The "Electronic" Blue-Beret |
Notice articles for publication on our site are despretely needed to keep our site
worth visiting so if something that you might consider will make reasonable news
or just trigger a distant memory and maybe a chuckle or two, pop it in to me
at ozflea@bigpond.com.au and i'll add it to that weeks page. |
Week 45..........14-11-2003 |
 |
|
|
This Weeks News and Laugh's |
Eddie Power's Funeral Details;Service at 11.30am at the Maryborough Crematorium,
on Wednesday 19 Nov 03. 23 Squadron will be travelling to Maryborough by bus and giving Eddie a full Service Funeral (as he was the first RAAF WOD, and the WOD of 23 Squadron for many years as well and the MM winner).Eddie's son (Jim Power) has advised me that there are people coming from WA, Tas, Dar and Townsville and it looks like being bigger than Ben Hur.The address of the Crematorium is; Cr of Walker Street and the Bruce Highway.Any and all members are welcomed to attend by the Power family. RegardsTex |
Visit Our boy's in Iraq |
click the link above |
|
From the Webmasters Bunker |
|
Tony Whitting warthog@westnet.com.au Date: 06-Nov-2003 What a fantastic web site, I joined in 84 and left after my 6yr tenure, an ex adgie told me about the site and well here I am. The site has prompted me to start hunting through the old albums and see what photo's I can send to you guys. Not too sure if I can make it to the reunion, as over in the wild west enforcing the law, but who knows.. All the best with the site and reunion and remember "Who cares who wins!!" Dickie (ex 1 Rifle Flight Richmond) Thanks Tony for the compliments, And a warm welcome to your ADG cyber home. The Pom and the fellas. |
Ah memories, these fellas would appear outta no where with a hot cuppa and a bickie |
|
Part of the Pom's Vietnam Collection |
|
|
Remember this Chicky Babe Lorraine Desmond 1970 2 Sqn Phan - Rang and The Gordon Boyd Troop |
|
|
The count-down has started fellas |
Chopper Mail Postcard from the wild wild West |
Hey Pom, Ran into Barry Wanstall at Whitfords City yesterday. Barry Said he and his wife attended the Bruce Rock Vietnam Vets bash on the weekend. He said their was quite a few X RAAF vets there including ADG's, he mentioned Don Smithers, Stan Hull, Alan Giltrap. He said it was a really good function and that the church service in particular was very good also that the weekend was well organized. They all had there own accommodation and camped on the town oval and their was plenty of free booze on the Saturday night. I mentioned you and the web site and he said you were one of his ex troops. Barry and his wife both look well and in fact I was shocked when he told me he was now 67. See Yah Mick 8-11-2003 |
|
Would love a review of the weekend and some pic's if possible How about arranging this for me. Can some of thw WA fellas help in regards this story. The Pom |
|
|
ADGs hit the pits |
Race car driver Brad Jones meets Leading Aircraftman Ian McAllister and other members
of 1AFDS. Photo by LAC Mike Lucas |
V8 DRIVER Brad Jones has jumped aboard a No. 1 Airfield Defence Squadron gun buggy
to display his support for the forces. Brad and his pit crew took time out from their hectic race schedule to inspect the gun buggy and show some of the Airfield Defence Guards and Ground Defence Officers over his BA Falcon XR8 V8 Supercar. More than 20 personnel from 1AFDS were at the Adelaide track to talk about careers in the Air Force, particularly jobs in ground defence. |
|
10-4-2003..RAAF News |
Orange raid success |
Orange force 'water-tank' infiltrators - Back: LAC Chris Hay, LAC Geoffrey Bell,
FLGOFF Wayne Ross, LAC Craig Fitzgerald and LAC Damien O'Day. Front: LAC Ben Parkinson
and LAC Justin Abberton. |
A night attack on RAAF Tindal took place in the early hours of 28 August. Air Force
News' Amber McKinnon witnessed events first hand and provides a personal account
from a civilian perspective. Having spent a large and uncomfortable proportion of the night in a car, with two EXCON members, Flight Lieutenant Andrew Pickett and Warrant Officer Bob Dickson (who marvelled at the luxury we were enjoying?), Orange force as was outlined, were expected to attempt an infiltration at the RAAF Tindal water tank. In the cover of darkness, a small Orange troop would attempt to secure and detonate charges. And the purpose of the target - to disrupt the Base water supply for mock conflict resolution in Orange force favour. Given the nature of the scenario, phone calls are made between Orange force, EXCON and Blue Force; for Orange to inform of their potential success and for EXCON to relay to the Patrol point the mock explosion at the Base water supply… unless Blue catch them can catch them, that is. FLTLT Pickett, WOFF Dickson and I settled in for the impending action and long after explosion-fraught nightmares on my part, Orange come through to complete their mission at 0551 hours. We arrived on the scene and discovered the Quick Reaction force, which arrived at 0611 hours, scouting and securing the area. EXCON determined the explosive devices (card boxes) would have destroyed both pumps. The Damage Assessment Team (DAT), comprised of a work supervisor, plumber, electrician