The FDC (Fire Direction Control Center) is the brains of an artillery battery; it takes in location data from an observer and converts it to settings for the 6 guns. That includes the shell type, the fuse and any settings, which powder bags to include and which to remove. Settings for the gun itself are deflection, the left to right setting, and elevation. This one at Fire Support Base Washington III is well protected with sandbags. FDC was the only subunit in the battery that had electricity so our bunker had to be more light secure than others. We operated 24 hours, 7 days a week and had lights on all night in a very dark world.

We communicated with the guns via telephone and the roll of wire to construct our small phone company is on the right.

Home • About Us • Image Library • Links • Share your Story

vietnamsoldier.com content © Chris Woelk. All rights reserved.
Web site hosting services provided by Internetnow ISP Services
Site design by Citron