I'm pretty sure the straight M109 had only the manual rammer and the hydraulic one was an M109A1 addition, could be wrong though.

Hi fellas,
Can anyone provide me with some good photos of a straight M109 interior as used in Vietnam?
Pleeeease?
And what was the colour of the interior?
Joe.

Hi Gary,
If you can get a few good shots of the M109 interior at Ft. Sill I'll buy you a beer, my friend!
I'd like to make this M109 model as perfectly as I can but I need to see what's inside & what isn't.
BTW, can you remember the markings on the M109 you worked on in Vietnam?
Mabye I'll be able to pay you a little homage & model yours!
Joe.

Hi fellas,
I just thought I'd share with you that I have aquired the Real Model Engine Set for the M109 (#RMA 35032) which comes with a lot more bits & pieces than the CMK offering. You get the main engine like the CMK kit but you also get a complete resin top hull replacement, engine compartment covers, along with batteries & battery compartment covers so you can model much more detail & show off even more interior than you otherwise could. The standard of casting & detail appears to be excellent & will make a fine addition to this great model.
Now all I need is the M109G barrel (with muzzle brake this time!) & 155mm ammunition.
I will probably get 2 or 3 sets of the Verlinden 155mm ammo but also the Legend 155mm ammo sets as you get 30 rounds with the Legend offering. This way I'll be able to have lots of ammo on the dio. Somebody once said "you can never have enough ammo!". I can use the Verlinden sets in the foreground as they come with decals & will be more detailed & then use the Legend sets toward the rear where detail is less of a problem. What do you think?
Was there ever a maximum amount of ammo that could be stored in a semi permanent firing position in Vietnam?
Thanks guys.
Joe.

Hi Gary,
I'd love to see a photo of you way back then! I look forward to you sending it over.
Thanks Gino, for the pointer. I'll check the site out this evening.
All the best guys.
Joe.

some questions I've been meaning to ask for a good while on this ammunition set.
* the over all shape of the round dosn't look right. A regular 98lb. HE projo
does not have the undercut in the middle O.D. like the ones in the picture has.
Perhaps an optical illusion?
* In Vietnam from early 1968 and later all 155 ammo (HE) has a white nylon
wiper band right below the brass driving band. These wipers (I cannot think of
a better wording) were to actually clean the barrel I.D.. They came off almost
as soon as the round left the barrel, and you'd see them laying on the ground
out in front of the gun
* is the decale sheet dated? And are there lot numbers on it? Also did the kit
come with the sheet metal bands that were installed to protect the driving
bands?
gary

P.S. love the jeep in the crate!!!!

Quoted Text

---

some questions I've been meaning to ask for a good while on this ammunition set.
* the over all shape of the round dosn't look right. A regular 98lb. HE projo
does not have the undercut in the middle O.D. like the ones in the picture has.
Perhaps an optical illusion?
* In Vietnam from early 1968 and later all 155 ammo (HE) has a white nylon
wiper band right below the brass driving band. These wipers (I cannot think of
a better wording) were to actually clean the barrel I.D.. They came off almost
as soon as the round left the barrel, and you'd see them laying on the ground
out in front of the gun
* is the decale sheet dated? And are there lot numbers on it? Also did the kit
come with the sheet metal bands that were installed to protect the driving
bands?
gary

P.S. love the jeep in the crate!!!!

---

the undercut is there it is a little overdone on the kit but it's there just below the shoulder of the projectile
the white band is not for cleaning the barrel, it the obturation ring it creates obturation.
and the kit comes with the plastic grommets around the driving band.
p.s. did you say you loaded and fired 9 rounds in 55 seconds from a 155mm seperate loaded howitzer?

p.s. did you say you loaded and fired 9 rounds in 55 seconds from a 155mm seperate loaded howitzer?

Guys,
During a lull between fire missions was there a set number of 155mm shells that would be fuzed & ready to use for the next fire mission?
And would they be lined up & ready to hand to the loader inside the vehicle when the call came in?
Joe.

Quoted Text

---

p.s. did you say you loaded and fired 9 rounds in 55 seconds from a 155mm seperate loaded howitzer?

---

If he was on a combat mission, it's theoretically possible. You'd have to assume that time started just as the tail was pulled on the first round, giving you 55 seconds to fire eight round, or about seven seconds per. Now, assuming you don't swab the barrel (and honestly you don't always have to, as when you check for "bore clear" you can see if there any burning embers or not. Usually...) you can save several seconds there. Next, assume the chief IS NOT plaving a gunner's quadrant on the breech block each time to get a precise quadrant measurement. At times, if the elevation bubble even begins to float toward the center, it's good enough. (The benefit of an area weapon) That'll save a tiny bit of time for each projo as well.

Watch this video comparison showing a Paladin gunner and the auto loader on the Crusader. Quite compelling. Now, the number one man does seem aa tad slow at times, but during a normal fire mission when you do EVERYTHING by the book, it's pretty close. As I said, they could go faster. Nine rounds in 55 seconds is humping, but if you're tryng to save someone else's @$$...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bjcHqqema0

Fellas,
Yet again, some amazing anecdotes. I'm getting a real feel of how things were done. I'm guessing that it was back breaking work with those 155 shells & I can imagine that you did become like a robot after firing over & over again.
Gary, was that first night of Tet '68 your busiest ever night during your tour? How long were you firing for? I mean, was it all night?
Was there an average time of a fire mission? Roughly?
And what helicopters were used for the resupply? Was it the CH-47?
Joe.

For the record,
Remember that I said that the Barrel Depot M109G metal barrel turned up from redfroghobbies without the muzzle brake?
Well, Ron at redfroghobbies resolved the issue in very short order & got me a replacement barrel here to the UK from the US in no time at all!
I really must recommend redfroghobbies exceptional customer services & would recomend redfroghobbies to any AFV modeller. Well done!!!
Thanks for all your help, Ron.
Joe.