and plant operator, arrived at 0626 hours to complete a damage report for a 'call back' to the Operations Centre, who then send out a recovery team. The DAT turned in a redundancy plan that included Base water isolation, switching to town water, and calling on Environment Health to test the water for contamination, winding up at 0648 hours. In the event that EH clear the water supply for use, DAT can run the water to Base facilities at reduced volume and pressure, while they waited for repair parts to arrive. And how did Orange force accomplish their successful raid - according to Leading Aircraftman Ben Parkinson, who lead the six-strong force, they had planned the hit two days in advance. The band was transported to the Stuart Highway from their outposted command some kilometres from the Base, patrolling in and out slowly over four hours. With the Ninox night-vision the unit was unopposed, despite being spotted on the way out - however, the boys in Orange 'confused them with a few dummy stops'. The ADGs explained they enjoyed filling opposition shoes, as 'it helps them fix their patrol' when they return to the primary role of ground defence. The Base water supply was a high priority asset, and unfortunately for Blue, unmanned for the first time during the exercise, while Blue went patrolling. How do Blue force recover from the infiltration - they examine the point of enemy entry and match that with the job completed, having marked their patrol route using GPS. RAAF NewsOctober, 2001 |
IN regard to Sergeant Bishop’s assertion in Air Force News (September 12) that ADGs
should be absorbed by the infantry and the three Airfield Defence Squadrons should
be “re-birthed” as Independent Rifle Companies: his view is a rather simplistic
one and obviously made without full knowledge of the roles and tasks of
ADGs. Nor the history of airfield defence and the complexities of vital asset protection
on an airbase. He also doesn’t seem to know that the Airfield Defence Squadrons based at Amberley aren’t the only units employing ADGs. ADGs aren’t just employed as riflemen, gunners, signallers, drivers etc. They are also employed on RAAF bases and training units conducting training and operations in weapons, tactics, search and rescue and survival (to name a few core subjects). There is also the not insignificant situation that ADGs undertake training and perform roles that cross “corps boundaries” that would upset the green machine, i.e performance of Close Protection duties after undertaking the course with RACMP. An infantry soldier would require additional training to be able to perform ADG roles. These are skill sets and training that begin at the earliest stages of the ADG’s development, so it’s not like any old infantry sergeant could just slot in to any ADG sergeant’s job. While an outward appearance of similarities between ADGs and infantry soldiers exist, the reality is somewhat different. I should know: I’ve completed a couple of courses at Infantry Centre, a four-month attachment to A Company 8/9RAR, Recon Course at Field Force Battle School, and training with the British and United States armies. Further, either SGT Bishop is laying baits or he really is ignorant if he thinks life at an AFDS would be a “rest posting” from a battalion for a couple of years. Flight Sergeant S. J. Brasher SNCOIC GDTS RAAF CSU Wagga |
ADG role requires training and skill |
|
Exercise Desert Predator 2001: Territory tests as ADGs defend RAAF Tindal |
|
If Exercise Desert Predator questioned the resources, capabilities and commitment of the Royal Australian Air Force Airfield Defence Guards (ADGs) and its supporting infrastructure, then the answer is unequivocal. During the exercise recently conducted at RAAF Base Tindal, near the heart of Australia, our ADGs more than |
proved their worth, as participants were pushed to the limit over two weeks in challenging conditions testing mental, physical and emotional faculties. The scenario surrounding the exercise was defined by the fictional state of Kamaria and the Lessor Islands, within the Australian region disputing Australian gas and oil rights in the Timor Sea. The ensuing standoff between Governments, lead to a Kamarian Armed Forces Special Operation Group physically threatening RAAF Base Tindal. |
'Watchdog 1' aka LAC Shallum Hogan checks incoming traffic with HQ. |
The ADGs primary role in this event was to provide ground defence - despite the fact,
Air Force is better known for air power. Air Force maintains ground control
given the need to protect these air power assets around Australia. This was the focus of the exercise at Tindal, demonstrated by a defensive Blue force, who in small and dedicated units protected Base lines employing everything at their disposal to ensure the infiltrating Orange force could not penetrate the Base |
Orange force was made up of a small unit of ADGs, housed off RAAF Tindal in keeping
