Class 6.

[Cyrano]

In the dim, distant past, in fact in the Brown Shoe Army (we went to black accessories in 1956; I wore brown combat boots one day and black one the next) there were five classes of supply. American logistics, starting in the 1930s were superior to any other army (Our artillery fire direction procedures were superior too). We had a huge manufacturing capability to back it up, but we had superior planning; we planned in advance about how much of what we needed, how we were going to procure it, and how it was going to be transported and distributed where it was needed.

I don't remember the five classes of supply; I think I slept through that ROTC lecture. They were things like ammunition, POL, rations, clothing and equipment, etc. Soldiers, being soldiers, imagined a sixth class of essential supplies; liquor. Class 6 became an essential part of Army slang from the 1940s onwards. When the classes were redefined, (in the '70s?) there were 10 of them and Class 6 was comfort supplies.

Our liquor store on Ft Bliss has a big sign on it 'Class 6'.

Being a former artilleryman, I'd like to know how the system of fire direction was developed and refined in the 1930s, in WW II, Korea and Vietnam. I don't think a historical study has ever been done.

 

[old bear]

Our liquor store on Ft Bliss has a big sign on it 'Class 6'.

Being a former artilleryman, I'd like to know how the system of fire direction was developed and refined in the 1930s, in WW II, Korea and Vietnam. I don't think a historical study has ever been done.

Now you know where the expression "hold my beer and watch this", came from.

 

[opoefc]

"System of Fire Direction ?" Do you mean the system where the FO called in coordinates to the CP at the batteries and the fire mission was X rounds of X shells on X targets? Or just the order to "Fire for Effect" and see where the rounds landed? Ed.

 

[Rangerpat]

Thanks for the 'Class 6' information, I never heard of that until you posted it, must be Army slang.
The system of fire direction was something I never gave much thought to but glad it worked. I was always amazed how a Navy ship at sea, out of sight of land, could hit a target on land with pinpoint accuracy.
I served with a FO who called in fire missions from the USS New Jersey while serving in Vietnam, he told me the 16" guns would drop rounds on target every time.

 

[jdh]

You've never played Blackjack on a FADAC?

(Field Artillery Digital Automatic Computer, a marvel of 70's technology)

 

[EQGuy]

I did not know about class 6 but I was in class 10 in basic training at Fort Bliss in July and August 1967. I remember when we were short marching and the marching tune went like this "We're class 10, we're at it again, we're moving out we're moving in. Two more days of polishing brass, then Fort Bliss can kiss my ---" it rimes with brass.

 

[1950jcb]

FADAC

I worked in a TOC in RSVN '68-'69. We had a FADAC at that time, but it wasn't the primary computation method--we still did it the old fashioned way with GFTs. "Fire for effect" usually occurred after adjusting rounds (one gun) had been used to bracket the target. Only then would the whole battery fire. There were exceptions, like pre registered targets, emergencies, etc. Most fire requests were by grid coordinates, and a lot of them were accompanied by requests for ranging rounds, which made adjusting a lot more efficient by establishing a line between the battery and the target. The 8" howitzer was our most accurate piece--very stable firing platform.

 

[REM 3200]

Hooah, Steel on Target !

Classes of supplies-

Class I - Subsistence (food), gratuitous (free) health and comfort items.
Class II - individual equipment, tentage, organizational tool sets and kits, hand tools, unclassified maps, administrative and housekeeping supplies and equipment.
Class III - Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) (package and bulk): Petroleum, fuels, lubricants, hydraulic and insulating oils, preservatives, liquids and gases, bulk chemical products, coolants, deicer and antifreeze compounds, components, and additives of petroleum and chemical products, and coal.
Class IV - Construction materials, including installed equipment and all fortification and barrier materials.
Class V - Ammunition of all types, bombs, explosives, mines, fuses, detonators, pyrotechnics, missiles, rockets, propellants, and associated items.
Class VI - Personal demand items (such as health and hygiene products, soaps and toothpaste, writing material, snack food, beverages, cigarettes, batteries, alcohol, and cameras—nonmilitary sales items).
Class VII - Major end items such as launchers, tanks, mobile machine shops, and vehicles.
Class VIII - Medical material (equipment and consumables) including repair parts peculiar to medical equipment. (Class VIIIa – Medical consumable supplies not including blood & blood products; Class VIIIb – Blood & blood components (whole blood, platelets, plasma, packed red cells, etc.).
Class IX - Repair parts and components to include kits, assemblies, and subassemblies (repairable or non-repairable) required for maintenance support of all equipment.
Class X - Material to support nonmilitary programs such as agriculture and economic development (not included in Classes I through IX).
Miscellaneous - Water, salvage, and captured material.

