Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with artillery

Help me replace the button I lost off my French military trench coat!

atmosphere — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:40:21 -0800

Please help me replace a lost button from my French military trench coat - or even just shed some light on the origins and history of the coat. Thanks! A few months back I purchased this French military trench coat from my local military surplus store. Now I have managed to lose one of the buttons, and am desperate to replace it! Here is a close up of the button (it measures aprox. 23mm across). Apparently the coat is Artillery, and I know the flaming grenade is a standard French military symbol, but I haven't been able to find a replacement.

A few more detail shots of the coat: inside label detailing where the coat was made, lapel design, and insignia from just above the cuffs.

I went back to the store I purchased the coat from and when I asked if they had any spare buttons or knew of a place I could get some, the guy replied "Nah, the coats come with the buttons already on", so that avenue isn't looking too promising. I've looked on ebay a bit but haven't found anything that matches the buttons exactly.

I'm hoping someone here can help me replace my lost button. Maybe you know of somewhere I could get one, like a specialist website, or would be willing to check out your local military store that you know to be helpful, or know of some weird button replication service that'll make me one, or anything at all that can help me replace it - the coat just really isn't complete without it! Even just some information about the coat itself in terms of it's origin or history would be much appreciated.

Thank you hive mind!

what's the biggest gun?

wilful — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:15:48 -0800

What is the largest calibre artillery piece currently in service? Not historic pieces but modern.

Name This Sporting Event: Cannon + Obstacle Course

frogan — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:52:11 -0800

What is this sporting event? Teams compete to move a functioning artillery cannon from one end of an obstacle course to another, requiring them to disassemble, move, and re-assemble the cannon. I recall seeing this on a news show, like 60 Minutes or something. It seemed to be an annual British sporting event, with teams drawn from the various military services.

The object seemed to be a timed competition for teams to move a functioning, 19th century, artillery cannon from one end of an obstacle course to another. In order to move it over the obstacles, teams would have to first disassemble the cannon and then move it and all of its parts and ammunition over the course. The course, about the size of a soccer pitch, included hills, water hazards, etc.

If I recall correctly, the obstacles change every year, and there are few fixed rules as to how the cannon is moved, just that it is moved and assembled to working condition, and fired three times. The fun, then, is seeing how the different teams solve the obstacle course problems with different strategies ("OK, you four guys carry the barrel...").

What is this event? Is it really an annual thing? Tell me more!