Spent the day at Crane NSW

[Phylodog]

I spent several hours at Crane NSW today touring the night vision and small arms facilities. The night vision technology that our elite warfighters are using these days is absolutely incredible. I've seen Gen 3 NV before but this stuff is unreal and straight out of a science fiction movie. Looked through the latest and greatest goggles available and at $78,000 a pair I'd have to say they're worth every penny.

The small arms facility was equally impressive. They had a small museum set up with examples of most of the weapons used by the teams since their inception. Didn't get to shoot anything but saw a few racks of the MK13 rifles in various stages of assembly, miniguns and video footage of a new 5.56 ammo currently being tested in the indoor, climate controlled 100 yard range. Had a former team guy as a tour guide and everyone was extremely nice and answered any questions we had.

Overall a great experience and it was nice to see the dedication that the support personnel have in making sure our fighting men and women have access to the finest equipment in the world. I don't think one of them failed to mention that this was their number one priority and it showed. I only wish the place was closer and easier to gain access to.

 

[7mmRM]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

Lucky you, Bro!!

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

jealous.............

 

[banshee sws]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

yeah , color me envious

how did you score that ?

 

[Phylodog]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

Perk of being a member of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy observer/sniper cadre. The lead instructor has a long history with several of the guys at Crane and got us a tour.

 

[ewoaf]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

you suck

 

[konabully]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ewoaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">you suck </div></div>

+2

 

[Phylodog]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW



Don't be sippin

 

[Lindy]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

The latest night vision equipment is very good. Last night on the Coast Guard episode of the <span style="font-style: italic">Modern Sniper</span> series, it showed that the pilots of the HH-65s used in interdiction operations have NV googles connected to the aircraft instrumention, so they have a display of aircraft performance parameters in their NV.

Eventually, we'll get to the point where operators will have what looks like a pair of glasses, with a display of thermal or NV imagery, and other parameters as well, which may include digital messaging and symbology displays.

Which won't help you shoot, though, if you slap the trigger...

The fundamentals of marksmanship will still be what saves you in a fight.

 

[SR71]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

Dang Bro..Wished I would have known you were coming. Would have treated you to the "club"

Is the guy that suffered a seizure doing ok?

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

Did ya make it over to where the big stuff goes boom?

They are known for mine warfare, undersea weapons of that sort - we do torpedo's, they do mines.

They have some impressive stuff there too!

 

[HotIce]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

I'm sure that, secretly hidden in an underground lab, someone was working on the next generation of Counter Sniper scopes in there

 

[Cheese]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

Tell me you saw the 2000 meter accoustic tile lined super range??

 

[Phylodog]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SR71</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dang Bro..Wished I would have known you were coming. Would have treated you to the "club"

Is the guy that suffered a seizure doing ok? </div></div>

I thought about sending you a message beforehand but didn't know what all we would be doing and I knew I was going to be required to stay with the group. Rick is doing ok, not sure what that was about. I thought he was in big trouble but he bounced right back and was fine 20 minutes later.

Didn't see any 2000 meter ranges unfortunately. Probably for the best as I would have been begging someone to let me come back today, lol.

 

[Graham]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

I'm assuming that you don't have any pics for us, that you just wanted to brag...

 

[jrhammons]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Phylodog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Don't be sippin

</div></div>

I ain't sippin..i'm drinkn BASTARD!!!! So can you take a friend next time?????

 

[Phylodog]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

I'd love to fill a bus with friends and take them but I don't have the pull unfortunately. Little bit of bragging I guess but also sort of a thanks to anyone from Crane who might read it. I was very impressed with the technology but also the dedication that I saw.

ETA: I thought about bringing a camera but wasn't sure how well received that would be so I didn't. No one mentioned anything about it so if I should get another chance I will definitely ask. A few pics of the MK13 rifles in the racks would have been nice.

 

[aj_brown]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

Phylodog

When you do it 5 days a week for 25 years it takes the some of the fun out of it.

Alan

 

[Phylodog]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

I gave that some thought while I was there. While I'll admit to feeling like a kid in a candy store I also noticed that the small arms bldg was pretty dim, almost gloomy which would probably wear on me pretty quickly.

I've got a few friends who still tell me I'm nuts for leaving my full time range gig but I don't miss is a bit. Heard a saying one time about the quickest way to ruin a hobby is to make it your job or something like that. Definitely some truth to that statement.

 

[Arch]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

Scooter is the man!

 

[Phylodog]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Oink</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Scooter is the man! </div></div>

He must be, I don't think we walked past two people all day who didn't know him and that included about an hour or so in the cafeteria.

 

[19Scout77]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AJ Brown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Phylodog

When you do it 5 days a week for 25 years it takes the some of the fun out of it.

Alan </div></div>

Crane's loss is our GAIN!!

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Spent the day at Crane NSW

Without a camera pass - doubt they would have let you carry the thing let alone take pics - most NAVSEA bases are that way when it comes to weapons development.