GPMG IN SF MODE

[Peter Laidler]

When the GPMG SF courses were run at Warminster and occasionaly at Brecon we'd get the courses round to have a talk and look at the history and importance of SF. SF is a morale booster for 'our' side just to hear and more importantly, actually SEE the volume of fire going down range. But a morale destroyer for the opposition because most of their positions are fixed or logged into the gun layers maps or notes, sent back by the FOO's. So turning great volumes of map directed fire as soon as troop movements are noted is soul destroying for them (followed if necessary by mortars). Most of the lessons learned and taught aren't those from the wars but from Korea (there's a name to conjure with!). During the last week we would put a Vickers in a gun pit (no gun pits in the video I notice.....) and cover it with a cam net or hide behind a vehicle. It was always a nice slice of history to see it steaming after a few belts. That's history for real I used to tell them........ Good times

The second barrel looks like it is being held up by 2 trip flare-pot pickets. You find them and schermuley parachutes all over theplace!