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Klicks vs miles

montane · 2011-01-30 22:22:52

Anyone know why the US military uses klicks (kilometers) for measurements of distance, whereas US civilians use miles.

30-01-2011 11:22pm

#1

montane

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Anyone know why the US military uses klicks (kilometers) for measurements of distance, whereas US civilians use miles.

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#2 30-01-2011 11:24pm

3hn2givr7mx1sc

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I still use miles.

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#3 30-01-2011 11:25pm

Hande hoche!

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Maybe to have a NATO standard?

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#4 30-01-2011 11:26pm

Irish Halo

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They also use "military" time or the 24 hour clock to you and me.

The use of these 2 things mark the military as scary and confusing to the general American population ...

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#5 30-01-2011 11:26pm

m@cc@

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If you study land navigation and grid coordinates, it is so much easier to do it based on the metric system, and a value based on 10.

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#6 30-01-2011 11:26pm

johnmcdnl

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can someone tell me why america refuses to switch to metric in general

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#7 30-01-2011 11:27pm

mikemac

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The military developed the GPS system
Might be something to do with that

There is nothing more dangerous in the world then a new lieutenant and a map

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#8 30-01-2011 11:27pm

Hande hoche!

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johnmcdnl wrote: »

can someone tell me why america refuses to switch to metric in general

Because then the terrorists win.

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#9 30-01-2011 11:28pm

3hn2givr7mx1sc

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johnmcdnl wrote: »

can someone tell me why america refuses to switch to metric in general

Cause the metric system is the source of all evil.

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#10 30-01-2011 11:31pm

RichieC

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http://www.conservatipedia.com/2008/04/metric-system-is-communist.html

not even sure if thats a farce, there's a conservative on another forum I frequent who actually believes this.

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#11 30-01-2011 11:32pm

Iwannahurl

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Here's an attempt at an explanation.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/f/faqklickdef.htm

Says what a "klick" is, but doesn't enlighten us as to why kilometres were used by the US military in the first place.

If ordinary god-fearing Murkans were meant to use metric, Jesus would have had 10 disciples.

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#12 30-01-2011 11:34pm

cooperguy

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Because Metric is the best system, its just taking the rest of America alot longer to realise it!

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#13 30-01-2011 11:35pm

Conor Bourke

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The metric system is the tool of the devil. My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it!

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#14 30-01-2011 11:38pm

Iwannahurl

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Alaskimo-cake wrote: »

The metric system is the tool of the devil. My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it!

You're not alone. Or original?

EDIT: Abraham Simpson. Of course!

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#15 30-01-2011 11:40pm

oppenheimer1

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Iwannahurl wrote: »

You're not alone. Or original?

neither is the poster you have linked to

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#16 30-01-2011 11:41pm

m@cc@

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Iwannahurl wrote: »

You're not alone. Or original?

EDIT: Abraham Simpson. Of course!

You covered that up well before you were torn apart by the AH mafiosa.

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#17 30-01-2011 11:44pm

Iwannahurl

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m@cc@ wrote: »

You covered that up well before you were torn apart by the AH mafiosa.

Not covered up, fixed.

Nothing can be covered up here!

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#18 30-01-2011 11:44pm

Cranky Mc Funhouse

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johnmcdnl wrote: »

can someone tell me why america refuses to switch to metric in general

The same reason we do?

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#19 30-01-2011 11:46pm

Conor Bourke

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Iwannahurl wrote: »

You're not alone. Or original?

EDIT: Abraham Simpson. Of course!

I took it as a given that people would know it was good ol' Abe.
Will reference all quotes correctly in future

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#20 30-01-2011 11:46pm

knird evol

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Irish Halo wrote: »

They also use "military" time or the 24 hour clock to you and me.

The use of these 2 things mark the military as scary and confusing to the general American population ...

1.25 into this clip the Major explains 'military time'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx8dSfYdmx8

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#21 30-01-2011 11:51pm

Iwannahurl

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knird evol wrote: »

1.25 into this clip the Major explains 'military time'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx8dSfYdmx8

"Stinkin thinkin". I like that. The expression, I mean.

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#22 31-01-2011 12:00am

ShagNastii

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I'm a total metrichead. Probably due to my experiences. I had a woodwork teacher years ago that would go legit ape$hit if anyone used Feet and Inches. I've been boxing for years, so I've always worked in Kilos which I think people yet to catch onto.

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#23 31-01-2011 12:15am

Somnus

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Metric system is so much easier to use and quickly calculate than imperial. I wish everyone would use it.

Annoying in work when someone says "Gimme a half pound of ham" and our weighing scales is in grams!

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#24 31-01-2011 12:57am

El Horseboxo

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Most of their allies use it so would cause confusion when sharing intel or using maps produced by other Governments.

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#25 31-01-2011 1:04am

Manic Moran

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NATO standard.

Another NATO standard is 6,400 mils in a circle. Not accurate, and some non-NATO countries use their own number, but everyone in NATO has 6,400.

More interesting is international civil aviation. For example, speed and altitude are in imperial, whilst temperature is in metric.

NTM

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