Fire Mission
(Nine Mile Snipers)
Gunners of 105 Field Battery RAA Firing in Support of 5RAR 1966.
Note the splinter-proof shield for the gun has not been mounted. This would be the case when there was no risk of taking enemy ground fire.
The battery would always be protected by an infantry rifle company forward of the guns.
The crew are using their fingers for ear protection probably because there wasn't an issue available for ear muffs or plugs.
Not surprising, 5RAR on its first tour, its equipment scale lacked sufficient M60 machine guns and radio sets. We had to 'lean on' our American brothers to lend us what was needed.
A bit of history:—
In North Africa, during WWII, a 25 Pounder gun from the 2/7th
Field Regiment. with a range of 9 miles [13.5 kms] was used to strafe an enemy road from a hidden position; hence the term ‘Nine Mile Snipers’ was first used. Since then, members of 25 Pounder Gun Crews were affectionately referred to as ‘Nine Mile Snipers’ although some members of the infantry had less complimentary names for them and the nickname continued throughout Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War.
Ref: Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company (18 March 2025) Nine Mile Snipers https://www.military-vehicle-museum.org.au/nine-mile-snipers/