A story to tell

[trooper]

I was reading the post about a Union suit and that brought to mind a situation that happened to me while I was serving with
"C" SQN, Royal Canadian Dragoons in Germany in around 1978 or 79.
We were on a NATO exersize through the German countryside. I was the Gunner for 31A and we had a driver who I'll call "smithy" I won't divulge his real name due to the embarrasment it would cause. Well, back to the story... our call sign was the lead tank on a regimental advance. We had pulled up to a hull down position and had been stationary for about 15 minutes when Smithy got on the intercom system and informed us that he had to take a dump. Well, our crew commander told me to traverse to 11 oclock and switch off the hydraulics (powers the turret in the leopard). I did so and shut off the stab as well. Smithy gets out of the drivers hatch and beetles off into the corn field we were in. (I can't see what transpired as I'm in the tank gunners seat) but here's the way things played out. He gets to where he has to do his business and starts to dig a small hole then drops his crewsiut and squats over the hole (Everyone on ex carried a roll of TP for obvious reasons).
Anyway, while he's doing his thing, our radio comes to life with the following from our Squadron Commander,..." All stations three, this is three. Move now out!" (We're the lead tank on this advance so theres no messing around we have to move NOW!!!)
Our crew commander, whom I'll call Pete, sticks his head out his hatch and yells out "Hey Smithy! We gotta go! Hurry up!"
I can imagine Smithy yelling back "Right! I'll be right there!" He wipes himself and pulls his crewsuit back up and runs back to the tank.
(I should note that the crewsuit is a one piece affair with no back door to do one's business from, they are similar to a flight suit that you see fighter pilots wear in the movies.)
Smithy mounts the shovel back into its storage bracket on the tanks hull and jumps back into the drivers seat and sits back down. Now, from where I'm sitting with the turret traversed to 11 oclock, I have a good view of smithy's back and the driver's station. Smithy puts his headset on and says over the intercom, " I think I messed in the back of my crewsuit!" The poor fella was in that position for a good 4 or 5 hours before we were able to get this sorted out.. What a stink in that tank!!!

[HunterDave]

LOL........Sh*t happens sometimes.

Maybe we need a "War Story" thread from our military members on Remembrance Day? It could be quite entertaining. Between now and then I might be able to come up with one or two.

[Sooner]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

LOL........Sh*t happens sometimes.

Maybe we need a "War Story" thread from our military members on Remembrance Day? It could be quite entertaining. Between now and then I might be able to come up with one or two.

Great idea, should be some good ones i suspect.

[fish gunner]

that is a great snipet of tankie life. five minutes notice to move, the second a crewman drops trou ,advance . lol. ever debuss for a fart. shoe poish on the gunners eye piece for the farter. so many stories too rude or vulgar for the form. poo on the turbos, yeck. poo theft was one of the better ones. we got out of hand on occasion. get the fng to change brushes from the breach ,call his name when the stave is pulled, fire a wheel nut up the bore. ouch. 31a newb seat.lol do we all start there. saran wrap on the togs for you.great thread will try to think of a clean family funny.