with their detached offensive role. Units and personnel included two Airfield Defence Squadrons, 30 RAF and 35 RAAF Reserve members, and a large proportion of staff from RAAF Tindal. The value in conducting the defensive exercise at Tindal, according to OC 322CSS Wing Commander Mark Simpson, relates to the fact Australia may, one day, be in a conflict situation of this type. 'The exercise allows troops to adjust to conditions, and terrain (for observation and camoflague) and further, practise communications to discover black spots and the like,' said WGCDR Simpson. Officer-in-Charge EXCON Squadron Leader Dennis Anderson, Plans Ground Defence Officer at Headquarters Air Command, was the Exercise Desert Predator mastermind - from his initially contact and approval from the Chief of Staff Air Command, to the planning phase that identifying the players, through to organising participating units in the exercise. As OIC EXCON, SQNLDR Anderson's main role was to manage the adjudicating unit, who for all intent purposes 'referee' war-games, in addition to the opposition force. 'The purpose of the exercise is to simulate, as closely as possible, a realistic special force enemy - to have them attack the Base, so that Blue force can find them and deal with them,' said SQNLDR Anderson. 'Blue force are learning lots of valuable lessons.' On the part of the Orange force, this involved identifying targets, measuring access and employing the appropriate weapon systems - matching the weapons system to the terrain and the target. EXCON umpires, who travel with Orange force, determine the success or failure of the missions carried out during the exercise. In addition, a security police officer with EXCON generates intelligence, which would normally filter through from HQAST, to exercise the ground combat intelligence section within Blue force. They interpret the 'hints' and best guess what the enemy will do, in order to pre-empt a strike. Flight Lieutenant Andrew Roberts OIC Ground Combat Intelligence (GCI) described 'intell' as the provision of situational awareness to the commander, to aid his decision making on the battlefield. A relatively new role to Air Force, Army had previously supplied all GCI; however, while the RAAF appreciate the support of its joint forces, they no longer rely on them to provide for its capabilities. 'Ground intelligence approached the exercise a month prior to its commencement, described as the 'intelligent preparation battlefield' - which involves research on location in terms condition and terrain, and of course, the enemy. 'GCI predominantly examine the battle from the enemy's perspective. And the commander has operations personnel who view the exercise from the friendly angle. That enables us to develop a likely scenario, to stay ahead of the game - and make decisions fast,' said FLTLT Roberts. |
Once deployed, GCI collate the relevant information with feeds from higher command,
by conducting briefs and debriefs in the field; that information returns to
the central cell at the Base command. The information is then ordered and analysed,
and finally briefed to the commander, effecting positively command ability
to conduct the operation. |
FSGT Todd Ackerley and CPL Christina Millard work side by side in battle command. |
FLTLT Roberts commented he was reasonably happy with Exercise Desert Predator, prior
to its wind-up. 'This is the first time we've put a GCI together in this scenario
and it's worked reasonably well. We've some training issues we need to identify,
but other that…' The types of information GCI have received largely pertain to enemy activity; and given the aim of GCI is to know what the enemy is doing, when and how, in order to prepare - Air Force has adjusted well to the role. FLTLT Roberts commented this was his first involvement in a base command post, having normally worked in a squadron-level command post, and as such the learning process was invaluable. One of GCI's most important means of communication and control from its command post is through Base Security Police. Base Security Officer Flight Lieutenant John Waugh outlined exercise responsibilities in terms of regulating base security levels. In the first week of exercise, FLTLT Waugh ensured base police provided security patrols, access control and responded to any reported sightings of enemy forces; therefore, acting in a ground intelligence role. The experience, according to FLTLT Waugh has given Base Security officers new to Tindal, a chance develop a certain skill set. And given that the information flow is a crucial issue for any military capability, field debriefs conducted by Security Police Officers, Sergeant Gary Hall, Leading Aircraftman Lee Hutchinson and Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Hall rate all-important. LAC Hutchinson described his role 'to debrief incoming patrolling squadrons - as gathering intelligence via the patrol groups with reference to significant terrain changes and enemy contact, which details equipment, their mode of operation and other noteworthy aspects. 