Anyone ever drive a tank?

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S

SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
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If so, what kind? How was it? Did you feel powerful as hell? Were you ever in one when an enemy shell smashed into it, but bounced (or else you would very likely be dead)? If so, how was it? Was it some huge jolt as the kinetic energy from the round slammed into the tank, or is the tank so massive you just heard the "ping" from the bounce, felt very little, and carried on?

I would LOVE to drive a tank one day, even more so do some combat in one. Tanks are my fave.

Thanks!
 
Captante

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
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Driven a medium sized bulldozer ... that's about as close as I've gotten.
 
Dr. Detroit

Dr. Detroit

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2004
8,547
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Sorta - M113 A2 and M113 A3. Armored personnel carriers - so no turret.

The A3 was much faster and had a yoke versus the A2 with twin sticks. Drifting them on tank trails was fun. Tracked vehicles stop on a fuckin dime.

Gotta be careful or your crew will have a headache!
 
pcgeek11

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
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Captante said:
Care to elaborate further?
Click to expand...


OK.

20 year career in the US Navy Submarine Service. One of the first jobs assigned when coming aboard is in the Seaman gang. They have many duties aboard one of them is Helmsman and Planesman driving the submarine ( controlling the course and angles ) using the planes and rudder.

Later in my career I was qualified as the Chief of the Watch who controls the ballast control for the ship and later the Diving Officer whom is in charge of the Helmsman and Planesman...

Once on a dependents cruise my wife even got to drive in the Helmsman Position for about 15 minutes... of course with a qualified person supervising.

It is somewhat like flying a plane by gauges as you can't see anything.
 
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Captante

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
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pcgeek11 said:
OK.

20 year career in the US Navy Submarine Service. One of the first jobs assigned when coming aboard is in the Seaman gang. They have many duties aboard one of them is Helmsman and Planesman driving the submarine ( controlling the course and angles ) using the planes and rudder.

Later in my career I was qualified as the Chief of the Watch who controls the ballast control for the ship and later the Diving Officer whom is in charge of the Helmsman and Planesman...

Once on a dependents cruise my wife even got to drive in the Helmsman Position for about 15 minutes... of course with a qualified person supervising.

It is somewhat like flying a plane by gauges as you can't see anything.
Click to expand...


Awesome! :cool:

I'd love to drive a submarine


Thanks for your service!
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

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May 24, 2003
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Never did but it would be fun! Come to think of it even just operating heavy equipment would be fun. When I buy an off grid property I'll get my chance.
 
IronWing

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
73,072
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pcgeek11 said:
OK.

20 year career in the US Navy Submarine Service. One of the first jobs assigned when coming aboard is in the Seaman gang. They have many duties aboard one of them is Helmsman and Planesman driving the submarine ( controlling the course and angles ) using the planes and rudder.

Later in my career I was qualified as the Chief of the Watch who controls the ballast control for the ship and later the Diving Officer whom is in charge of the Helmsman and Planesman...

Once on a dependents cruise my wife even got to drive in the Helmsman Position for about 15 minutes... of course with a qualified person supervising.

It is somewhat like flying a plane by gauges as you can't see anything.
Click to expand...
Movie and TV subs have giant picture windows. The Navy should build subs like Dr. Nemo’s. They’d be the badass Navy.
 
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mopardude87

mopardude87

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2018
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A Cat 777D is as far as i got to a tank, i never got to drive but sat in the seat. I applied to be a operator but tons of highwalls and stuff and much rain made it impossible to work. I didn't land that job but i did get basic safety certification which is prob expired or not valid in this state perhaps as its been 4 years. I was hyped about the idea of driving such a beast. Scary thing is how quickly you could get yourself killed if this thing decides to flip over.


 
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Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
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Captante said:
Awesome! :cool:

I'd love to drive a submarine


Thanks for your service!
Click to expand...

Reminds me, I need to watch Down Periscope again. All of my Navy buddies say it's the most accurate representation of what actually goes on in sub culture lol.

 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,798
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Red Squirrel said:
Never did but it would be fun! Come to think of it even just operating heavy equipment would be fun. When I buy an off grid property I'll get my chance.
Click to expand...

A couple of my buddies have Farmall tractors. Pretty cool to work on & ride on. You can pick them up used (I'm talking like 70 years old) for a couple grand off Craigslist, fix them up, and put them to work!

 
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Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
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Kaido said:
A couple of my buddies have Farmall tractors. Pretty cool to work on & ride on. You can pick them up used (I'm talking like 70 years old) for a couple grand off Craigslist, fix them up, and put them to work!

Click to expand...

Yeah that would be a fun project. I really want to get more into mechanical stuff, but I just don't have the room on this current property. Garage is way too small and no room to expand.
 
Captante

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
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Kaido said:
Reminds me, I need to watch Down Periscope again. All of my Navy buddies say it's the most accurate representation of what actually goes on in sub culture lol.

Click to expand...

Never seen that actually ... need something to watch.

My favorite sub-movie to this point however is


 
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pcgeek11

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
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Kaido said:
Reminds me, I need to watch Down Periscope again. All of my Navy buddies say it's the most accurate representation of what actually goes on in sub culture lol.

Click to expand...


Well in my defense being underwater for extended periods of time will make you a little crazy.
 
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J

JPS35

Senior member
Apr 9, 2006
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pcgeek11 said:
OK.

20 year career in the US Navy Submarine Service. One of the first jobs assigned when coming aboard is in the Seaman gang. They have many duties aboard one of them is Helmsman and Planesman driving the submarine ( controlling the course and angles ) using the planes and rudder.

Later in my career I was qualified as the Chief of the Watch who controls the ballast control for the ship and later the Diving Officer whom is in charge of the Helmsman and Planesman...

Once on a dependents cruise my wife even got to drive in the Helmsman Position for about 15 minutes... of course with a qualified person supervising.

It is somewhat like flying a plane by gauges as you can't see anything.
Click to expand...
How long was the average deployment and what is it like living in a tin can underwater for several months at a time? I've often heard people who serve on submarines are not quite right in the head.
 
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