"TCBF thanks a lot for the info....I was looking thru the B-GL last night at work and it didn't have exactly what I am looking for."
- The response that is bound to elicit from other NCO's is: "Uh-oh, what part did you BREAK or LOSE?"
;D
The situation: Tank Commanders Course 8502, CTC, NB. I am coming off sentry at 0300. It is early Dec in Gagetown, 2 feet (+) of snow, and cold. Mother nature calls. "Dang" I say, and walk around to the back of the Leo to pull the tail-tape out of the Tk/Inf telephone box. I pull on the latch - the box does not open.
I pull harder - two hands: no go.
This is serious: it is keeping me from doing my business, and sleep.
I slip one of the elongated holes of the top bar of the SMG butt over the tel box handle, and use the SMG as a pry bar - it works. I grab the tail-tape and snowshoe deeper into the harbour.
Come daylight, before I mount, I try to fold the stock of the SMG (19" folded - 27" extended, remember?).
I can't. It is bent. A lot. An AWFUL LOT.
I tie it up with 80 lb test cord from inside my helmet, and see the gun plumber at the next rolling replen. "I have a problem" I say.
"What?" he asks. I show him.
"Did you get that caught in the turret?" (meaning while traversing - an automatic charge) he asks.
"No" I said, "Even better..." I explained the sit. "Keep it hid until maintenance afternoon, and I will put on a new butt then" he said.
And I did.
And he did.