'Similarly, we feed information to the squadrons to create them with a situational picture. Following the field debriefs, we create intelligence report which is then presented to the commander during the daily brief.' LAC Hutchinson also commented that 'despite the importance of creating a situational awareness for the commander, anyone could provide an account on what is happening; the guts of their role was analyse the goings on and provide assessments on a likely developing scenario, in order to facility preparation.' With an international flavour to the exercise, a small contingent from the RAF joined the Amberley ADGs in both offensive and defensive roles. The offensive sniper, Corporal Stuart Males section commander from the UK found the difference in exercise interesting, but removed from his usual role as he commented on 'going against the squadron'. With its size and realism a bonus, CPL Males explained the sniper role is 'to disrupt the enemy, shooting key opportunity targets like aircraft and pilots. 'We work in pairs - nipping in quietly behind the enemy to take the shot and hopefully, quietly extract. 'Whereas is you've a big force, they are more likely to find enemy patrols - we often times sneak through.' Group Captain John Kennedy, Officer Commanding RAAF Tindal enjoyed his first Base exercise, also filling the position of Officer Commanding Exercise Desert Predator. This, he said, involved being the mainstay of conflict direction and running the designated orders group, which lays out the mission - essentially, the chief overseer. The objective of the exercise was to secure personnel and assets at RAAF Tindal, in order to sustain air operations. GPCAPT Kennedy's personal intent as OC 322CSW was to maintain uninterrupted air operations in order to support national interests. With both objectives met, the exercise has proven its strengths and weaknesses, according to GPCAPT Kennedy. 'Its resounding strength has been the people themselves; their dedication, motivation, and applied training. The weakness has been the size of RAAF Tindal; it has been very difficult to defend the substantial perimeter. 'The participation personnel were not in ratio to the Base dimension. The shortfalls that have been identified are an important reason we conduct exercises, so they may be addressed,' said GPCAPT Kennedy. The marked difference the OC noted, between this exercise and those previous conducted, had been the command post - having the logisticians, administrators, security police, air traffic controllers, ground combat intelligence and legal officers in Headquarters proved its weight in gold. Immediate access to information and distribution capabilities as required, facilitated the communication process, paramount to the exercise execution. 'Exercise highlights include denying the enemy the freedom of their action, said GPCAPT Kennedy. 'We've captured a few, including a few kills.' So with Blue and Orange force out on the oblatory prowl day and night, their support crew, in the form of the Airmen's Mess personnel filled their hungry mouths. The response from the ADGs was accounted for by the feeding frenzy, with over 5500 hot-box meals sent into the field throughout the exercise. Sergeant Eddie Hassle commented the meal distribution had worked quite smoothly, as catering is accustomed to the operation, despite the increased scale. The main difference was exercise participation by Mess personnel in a Blue force role; however, the Mess area was not a component of the exercise. With Desert Predator, the largest RAAF ground combat exercise in 2001, over and out - participating personnel in all areas are left to scrutinise the process and execution in detail, with most just grateful for an extended period of sleep. Air Force News will publish more photographs of Exercise Desert Predator in next month's edition October, 2001 |
Guarded celebrations |
NO. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron has celebrated the 20th anniversary of its reformation. An open day on March 21 for families and guests enabled the squadron to demonstrate its capabilities. This included a demonstration of an Evacuation Handling Centre (EHC) and Aircraft Security Operations (ASO). The EHC included evacuation handling and screening procedures, and the ASO demonstration provided an insight into the type of security provided to both aircraft and personnel when required. The reformation celebrations concluded with a dining-in night for past and present members of the squadron and their families. 2AFDS was initially formed on April 7, 1945. It saw service in New Guinea, Brunei, Borneo and the Philippines until its disbandment on October 29, 1945. In 1966 the Airfield Defence Guard mustering was officially formed, and rifle flights were established at Amberley, Williamtown, Richmond, Fairbairn and later Darwin. By 1968 some 200 ADGs were on active duty in Butterworth in Malaysia, Ubon in Thailand and Vung Tau and Phan Rang in South Vietnam. The ADGs remained in their flight locations around Australia until March 17, 1983, when the flights were collocated and 2AFDS was reformed at RAAF Base Richmond. In 1989 the squadron was relocated to Amberley where it remains today. 2AFDS has supported a large number of exercises and operations and was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation in support of the International Force East Timor during Operation Warden and Operation Stabilise. |
Leading Aircraftman Steven Meier provides an insight into the technological capabilities
