4 ms·

Powers of Hearing: The Military Science of Sound Location

50 points by samizdis 5y ago

jasonladuke0311 5y ago
Kind of orthogonal to TFA, but I really wish we were issued suppressors and electronic hearing protection when I was an infantryman. It's baffling that you are expected to communicate with your ears ringing from gunfire. My hearing is crap now, too.
- samizdis 5y ago
  British forces are suffering today from kit that's still under development - eg the Ajax armoured vehicle - even though damaging effects have manifested for years: > All trials involving Ajax were suspended again last month when it also emerged that some crew members involved in the trials were continuing to receive medical attention after concerns were raised over "noise and vibration levels". Full article: https://www.forces.net/news/ajax-manufactuer-noise-and-vibrations-feature-2010 https://www.forces.net/news/ajax-manufactuer-noise-and-vibra...
- h4waii 5y ago
  Suppressors (and other items) should be considered PPE, not some evil silent murder device. Hearing doesn't come back and people are very lax about protecting it, or letting other people protect their own hearing due to unfounded fears about firearms and accessories.
- sandworm101 5y ago
  what totally sold me on suppressors was an interview with a company that made suppressors for shotguns. Retrievers (gun dogs) go deaf after a few years. Shotgun suppressors are for the benefit of the dogs. They should be mandatory.
FourHand451 5y ago
I can appreciate the practical considerations that require setting a precise time for an armistice to go into effect. However, looking at that first image in the article of the readout from sound ranging equipment just before and after the armistice, the thing that stands out to me is how pointless the last couple of artillery shells before a scheduled cease-fire seem. I suppose without the benefit of hindsight you could argue that one side or the other might have gained a slight advantage with those last shots if hostilities restarted. But knowing the outcome, it just feels really bizarre to think about those last moments.
- JoeDaDude 5y ago
  The end of World War I was somewhat chaotic [1] as General Pershing (US Commander) and other high ranking officers issued orders to cease hostilities on November 11th, but did not clearly state what to do in the interim. Lower level commanders either believed that territory held when the armistice went into effect would be kept, or sought to enhance their military careers by one final action, ordered offensives right up until the last minute. General Pershing would later have to testify before congress on why there were so many casualties on the last few days of the war, but no action was taken against him. [1] Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918 World War I and Its Violent Climax Paperback – October 12, 2005 by Joseph E. Persic

50 points by samizdis 5y ago

Kind of orthogonal to TFA, but I really wish we were issued suppressors and electronic hearing protection when I was an infantryman. It's baffling that you are expected to communicate with your ears ringing from gunfire. My hearing is crap now, too.

samizdis 5y ago
British forces are suffering today from kit that's still under development - eg the Ajax armoured vehicle - even though damaging effects have manifested for years: > All trials involving Ajax were suspended again last month when it also emerged that some crew members involved in the trials were continuing to receive medical attention after concerns were raised over "noise and vibration levels". Full article: https://www.forces.net/news/ajax-manufactuer-noise-and-vibrations-feature-2010 https://www.forces.net/news/ajax-manufactuer-noise-and-vibra...
h4waii 5y ago
Suppressors (and other items) should be considered PPE, not some evil silent murder device. Hearing doesn't come back and people are very lax about protecting it, or letting other people protect their own hearing due to unfounded fears about firearms and accessories.
sandworm101 5y ago
what totally sold me on suppressors was an interview with a company that made suppressors for shotguns. Retrievers (gun dogs) go deaf after a few years. Shotgun suppressors are for the benefit of the dogs. They should be mandatory.

FourHand451 5y ago

I can appreciate the practical considerations that require setting a precise time for an armistice to go into effect. However, looking at that first image in the article of the readout from sound ranging equipment just before and after the armistice, the thing that stands out to me is how pointless the last couple of artillery shells before a scheduled cease-fire seem. I suppose without the benefit of hindsight you could argue that one side or the other might have gained a slight advantage with those last shots if hostilities restarted. But knowing the outcome, it just feels really bizarre to think about those last moments.

JoeDaDude 5y ago
The end of World War I was somewhat chaotic [1] as General Pershing (US Commander) and other high ranking officers issued orders to cease hostilities on November 11th, but did not clearly state what to do in the interim. Lower level commanders either believed that territory held when the armistice went into effect would be kept, or sought to enhance their military careers by one final action, ordered offensives right up until the last minute. General Pershing would later have to testify before congress on why there were so many casualties on the last few days of the war, but no action was taken against him. [1] Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918 World War I and Its Violent Climax Paperback – October 12, 2005 by Joseph E. Persic