Defending Jericho

I was never a fan of Jericho. But I did watch most of the episode where the Gerald McRanney character was killed off. Most cause I also was running interference between 2 grandsons.

When viewing movies or television shows, I have to remind myself….. It’s Not In The Script! Or it was written that way to allow the movement of the show to move to what the writers feel is the logical conclusion. Also, we must remember that most writers and directors have no idea what they are doing when working with military style operations. That’s why they often hire Tech Advisors like Captain Dale Dye.

So……let’s do what in the service would be a Command Post Exercise.

You have 30 people with mixed weaponry and 12 hours to prepare a defensive position at the farm McRanney was killed at.

I know the writers did not give them that much time to prepare, but if you knew there were folks out there wanting what you have and were willing to kill to take it, would you wait till the last minute to prepare for such an attack?

I have already posted my rough plan on the net and asked RightHand to bookmark it till needed. At the end of 1 week, she can copy & paste it too the board.

There is no perfect answer to this scenario, only concepts. Each person willing to join in will have to accept that there are no wrong or correct answers. Some just might not work as well as others.

AND….. Except for answering direct questions, I have no desire to critique answers given. That might sound arrogant, but I’m not head hunting, only running a thinking exercise.



So…my turn….

Given this is Kansas Farm country, first thing to do is slow the Bad Guys done as much as possible. Considering we are defending at a farm, first thing we are going to do is create barriers.

First barrier will be the plowing of the fields in the route of march. Plowing will start no less then 500 yards in front of the main defensive line. Considering that the show depicted dirt roads leading up to the farm, even the road will be plowed up. Repairs to the road can be made later if needed. Plowing will cover as far up each ridge as safely as possible.

Depending on time and other elements not predicted, the plowing should create a barrier the 200 yards in front of the defensive line. And another plowed barrier 100 yards wide at 500 yards will require the opposing forces to dismount the vehicles at an extended range.

Barbed wire will be recovered from every source possible to develop additional barriers in the form of tangle foot and fencing where possible. Create a situation at approximately 200 yards from the defensive line with the wire to channel the opposing forces into a narrow passage. Do not create any barrier that could be used as protection by the opposing forces.

Concurrent with the plowing will be the digging of defensive positions. A Backhoe is ideal for this under these conditions. Depending of soil conditions, a trench line is the ideal situation. If a trench is not possible, two man positions should be prepared with the help of the backhoe.

NOTE: Considering they are driving an Abrams around like fuel is cheap, then there is fuel available for the operation of the tractors for plowing and backhoe. An Abrams averages 0.6 miles per gallon with a capacity of 498 gallons when topped off.

Next, this is Western Kansas. Prairie Dog country. I have never seen a town in that part of the country that does not have at least one poodle shooter. Send one or more of these shooters a couple miles down the road to the position of their choice where they can get a clear shot at the vehicles. Instructions are simple: Put a bullet into the drivers windows at max range. And put one into every vehicle as possible until you feel it is time to clear the area. Take any targets of opportunity.

These shooters can leapfrog back to the defensive positions at their discretion. These folks are not expendable.

The older trucks that the BG’s were using did not have impact resistant windshields. Hit one with a bullet the windshield will spider web if not shatter, and the driver will duck and in doing so will probably jerk the steering wheel. The possibility of at least one wreck is near certain, especially if a second truck is hit before anyone can react to the incoming fire.

Also, considering that the lead vehicles appeared to be private automobiles, the first should also be targeted. Again, the possibility of creating a collision.

No need to hit a driver, but would help insure the possibility of wreckage. If a truck happens to turn over, then 10 to 30% of the passengers will become non-combatants due to injuries. Possibility more if there is any cargo in the back with the passengers.

Note: Prairie Dogs are often taken at ranges in excess of 500 yards. 1000 yards hits are not unheard of. And a prairie dogs are much smaller then the windshield of any vehicle in the BG’s convoy.