that No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron is able to deploy into the field. |
Aircraftman Kyle Quinlan demonstrates CBRND equipment. |
|
|
Some stories scabbed from the RAAF News past editions Better late than never Here's to keeping ADG's in the News |
|
No problems buddie, had a quick look and I have my 2/84 Basic ADG Cse photos and a couple of 2AFDS Squadron photos'. Just have to work out how to scan and send them to you, but once I do will forward these onto you for the site. I will try and put a few names to the guys but otherwise some of the readers will have to help out.. Regards Tony Whitting |
Offer of Photo's for our site |
|
Commando Comics Commando Comic was launched by D. C. Thomson in July 1961 as an addition to their popular comic titles like Beano and Dandy (still going) and Beezer and Topper (sadly no longer with us). Commando Comics have been in print ever since. The distinctive 7 x 5 1/2 inch, 68 page booklet format became the standard for these kind of stories. Well drawn picture tales of heroic deeds from the second world war, I read them a lot in the 1960s, and they are still very popular. As far as collecting goes, these comics are more popular than any other comparable war titles. This is probably due to the high standard of the artwork as much as the stories themselves. In 1961, there were two comics a month, quickly rising to four a month. There are now over three thousand in the series, now spanning over forty years. |
Click above to visit the publishers site. |
|
Scout Dogs. Scout dogs were introduced into the RAAF during the late 1970's with handlers being drawn from the mustering of Airfield Defence Guard (ADG). These dogs and handlers were trained at the RAAF Police Dog Training Centre primarily for ambush detection duties while patrolling in hostile territory usually outside of base perimeters. Their secondary role was as outpost static guards. |
(l-r) Jim O'Brien and Narvik, Simon Lovelock and Khan, Rick Mortellaro and Sultan,
Grant Patchett and Luke, Steve Brasher and Rajah, Wayne Suttie and Ryan. Members of Support Flight, No 2 Airfield Defence Squadron, RAAF Base Richmond. NSW |
|
Royal Australian Airforce Engineers (photo left) installing a 25 person system for
use by airfield ground defenders at Comoro Airfield at Dili, East Timor during
the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) deployment. |
ADF INTERFET personnel (photo right) using the BiPu system prior to the placement
of hessian privacy screening. |
|
FN FAL Australian L1A1/L2A1, British L1A1,Canadian C1/C2/C1A1/C2A1 & Indian 1A |
The SLR L1A1 L2A1 |
|
More current ADG Weaponary |
FN MAG / M240G, lightened USMC modification, with no heat shield on the barrel Caliber: 7,62x51mm NATO Weight: 11 - 13 kg on bipod (depending on version), ~21 kg on tripod Length: 1260 mm Barrel length: 545 mm Feed: belt Rate of fire: selectable, 650-750 and 950-1000 rounds per minute The MAG (Mitrailleuse d'Appui General = General Purpose Machinegun), had been developed by the famous Belgian company FN Herstal in the 1950s, as a true universal machine gun, that could be used as a light MG on bipod, as a medium MG on tripod or as a vehicle-mounted and coaxial MG on helicopters, armored cars and tanks. The basic design of the MAG is no more than a time-proven Browning action, taken from the M1918 BAR automatic rifle, turned upside down and adopted for belt feed. The basic design used as much steel stampings and pressings as possible to save the labor and costs, and the final gun had the angular, but very business-like appearance. By no way a beauty, it is extremely reliable and proven design, that seen widespread service, being adopted by several tens of armies around the world, including Belgian, British, Australian, Canadian, USA and many other armies. It was fitted to various vehicles, helicopters, tanks etc. So far it is one of the most popular GPMG's in the world. Technical description. The FN MAG is a gas operated, belt fed, air cooled automatic weapon. It uses the long piston stroke gas system with the gas regulator, located below the barrel. The bolt is locked using a swinging shoulder that engages the cut in the floor of the receiver. The air-cooled barrel is quick-detachable, with the carrying handle attached to it to help handling of the hot barrel. The receiver is made from steel stampings. The M240 is fed using the disintegrating steel belts of various lengths. The rate of fire can be selected between "low" (~650 rpm) and "high" (~950 rpm), depending on the tactical situation, and the gun can be fired in full auto only. The charging handle is located on the right side of the receiver. The simple folding bipod is attached to the gas block, and there's a mounting points on the bottom of the receiver to fit into the various mountings, including infantry tripods. The open sights are fitted by standard, and some of the latest production MAG versions have Picatinny-style scope mounts on the top of the receiver. Standard guns are fitted with the pistol grip and trigger, and the wooden (early models) or plastic (present manufacture) butt, coaxial guns (like M240C) have the trigger replaced by the electric solenoid, and the pintle-mounted versions, like the M240D, have the spade grips instead of the pistol grip and the butt. |
