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- Burgkunstadt, Germany
I was one of those guys dragging cables. In HAWK ADA, I was for many years in the "Jump, or AFP" platoon. We got kicked out to go to a new site so as to set up our missile system, and when we were operational, the Base platoon, as well as another AFP, (Assault Firing Platoon) could move to our, or another position. We had over watch, to cover their asses. When you roll in, you have 60 min to come up to operational status. That meant:
1. Park all radars, launchers, gen sets, vans and other crap in a field.
2. Park Prime mover in the trees, (if there were trees)
3. Emplace all system equipment. I did our 5 gen sets alone.
4. Ground all equipment.
5. Run power and data cables to all system equipment.
6. Turn it all on and come up to firing status.
We were only a few people. I had to run all power cables alone. A power cable came on a huge reel. Weighed in excess of 340 pounds and was supposed to be 50 meters long. I needed help getting the spool on the RL-31 cable reel holder, but after that, it was all me. When I was done, I then started on data cables. 50 meters long, in excess of 400 pounds. We moved about every 5-6 hours. If you were not in good shape before a 14 day stay in the field, you were when you got home!
1. Park all radars, launchers, gen sets, vans and other crap in a field.
2. Park Prime mover in the trees, (if there were trees)
3. Emplace all system equipment. I did our 5 gen sets alone.
4. Ground all equipment.
5. Run power and data cables to all system equipment.
6. Turn it all on and come up to firing status.
We were only a few people. I had to run all power cables alone. A power cable came on a huge reel. Weighed in excess of 340 pounds and was supposed to be 50 meters long. I needed help getting the spool on the RL-31 cable reel holder, but after that, it was all me. When I was done, I then started on data cables. 50 meters long, in excess of 400 pounds. We moved about every 5-6 hours. If you were not in good shape before a 14 day stay in the field, you were when you got home!