Military Urban Legends

[Redeye]

Korus, the M72 is 66mm. I think that Old Guy might be thinking of the Blooper (M79) grenade launcher. it‘s a breech-loaded single shot 40mm grenade launcher.

I‘ve heard the same thing about used M72 tubes, and I don‘t suppose it‘s entirely impossible. Lobbing a 60mm mortar shell out of the tube wouldn‘t be especially accurate compared to a real mortar, but with enough bombs, it could be effective.

As for whether or not it‘s actually true, I can‘t say... nor can I find any reference to it that can be substantiated.

 

[Korus]

Whoops. I accidentaly wrote 62, I meant 66.

Actually, I also heard that mortar story the first time I was introduced to the M72, as a reason why you smash the tubes after firing it....

But I can‘t confirm it either.

 

[jrhume]

I did indeed confuse the M-79 and M-72. Sorry.

One thing I know for sure - the Soviet/Chicom mortars were 61mm and 82mm, and both could fire our ammo. I‘m sure the 1mm difference in bore caused accuracy problems, but the VC/NVA were not often looking for pinpoint accuracy anyhow.

Jim

 

[The_Falcon]

Just remembered another one. Does anyone know the reason why we stopped using (at least in my regiment) those cam sticks with the two different greens on either side. I heard that it was made with cancer causing materials. anyone know if this is true?

 

[scm77]

This could very well be true, but I‘m not positive. I read it on a website, it was about how close the iraqis were to the americans during the sandstorms.

An american tanker was firing at a group of Iraqis with the .50 cal machine gun. He ran out of ammuntion and as he started to reload one iraqi ran extremely close to the side of the road and started to aim his ak47. The soldier dumped out all of the ammo and through the metal box at the Iraqi, hitting him in the head and knocking him to the ground. He was then killed by someone in the next tank.

Don‘t know if it‘s true, but if it is that‘s awesome. :fifty:

 

[chrisf]

I‘ve heard the same regarding the cam sticks.

 

[Mike Bobbitt]

I‘ve also heard the "tank sinks on sleeping soldier" story, though it was from my father and apparently happened (more than once?) in Germany. I also remember hearing about a tracked vehicle convoy driving with one track in the ditch (traction? mine avoidance?) and going over at least one soldier who was sleeping by the side of the road. Apparently quite messy after the whole convoy was through.

I was pretty young, so these are not just probable war stories, they‘re poorly recalled war stories...

Edit: The cam stick story has to be false... Too many of us still around!

Reminds me of a true story though: When I was in Gagetown on ex, we entered an area that was marked off with warning signs (thank you Coy Comd for ignoring those!) Wasn‘t long before a chopper flew over us and sprayed us and the surrounding area with some sort of pesticide. A bunch of guys from my platoon (most of whom had eaten some berries ) ended up in the MIR.

 

[Pte. Bloggins]

Another one I‘ve heard is that CLP causes cancer (or some sort of kidney disease...different versions).

Anyone heard anything about this

 

[Korus]

I did indeed confuse the M-79 and M-72. Sorry.

Nothing to be sorry for!!!

As for the CLP causing kidney disease, just don‘t drink it.

 

[mattoigta]

what DOESNT cause cancer these days

 

[Korus]

My bubble. It‘s nice and safe in here.

 

[Spr.Earl]

Originally posted by Pte. Bloggins:
[qb] Another one I‘ve heard is that CLP causes cancer (or some sort of kidney disease...different versions).

Anyone heard anything about this [/qb]

There is partial truth in that one.
Many year‘s ago on civie street you could buy a gun cleaner called "Hops" and it was taken off the market because it had cancer causing agent‘s in it and CLP smell‘s identical to it,I at first thought CLP was HOPS as I kid I used it to clean my old 22‘s.

 

[Pte. Bloggins]

Originally posted by Korus:
[qb] As for the CLP causing kidney disease, just don‘t drink it. [/qb]

Uh-oh.

 

[Jeff Boomhouwer]

Remember the bug juice that was issued to us that was 99% DEET? Remember smearing it all over your body? I was doing my QL3 in Meaford and one of the guys in my shacks had a botle of this stuff leak out of his butt pack that was lying on the floor for the night. The next morning it turned the linolium floor into gel. Ever put that stuff onto the NBC paper(what is it called it escapes me?). According to it this stuff is a nerve agent. Too bad its out of the system, it worked great!

 

[Tyler]

Not really a rumour:

I saw quite a few burnt-out truck wrecks, one of which looked like an MLVW, in Petawawa south of the hand grenade range when I was there last weekend. Does anyone know what they are and how they got there?

 

[Pikache]

Originally posted by The_Falcon:
[qb] I have one. Scottish and Highland units that have Hackels (buncha feathers on stick behind the cap badge) on their balmorals. Some say it is to represent a lost battle or something dishonourable. Others say it is a good thing. Anyone know the truth? [/qb]

http://www.xenophongi.org/milhist/modern/unif4.htm
According to this site, all fusilier regiments wear a hackle... doesn‘t say why though.

On note of fusiliers,

Thus the first "fusiliers" were in regiments raised specifically for escorting the artillery train, and being close to the gunpowder, it was far safer to have a flintlock musket than the older matchlock musket with its burning fuse.

Interesting.

 

[Danjanou]

buncha feathers on stick

Oh that has just made my day

 

[prno]

What about Blue Eye‘s Grave in Meaford...

 

[alexk]

Originally posted by rhfc-prno:
[qb] What about Blue Eye‘s Grave in Meaford... [/qb]

My CQ told me that story when i was in meaford for an ftx this summer, it was hilarious it got all those little girls scared.

 

[alan_li_13]

What about Blue Eye‘s Grave in Meaford...

What are u guys talkin‘ about?
tell us, come on!!!