FN MAG |
|
The M60 General Purpose Machine Gun |
M60 M60E3 caliber 7,62 mm NATO 7,62mm NATO weigth 10.5 kg on bipod 8,61kg on bipod length 1105 mm 1067 mm barrel length 560 mm 560 mm feeding belt 100 rounds belt 100 rounds rate of fire 550 rounds/min 550 rounds/min |
The M60 medium/universal machine gun was designed in the late 1940's and its initial
design strongly borrows from WW2 German developments - the MG42 belt feeding
mechanism and the FG42 gas-driven action. The M60 was adopted by US military
in 1950 and served until it was replaced by FN MAG/M240. M60 is a gas-operated, belt-fed, automatic weapon. It features interchangeable barrel, integral folding bipod and provisions to be mounted on tripods and vehicle mounts. M60 was barely adequate to its intended mission, and has some drawbacks: the bipods and the gas chamber were permanently attached to the barrel, so qiuick replacement of the hot barrel in the battle conditions was 'tricky' at least, and required the shooter to war heat-protecting gloves. The barrel should be changed after 200 rounds of the rapid fire. Another drawback (at least, it is known from my sources) was fragility of many of the parts in the operating group. Key among these, and inherent in the design, was the firing pin, which seemed almost guaranteed to break right behind the forward shoulder. The total acceptance troops of the M60 was not too god. But it turned even worse when new, lightened variant of the M60, called M60E3, was introduced. The only positive thing that could be said about M60E3 is that it has non-removable gas chamber that beared the non-removavle bipods, and the new barrel had the carrying handle that also was used to replace the barrel. The "lightening" of the construction dramaticlay decreased the reliability of the gun. The new, light barrel was capable of no more than 100 rounds in rapid fire. 200-300 rounds of the rapid fire without replacing the barrel could simply destroy the barrel. The reliability of the M60E3, used by US MC, was even worse than of original M60, and one of the main reasons the US MC adopted FM MAGs as M240D was wery poor acceptance of the M60E3's among the troops. |
|
"The Vietnam Adg" |
More news and information on the RAAF Airfield Defence Guard |
It seems that some patients needing blood transfusions may benefit from receiving
chicken blood rather than human blood. It tends to make the men cocky and the women lay better. |
|
|
|
The Caribbean Snow An English lady goes on vacation to the Caribbean wishing her husband had been able to join her. Upon arriving, she meets a black man, and after a night of passionate love making she asks him, "What is your name?" "I can't tell you" the black man says. Every night they meet and every night she asks him again what his name is and he always responds the same, he can not tell her. On her last night there she asks again, "Can you please tell me your name?" "I can't because you will make fun of me" the black man says. "There is no reason for me to laugh at you," the lady says. "Fine, my name is Snow" the black man replies. And the lady bursts into laughter, and the black man gets mad and says, "I knew you would make fun of it" the black man says. The lady replied, "Its my husband that won't believe me when I tell him that I had 10 inches of Snow everyday in the Caribbean!" |
|
A little bit more trivial that may interest you In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannon fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to prevent them from rolling about the deck. The best storage method devised was to stack them as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine,which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem-how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called a Monkey. But if this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make Brass Monkeys. Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey"! And all this time, you thought that was a vulgar expression, didn't you? |
|
To expand in the international market, GM Daewoo will produce the cars with GM equipment
in India, China, and Thailand. Holden Motors in Australia wants to utilize
GM Motors, and the factory in Vietnam will also produce the GM Daewoo Cars.
GM Daewoo has a product system in six countries in total. |
|
|
Vietnam to produce GM Holden Products |
The Dummy Spit !!Goodbye to the Aussie Holden |
How do you spell Holden in gook ?? |
Will the radio play in English ?? |
1. |
2. |
What's Next Iraqi Made Holdens ? that tune into the Koran on Sunday ? |
3. |
Ho-chi-en ?? |
Are there ADG's serving in the Solomon Islands ? |
This Weeks Question Fren |
Email ozflea@bigpond.com.au |
Helpem the Pom |
Or have we been and returned ? |
|
With a bit of the old slap and tickle |
Whose calling who a gecko ? |
Spot the Gecko's on our page |
Pom, Please make an announcement. Eddie Power passed away today 11.11.03 We have very little details except that he was diagnosed with cancer a short time ago. The funeral is expected to be in Maryborough within the next few days. Regards Tex |
|