ACR thread, as suggested by Redleg

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 1:29 am

I finished 2nd and 4th tank platoons. Now I just need to finish 3rd scout platoon and do something with the dismounts. I think I'll try the BDU pattern one more time on them.

All troopers in my ACR wear leather boots and they shone them every day!

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 1:43 am

Lookin' good, Redleg. What? No Dehner tankers' boots?

Hoth_902 · Post by **Hoth_902** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 1:53 am

Redleg,

Great work. I would love to post my Armored Cav units but I am in the process of a move. Mine are in Desert colors, so they are not as exciting as your camo ones.

sneaky pete · Post by **sneaky pete** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 8:02 am

Redleg,
I was also in a BRT back in 02-04... D troop 9 Cav, 2BCT, 1 CAV Div. Real Cav in the big Cav. We had our COLTs sliced from the Arty BN to us but then we were administratively placed under them to free up the BDE CDR. Our Troop CDR was trying to be our own RISTA troop before it was a thing, we had the COLTs, Scouts, Ground Surveillance Radars, and JTACs all together when we went to the field, but when we went into Iraq everyone else stayed with their parent unit and we just ran missions in our own sector. I had a great time being in a BRT. 14 Gun trucks,a couple of admin humvees and an LMTV.
If you aint Cav you aint $h**!!!
Scouts out,
Dan

Guroburov · Post by **Guroburov** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:18 pm

Good looking armor, Redleg. You ought to cross post those in show us your stuff.

-Steve

Cav Dog · Post by **Cav Dog** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 9:24 pm

Redleg, great looking Cavalry!

I'm still trying to find the documents I have, (had?)...

Gator pretty much nailed it though on the J series TO&E. The only thing I saw that was different was that there were two mortar tracks in each troop. I also don't recall seeing any 577s at troop level, but that is probably because they were buried in the tangled blob of 577s, HMMVs, antennas and generators buried under a canopy of camo nets that was the Squadron TOC. Even though it was not organic, there usually was a M981 FISTV someplace close to the Troop Commander.

Here is Lightning Troop, 3/3 ACR:

Here are some infantry sections in chocolate chip desert BDUs:

And some infantry sections in woodland BDUs:

Hoth_902 · Post by **Hoth_902** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 9:41 pm

Ok, Before I go any further, I want to say thanks to redleg for the idea and Panzergator for putting together and the data Dump. I love this topic. Lots of good data and vehicle pics. I love Armor Cav units every since I read Tom Clancy's Armored Cav book. Been hooked ever since. Keep posting guys. Hopefully after the move in October, I will break out my stuff and post as well.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 9:59 pm

Cavdog, yet right! I forgot the mortar tracks! And I should know better. The M577s may be wrong TOE.

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Sat Sep 15, 2018 12:29 am

Panzergator I'm trying to figure what came scheme that the Canadian army uses any thoughts?

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Sat Sep 15, 2018 12:51 am

Dont know. Google Canadian modern Army camouflage and call up the images, look for recent equipment.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Sat Sep 15, 2018 12:53 am

Hey Cav Dog, that troop looks awesome! I'm very impressed! How did you paint the woodland BDU pattern on your infantry? I've been wrestling with the BDU pattern for a while but I just can't get it right. I'm going to give it another go today.

I used the FMs that I had available for the troop org and I'm putting a TO&E document together to satisfy my own personal staff nerd urges. Everything says there was a M577 at the troop level, and I do recall that when we had a troop from DivCav attached to us in Iraq they brought an M577 with them, but I don't know what the hell they did with it. i saw it roll through the FOB gate and then I never saw it again!

When I was in a BRT we had a cargo HMMWV that we converted into a troop CP to collect all of the info from the scouts and OPs and then relay it up to the brigade TOC. Maybe it was used similar to that? I'll dig through the manuals and see if I can find anything.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Sat Sep 15, 2018 1:07 am

Hey Dan, those BRT days were good times! I was in B Troop / 9 CAV when they stood the BRT up so we just brought the Striker platoon over and we didn't have any scouts for a long time.

I am also going to make a confession to everyone on this forum: I got lost as the Striker PL once! I never got lost as a 2LT - it was later as a seasoned 1LT with the BRT that I got lost!

We were out at Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in BFE southern Colorado and my Striker teams were out in OPs. I was with a team, but at about 0200 I decided that I wanted to go back to the brigade TOC. No problem, I'll just walk."But sir, you don't have a map or PLGR or NVGs and it's 7 klicks in the dark". "Nonsense! That's a quick little walk for a professional soldier like me"!

About 0400 I got tired of wandering so I lay down next to a bush and went to sleep until the sun came up and I could find the TOC. Scary thing is that no one ever knew I was missing!

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Sat Sep 15, 2018 1:20 am

Jeez, first trip to Hohenfels I got lost every night. After that, it was "I know exactly where I am! I've been lost here before!

Anybody notice how terrain reads differently when contour intervals are in feet versus meters?

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Sat Sep 15, 2018 1:35 am

OK, so I checked FM 17-97 Cavalry Troop (1995), and it says that there is supposed to be a troop TOC. Page 2-27: â€œThe purpose of the troop tactical operations center (TOC) is to report information to the higher headquarters. The troop TOC is the critical link between squadron and troop. One of the primary purposes of the cavalry troop is to report, and the troop TOC is central to that function.â€

And donâ€™t forget the scary wild boars out in the forest at Hohenfels!

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Sat Sep 15, 2018 2:12 am

I always thought the reason for the M577 was to assist in control of platoons farther-flung and on different missions, along with troop mortars. Tank platoons in tank battalions work closer.

I once encountered a sow and her piglets crossing the tank trail at Graf. That animal was bigger 'n my M151. We remained at standoff range until she figgered I wasn't getting any closer and ambled off with the rest of her column. She could've taken us, easy. Fortunately, my unit maintained good trash discipline, never burying food in the AO, so never had the problem in laager. Always kept a weather eye out for the nearest tank back deck, though.