Jesse wrote:stenfalk: So you served on the 2S1? Interesting! What position did you serve as? I was a gunner on the Leopard 2A4 (Stridsvagn 121) when serving in the Swedish Army 1999-2000. They were old ex West German tanks so everything was written in German
In the 2S1, did you have only high explosive shells or did you have some anti-tank ammunition as well?
Jesse, my service in the army is a bit further back than yours, i was under arms from 1987-1990. Because i was at a school for officers, i did not occupy a fixed place in the 2S1, but had to occupy any position (except the driver) in the training. But there was a little schooling for drivers on MT-LB. The goal was, of course, the preparation for the function of a leader for a unit with 6 vehicles (lieutenant). This was always the beginning, before one could recommend himself for higher places.
The combat kit of the howitzers consisted of mixed ammunition, most of them were HE, but, of course, every vehicle was equipped with armor-piercing HE. And the first we've learned was targeting directly enemy vehicles. The shooting on targets, which were not visible, followed only later.
However, i am glad that we had to use our weapons only for the exercise...