Life of a Cdn Leo Driver

[Gunslinger668]

Last photo of my tank before handing it off to get flat-bedded back to base. Everytime a course ends and you gotta leave your vehicle, there is always a bit of grief. Tanks require so much care and maintence that it is easy to get attached to them.


The world through thermal

[Gunslinger668]

My home for the last 2 and a half weeks, the inside of the M113A3 TLAV, this is an older photo, the new ones have no turret as it is replaced by the RWS


What has been my kitchen, washroom, bathroom, rec room, and bedroom the last 2 and a half weeks. I was driving for a Sargeart Major during a Combat Team Commanders Course.


A Combat Team is made up of usually 1x Squardon of tanks with Echelon, 1x Infantry Coy, Artillery and Enginner assets. We also had 2x Griffion Helicotpers for Recon, along with a Chinook and an Aurora Airplane.

[Gunslinger668]

C Squardon, Royal Canadian Dragoons moving through a Rolling Replen, or "Romeo Romeo". All support vehicles are placed in a line and the tanks then roll though to be resuppled in Diesel, Water, Rations, and Ammo. This is done at an extremely fast pace.

[Asid]

Excellent photos as usual Gunslinger.

I have said it before but i will say it again. These pictures really bring a personal/more immersive feeling to this post because we know one of our friends is behind the lens and loves what he does. Which shows in your posts.

Thanks

[Gunslinger668]

You know your on excerise with the Van Doos when they bring a poutine tent, haha



For you non-Chucks, poutine is fries covered in gravy and cheese curds

[Gunslinger668]

I took this video during the last excerise. It was a demo Combat Team level attack done on an enemy position. The phase I recorded was the immediate support phase. Up to that point, the first wave of tanks had just breached the enemy minefield on the left flank and then assaulted into the enemy position by driving though it and destroying any hardpoints (dug in IFVs, surviving tanks, bunkers) that had not been knocked out by artillery, airstrikes, and support for the firebase 2 kilometers away. At this point, the infantry have just hit the objective and are dismounting and getting behind the tanks. The tanks will then roll at a walking pace while the infantry clear any trenches and forifications with rocket launchers, grenades, bullets, bayonets and harsh language.

The LAVs while also use their main guns, 25mm bushmasters, to keep any enemy infantry suppressed. The helicopters are mainly putting on a show at this point, however, about 10 km behind us, two where hovering and using thermal and FLIR cameras to covered the direction of the enemy so they can warn of any counter moves or counter attacks so the combat team can then reorientate and defend.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSDmKlZeLDE&feature=youtu.be

[Lusik]

Nice natural camouflage in the top Leo picture. 

[Asid]

Nice video Gunslinger

Don't think much of the chips, cheese n gravy lolol

[Gunslinger668]

As you guys have probably noticed, I haven't posted much lately due to Christmas Break, a lot of extra work at the Sqn, and my luck of being loaded on a Leopard 2 Crew Commander Gunnery Course. I'm just putting this in to let you guys know that more pictures will follow in the future and hopefully (if I can swing it) some awesome videos via GoPro from inside and outside the Leopard for the range portion.

[Asid]

Great news Gunslinger. i am looking forward to your posts. They add the personal touch with "real" pictures.

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Regards

[Lusik]

Thanks for an update Gunslinger. It would be great to see a video too. Just as Asid mentioned, seeing pictures from somebody I know makes them a bit more personal.

[Gunslinger668]

A look inside the walls of the Royal Canadian Armoured School where I am currently undergoing training as a Crew Commander for the Leopard 2A4, A4M, and A6M

A reminder of the three characteristics of Armour



What would become the tank as envisioned by daVinci

[Asid]

Nice pictures Gunslinger. I especially like the top one.

Regards

[Gunslinger668]

This is one of our cut-down turret trainers. It have all the working parts of a real turret. When a round is loaded and fired, it is pushed out the tube and rolls into a small basket to simulate real fire.





Another trainer, it is actually a 100% real Leopard 2A4 turret.

[Asid]

This is one of our cut-down turret trainers. It have all the working parts of a real turret. When a round is loaded and fired, it is pushed out the tube and rolls into a small basket to simulate real fire.

This is what we all need. One of these at home. Does it come in kit form?

How many hours have you logged in one of these Gunslinger?

Thanks for posting