- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 60
I was on the DMZ in Korea when the Army decided to convert one of the 175mm Bns that we supported. I was in a DS Maintenance unit. We set up a small production line up out side with the new 8 inch long tubes on one side with a wrecker, and another wrecker on the other side to pull off the 175 tubes, and put them in there shipping boxes. Lined up 4 guns in a row and started unbolting stuff, then moved them in place, swapped the tubes, and moved them forward to have the equilibrator pressure lowered from 2,400 psi to around 1200 psi to to raise the much lighter 8 inch gun tube. The Equilibrators are the hydraulic devices that raise and lower the tube. They are charged with nitrogen gas to help lift the tubes faster.
I remember this well, since on the 1st conversion, they forgot to lower the nitrogen pressure. They pulled it into our little maintenance shop with a low tin room for some detailed work, and when they pulled the elevation lever, the tube went to full elevation in about 1 second with the 2,400 psi still on the cylinders. It was a sight with the gun tube sticking up through the roof. With all the turmoil this caused, we only completed 3 guns the first day, but did 5 the next day.
I remember this well, since on the 1st conversion, they forgot to lower the nitrogen pressure. They pulled it into our little maintenance shop with a low tin room for some detailed work, and when they pulled the elevation lever, the tube went to full elevation in about 1 second with the 2,400 psi still on the cylinders. It was a sight with the gun tube sticking up through the roof. With all the turmoil this caused, we only completed 3 guns the first day, but did 5 the next day.