Back at the Farm. One trick in helping the defenders judge range on flat, open ground is an old British Army trick. Range Markers. A 6 foot tall man, walking at a normal pace will cover approximately 100 yards with 100 paces. All that has to be done is pace off 100 yard segments, placing a bucket or some visual object at each distance. Have 1 person move the object as the plow passes and replace the object once the ground is plowed. Ranges do not have to be exact, but will give each defender a range reference to use based on the limitations of his firearm.

Distribution of firepower. Difficult concept considering the mix of weapons used by the defenders. I’d place any Bolt Actions using Belt Magnums on the flanks at a higher elevation then the rest. This will give them better visibility to utilize the farther range capabilities of the cartridges. Standard Long Actions will be placed inside of them for the same purpose. Intermix all other weapons down the line with all semi-automatic rifles near center to be able to deal with the channeling effect of the barriers.

Shotguns near center for the same purpose. Military Specifications for shotguns require them to be lethal at 75 yards and casualty inflicting at 150 yards with 00 Buck from a 20 inch barrel. Longer barrels can improve range slightly, but will improve accuracy at given ranges.

Lever Actions. Highly underrated. But in the average shooter 150 to 200 yards is it’s prime performance distance. I would pair these rifles up or at least with a weapon that would allow one to be reloaded as another is providing fire.

Other ideas. Overturned rakes and plows can create major obstacles for an attacking force. But only if they do not provide protection to the attacking elements. This can be partly corrected by having the backhoe scoop a shallow hole so place them in. Not deep enough to provide protection, but shallow enough as not to all them to be used protection also.

One major risk is a flanking movement. That is always a problem when you have small forces and no other units on either flank to tie in with. This can also be a prefect place to put the shotguns, depending on terrain. Lots of barbed wire can help protect the flank if available and time allows.

Since this is a public forum, my bag of dirty tricks remains closed.

Survival 101.2

The title of this diatribe might seem odd but consider that I used Survival 101 and Survival 101.1 on another board, which in turn was transferred over to this board, the title almost makes sense.

Frank Herbert wrote some of the most prophetic words ever heard for the Survivalists. “Fear is the mind killer.” Talk to anyone who has experience in Emergency situations and they will tell you that a person wrapped in the mantle of fear cannot be reasoned with. As with a drowning man will drown his rescuer due too fear.

How many reading this can reach out and pick up a handgun, rifle, shotgun, or even a large bladed weapon from their chair? I know, I’ve heard all the reasons in the world for such a thing. I’m being careful. I’m just being cautious. And many more. Hold that thought.

I’ve rummaged through the board, reading and rereading many of the threads and I doubt anyone could honestly say the folks here do not have a solid grasp of the mechanical aspects of survival. I can only hope to add a twist here and there that someone might have missed. Although I seriously doubt it.

But I was invited here not so much for my mechanical knowledge, but for the offbeat way I look at the world. Oh……sorry ghrit, you actually didn’t invite me here. The invitation goes back many years. I was just too busy with other projects to pay much attention to another one.

Back to the original concept of this thread.

Debate this thought amongst yourselves all you desire, but from my standpoint, many here confuse the mechanical readiness of survival with the mental readiness. Having a two (2) years supply of groceries, along with two (2) dozen rifles, shotguns and pistols, and three (3) bazillion rounds of ammo for each only means you packed for the trip.

A positive mental attitude is not something myself or anyone else can impart with such a medium of communication. Mostly because no two (2) people are the same. Each have their own fears which impede the process.

But I can say this without guilt. If You Cannot Act On a Problem, Then Why Waste Effort And Energy Worrying About It?

I know, I might be talking in circles again, but that’s ok…….I’m not done with this thread yet.

So, let’s take an internal test. Each person can play along as they wish.

Take all those weapons and lock them up. Put them out of reach, even for an evening. If you can set in your easy chair for one evening without being able to reach out and destroy those mythical black dressed invaders sliding down ropes from those evil black helicopters, and feel defenseless, then you do not have a proper survival mental attitude yet.

Lie to me, lie to the board, but NEVER lie to yourself.

FYI……..I locked up my guns and knives many years ago. And I have never felt defenseless.

Who is Lying to Who???

