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On this day in 1945, 1st Bn Manchester Regiment was in action outside Rethem. It was, according to their CO, "an ideal Machine Gunners battle" and AFPU cameramen were there to capture it...
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Rather than being with the infantry brigades and battalions of 53rd (Welsh) Division, their usual practice, the Manchesters were under direct command of their own CO, Lt Col Bill Crozier.
He positioned #VickersMG and mortar platoons on the west bank of the River Aller.
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He positioned #VickersMG and mortar platoons on the west bank of the River Aller.
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The decision was sound, as the good positions and flat, open ground on the enemy held eastern side provided ideal conditions for supporting the advancing infantry.
Difficult to spot amidst the din and confusion of battle, the Vickers' beaten zones would become deadly.
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Difficult to spot amidst the din and confusion of battle, the Vickers' beaten zones would become deadly.
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Indirect fire with the #VickersMG (principles apply elsewhere though): First need to understand that in #VickersMG parlance: DIRECT fire is targets that can be seen from the gun position; INDIRECT fire is for targets that are obscured. Direct fire photos using tangent sight: 1/
A target could be obscured by the terrain (such as a hill, ridge or woodland); smoke or fog (possibly intentional) or the darkness of the night. The #VickersMG is laid on an 'aiming mark' and then that becomes its zero line. (Aussie aiming lamp vid: ) 2/
The instruments vary over time but the principles are the same: direction dial and elevating wheel; clinometer and bar foresight; dial sight. Only other change is the ammunition used (maybe another thread one day - Mk 7 v Mk 8z). 3/
The student rangetakers have learnt how to calculate their accuracy factors but now they move on to calculate consistency too. Do you know what the difference would be? This lecture explains it all, as well as the maths and r-squared in use again. How to divide by 10? 1/
We really hope you're enjoying learning how to use the rangefinder along with us. We're learning the complexities of the instrument as well as the technical information the soldier would have to know. 2/
These weren't officers or senior non-commissioned officers using this equipment, they were just privates or, at most, lance-corporals.
Please remember to like, subscribe and share the video as well as supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/vickersmg 3/
Please remember to like, subscribe and share the video as well as supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/vickersmg 3/
