Fastroping
I had the wonderful pleasure of teaching Air Assault for two years out of Drum and the best aprt of it was being able to get aircraft whenever you wanted it and start flying down a rope. At 90 feet I can rappell faster than a roper can thats for sure. Just go Aussie no braking involved. I think there is still a video of me eating shit full throttle floating around somewhere. That was a bad day.
C co 3/75 91-93 'The Rock'
OIF 04-05
OIF 04-05
- Steadfast
- Rest In Peace Ranger
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In RVN I was sent by 2nd BGDE HHC LRRP's to Division's K/75th Pre-Recondo School where Rappelling was one thing I learned to do. However, I never rappelled into the jungle. I sure would have liked to do that fast ropping. Looks easy and gets you to the ground pronto! One thing I'de like to ask you guys is did you ever fast rope wearing an ruck with 80 to 100 lbs of gear plus your LBE & Rifle? I would think that slowing down with all that weight would be near impossible.
RLTW
Steadfast
4/325 82d DIV 68-69
2nd Bde HHC (LRRP), 4 ID
K Co (Rgr), 75th Inf (Abn), 4 ID
69-70
I cooked with C- 4
Steadfast
4/325 82d DIV 68-69
2nd Bde HHC (LRRP), 4 ID
K Co (Rgr), 75th Inf (Abn), 4 ID
69-70
I cooked with C- 4
We roped I dunno, once or twice...maybe 3 times a year.........always from the tower....RGR Luna wrote:That sucks. We got to rope quite bit.BadMuther wrote:I never got to Rappel from a live bird...and only got to fast rope from a live bird a few times.......It was fun with no RTO ruck!
Birds were REALLY fucking scarce the first year I was there (91-DS year)....
- Odin's Underling
- Rest In Peace Ranger
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- Joined: July 27th, 2003, 5:00 pm
- Location: Maine
We started fast roping around 1980. Back in the day we started by just using tug of war ropes before we got the fancy braided ones. It was a real good way to insert on top of buildings if there was a lot of crap where the bird couldn't put down. We roped out of mostly blackhawks and quite a bit out of the Jolly Green Giants. You could get your whole platoon on the ground in around 20 seconds out of a green giant. Two ropes in the back and one up front by the crew door. There was no more rappelling out of birds once we got going on that. I always thought it to be useless anyways. We were told that the SEALS started roping first but for you James Bond fans out there you can see that it was done in the 60's in one of his movies. Can't remember which one but it was the one where he was impersonating a ninja guy in Japan and they had an assault team roping down the inside of a mountain. Roping is okay if your going in light, the more shit you have on you, you better have a good grip. That does'nt mean for you new guys to start jerking off either. Do some other hand strengthening excerises.
1st Bn 78-82, 84-86. 3rd Plt Sqd Ldr, PSG. RIP and Pre-Rgr Instructor. Ranger Class 502-79
My momma wears combat boots
Residing happily in Maine listening to my Yoko Ono tapes.
My momma wears combat boots
Residing happily in Maine listening to my Yoko Ono tapes.
- rangercamaro
- Ranger
- Posts: 388
- Joined: February 9th, 2004, 12:43 pm
- Location: Indiana
At first Bn we did elevators all day two or three times during my era. I've came out of blackhawks and shithooks. I prefer the blackhawks. Less people to avoid. the only people we had roping with rucks and any weight was the 60 AG's. Thank god I had my gun by then. Those boys hated that shit. Hit like a bunkerbuster, shit flying everywhere. They exited first and #2 man waited til they were touching down before he got on. (gave em time to clear the rope in case they fell)
Bco 1/75 2nd plt Wpn Sqd 89-93
HHC 1/75 Bn Armorer 93-94 (after cookoff)
HHC 1/75 Bn Armorer 93-94 (after cookoff)
- Parabellum
- Ranger
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- Joined: February 25th, 2004, 5:32 pm
- Location: Summerall Field
Slowing down is impossible. Just hold on for dear life and hope the pilot doesn't move the ropes off the top of the building. You always need the be ready to do a proper PLF when fast roping.Steadfast wrote:In RVN I was sent by 2nd BGDE HHC LRRP's to Division's K/75th Pre-Recondo School where Rappelling was one thing I learned to do. However, I never rappelled into the jungle. I sure would have liked to do that fast ropping. Looks easy and gets you to the ground pronto! One thing I'de like to ask you guys is did you ever fast rope wearing an ruck with 80 to 100 lbs of gear plus your LBE & Rifle? I would think that slowing down with all that weight would be near impossible.

"We spoke to them in the only language they understood - the machine gun."
HHC 1/75 Oct 98-Mar 99
B co 1/75 Mar 99-Apr 04
ROC RSTB RIP/PRC Cadre Apr 04-May 06
A co 1/75 May 06-Jul 08
HHC 1/75 Jul 08-Mar 09
RS 3-99
HHC 1/75 Oct 98-Mar 99
B co 1/75 Mar 99-Apr 04
ROC RSTB RIP/PRC Cadre Apr 04-May 06
A co 1/75 May 06-Jul 08
HHC 1/75 Jul 08-Mar 09
RS 3-99
I didn't PLF away from the ropes this one time and Cutner - my roomate - landed with his boot right on my throat and PLF'ed away laughing while I tried to roll away out of the way of the Ranger following him.
Among the many things they showed in BHD I thought that insertion was painfully slow. Back in the day, we'd usually be aiming to hit the rope as soon as the guy designated to go before us hit his hands against it cause he'd be gone by the time you hit it anyway. But, if you're a big time Hollywood producer paying the Army a few $M to bring all thier birds to Morroco, you probably want to maximize the footage they appear in the movie.
Among the many things they showed in BHD I thought that insertion was painfully slow. Back in the day, we'd usually be aiming to hit the rope as soon as the guy designated to go before us hit his hands against it cause he'd be gone by the time you hit it anyway. But, if you're a big time Hollywood producer paying the Army a few $M to bring all thier birds to Morroco, you probably want to maximize the footage they appear in the movie.
We also did elevators. Never did get to rope from a Blackawk, though.rangercamaro wrote:At first Bn we did elevators all day two or three times during my era. I've came out of blackhawks and shithooks. I prefer the blackhawks. Less people to avoid. the only people we had roping with rucks and any weight was the 60 AG's. Thank god I had my gun by then. Those boys hated that shit. Hit like a bunkerbuster, shit flying everywhere. They exited first and #2 man waited til they were touching down before he got on. (gave em time to clear the rope in case they fell)

B Co 3/75
1989-1990
Just Cause Airlando Commando
1989-1990
Just Cause Airlando Commando