I am going to attempt to point out a few errors, misconceptions, gray areas, black holes and whatever may come to mind concerning the coming election. Hopefully, I can at least bring some things to a thoughtful phase of existence.

I would ask the reader to read everything carefully before trying to locate me with a short rope for a long drop. Read any part under debate several times. What I hope to gain here is if not answers, then questions which hopefully will help just a single person to make an informed decision, instead of an emotional one.

The Draft:
I have a question here. Wasn’t it John Kerry that said early in the campaigning, that he would increase the size of the Army by 40,000 people if elected? And when asked how he would do that, he replied “by using the draft”.

OK..I lied…I have several questions concerning this subject. Who is the “Unnamed Pentagon Source” that has had Rumsfield on tv denying any thought of kick starting the draft? It seems not two months ago CNN did a piece on recruiting and how successful recruiters have been filling their quotas.. Who is responsible for the commercials on tv about the possibility of being drafted and sent to Iraq? Talk about misleading and trying to influence direction of vote through misconceptions. Shades of the 1960’s!!!!

Just because a person was drafted back then did not mean they would be sent to Viet Nam. Of the 15 or so folks I knew that were drafted, only four ended up in Viet Nam. What makes anyone think even if a draft was held, 100% of those folks would be sent to Iraq? Only the folks that wish to scare your vote thinks that or wants you to think that.

Next is something that has been bothering me for several months. Something I have heard from different sources locally, yet I have not said much about until now. What follows is as close a quote as I can do , so forgive me if I misquote my sources.

“Bush is a draft dodger that joined the National Guard to keep from going to Viet Nam and then never served a day of service in the Guard”

I hope I got that right. Oh well, if not, I’m sure everyone understands I left out several vulgarities which made it sound so much more bitter.

Basically that comment is full of bovine fecal matter. How can I say this? Simple really. As stated above, not everyone drafted went to Viet Nam. Just being drafted was no guarantee of being sent to Nam or even Ft. Hood as a File Clerk.

Next, we have the fact that back in those days, the National Guard had a waiting list for folks who wanted to join. And unless a person got out of a unit, no one could be enlisted into it off that list. Now let’s look at the fact that it was possible for some folks to receive preference over others, even though according to regulations, it was supposed to be first come, first enlisted.

Then we have the fact that not everyone who was eligible for the draft were drafted. I know more that were not drafted then were drafted. All were eligible.

One aspect of the above comment is complete bogus is that he never served a day of service. Kind of hard to become a fighter pilot without serving nearly two years in training. Time which he could have also be designation necessary for call-up to active duty and sent to any posting the Air Force felt was necessary.

And as far as the last year of his service which seems to crop up from time to time, let us examine something that has came to light but seems not to be widely known. During the recent debacle about the discovered letters CBS introduced the world to, CNN also ran a story concerning GW’s Guard Retirement Points.

For those not familiar with how the National Guard determines if a member has a good year for retirement, I’ll try to explain while keeping it simple as possible. But keep in mind, an individuals Retirement Points are not kept by his unit, but by the Financial Center responsible for paying each member of the Guard. For each days pay they expend, they award one retirement point. So any political pull a person may have in a unit or state does not influence the Paymaster.

During those years, a member of the National Guard was required a minimum of 70 points each year of service. These points come from a various aspects and activities during a members year of service. One mandatory activity was the 15 day Annual Training Period. Without it, it is not considered a good year towards retirement. Also back in those days, each unit held a formal Pay-Call and members were paid in cash for the Annual Training Period.

So, where is this leading? Well, CNN reported that GW had in his last two years of service in excess of 100 points per year. In fact CNN reported he had 150 points his last year of service. The same year he was supposed to have been AWOL.

Now, is it possible to circumvent the procedures established to award Retirement Points. Certainly, within reason. But not to the extent of 150 points, without a cover-up which would rival that of the Manhattan Project and the development of the Atomic Bomb. Let’s face it, Bush Sr. was not the political power at that time he later was and who knew GW would even consider a political career at that time?

So, there I have this part done. Would continue but have other fish to fry.

Vote. But vote with your head, not your emotions.