans to move all of the Leopards in Canada (119...) to Wainwright giving us only one true Armoured Regiment, and two Armoured Recce Regiments in our Regular Forces.
Alexander (My government sucks!)
_________________
War is God's way of teaching geography.
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Commanding Officer, North West Armoured Cavalry
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 09-Oct-2002 07:34 Post subject: RE: So Very Cold! |
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It's better than letting them go to waste if you have too many.....
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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Alexander
Heavy Horse Merc Brigade
Commanding Officer
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 828
Location: Canada
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| Posted: 10-Oct-2002 00:20 Post subject: RE: So Very Cold! |
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That's definitely something we don't have to worry about up here!
Alexander (Sometimes the CF reminds me of Wilson's Hussars... a Veteran unit in decrepid machines!)
_________________
War is God's way of teaching geography.
*******
Commanding Officer, North West Armoured Cavalry
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