Wirt,
You & FADAC (http://aics-research.com/fadac.html)!!! This is the first real computer I ever used, since I don't call the original Litton programmable calculator a computer (perhaps I should). FADAC was still the Field Artillery's digital answer to chart and slipstick when I was in the Army ('75 - '79), even though they were developing TACFIRE at the time.
Hundreds of hours with this machine, which was quite rugged, and could compute firing data in about 2/3 the time of flight of the projectile - say around 20 seconds. These were complex computations, too, including corrections for rotation of the earth, weather conditions in 1000 foot altitude incriments, and "registration" data (those unknown values that can be determined by experiment, but not identified by cause.) FADAC had more like 15 KB of hard drive by the time I got hold of it. FADAC came with two generators producing an unusual voltage at 400Hz, three-phaze. I think the TO&E called for one working generator and one inoperative generator, 'cause that's what we usually had. Bolted to the top of our M577 armored command post, they made it hard to talk on any of the five radios, let alone the field telephone. FADAC also came with an extra 400 lbs of test and diagnostic equipment (and about 80 lbs of special cables), usually owned by batallion or higher maintenance. Abou!
t the only maintenance I ever did myself was replacing nixie tubes, but did a few times haul out that diagnostic equipment and replace the circuit boards it flagged as suspect. BTW, our fanfold tape was paper. One of my most memorable trips from Berlin was to "the Zone" to ferry my FADAC to the main repair depot. I got to see how the poor folk lived (that is, non-Berlin Brigade soldiers), and I nearly missed the duty train on the way back. We didn't have McDonald's in Berlin yet, so it was a treat to grab a 'Mac in Frankfurt.
respectfully,
Dave
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