 

[Coldshooter]

One of my coworkers was awarded the Order of St Barbara (Patron Saint of Artillery) for a study on comparitive forms of fire control in WW2. When he gets back from leave I will see what he has.

 

[Cyrano]

You've never played Blackjack on a FADAC?

(Field Artillery Digital Automatic Computer, a marvel of 70's technology)

I'm talking about the late 1950s, FADAC was a gleam in someone's eye then.

 

[Cyrano]

I did not know about class 6 but I was in class 10 in basic training at Fort Bliss in July and August 1967. I remember when we were short marching and the marching tune went like this "We're class 10, we're at it again, we're moving out we're moving in. Two more days of polishing brass, then Fort Bliss can kiss my ---" it rimes with brass.

I think I was in the Ft Bliss IG office about that time. You could have complained to me.

 

[Cyrano]

Hooah, Steel on Target !

Classes of supplies-

Class I - Subsistence (food), gratuitous (free) health and comfort items.
Class II - individual equipment, tentage, organizational tool sets and kits, hand tools, unclassified maps, administrative and housekeeping supplies and equipment.
Class III - Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) (package and bulk): Petroleum, fuels, lubricants, hydraulic and insulating oils, preservatives, liquids and gases, bulk chemical products, coolants, deicer and antifreeze compounds, components, and additives of petroleum and chemical products, and coal.
Class IV - Construction materials, including installed equipment and all fortification and barrier materials.
Class V - Ammunition of all types, bombs, explosives, mines, fuses, detonators, pyrotechnics, missiles, rockets, propellants, and associated items.
Class VI - Personal demand items (such as health and hygiene products, soaps and toothpaste, writing material, snack food, beverages, cigarettes, batteries, alcohol, and cameras—nonmilitary sales items).
Class VII - Major end items such as launchers, tanks, mobile machine shops, and vehicles.
Class VIII - Medical material (equipment and consumables) including repair parts peculiar to medical equipment. (Class VIIIa – Medical consumable supplies not including blood & blood products; Class VIIIb – Blood & blood components (whole blood, platelets, plasma, packed red cells, etc.).
Class IX - Repair parts and components to include kits, assemblies, and subassemblies (repairable or non-repairable) required for maintenance support of all equipment.
Class X - Material to support nonmilitary programs such as agriculture and economic development (not included in Classes I through IX).
Miscellaneous - Water, salvage, and captured material.

WWII and Korea managed with only 5 classes. Wish I could remember what they are. Perhaps some other old duffer with a better memory than mine can help out.

 

[Cyrano]

One of my coworkers was awarded the Order of St Barbara (Patron Saint of Artillery) for a study on comparitive forms of fire control in WW2. When he gets back from leave I will see what he has.

I'd LOVE to read whatever he has. Feel free to PM me.

 

[Cyrano]

"System of Fire Direction ?" Do you mean the system where the FO called in coordinates to the CP at the batteries and the fire mission was X rounds of X shells on X targets? Or just the order to "Fire for Effect" and see where the rounds landed? Ed.

I mean the complete package, from FO descriptions of location and azmuth (so the FDC woud know which direction he was looking when he said "add, drop, left or right"), to Fire Direction Center to firing commands to the battery. Also the package of Field Artillery missions: Direct Support, General Support, Reinforcing, General Support Reinforcing, and all the rest of it. Some genius at Ft Sill, probably in the 1930s, figured it all out and it was refined in WW II and Korea. I wonder if it was ever documented.

 

[carpriver]

Saved my butt

I was Air Force on a small air field in the central high- lines of Viet Nam. I keep the coordinates of the air field written on my helmet cover so we could in artillery when there was pressure on the air field.

 

[imjin138]

Class 6 was beer and booze during my time and I recall FADAC, my first MOS was 13E FDC. We started out with the real Army computer (slide rule and protractor). Then moved into FADAC once we mastered those two items.

I remember being told being FDC and needing a controlled environment for the FADAC we always would be comfortable. yeah right I was more comfy when I re-enlisted 11B. I did learn how to read a map well.

 

[jdh]

What the shade from the camo nets didn't protect you from the mild Ft Sill summers?