Published Nov. 16, 2012.Reprinted with permission from the Columbia Missourian."Ammunition shortage leaves ‘Little Joe' transitioning to softer sound."Story by Brian Ransom

Ransom, Brian

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University of Missouri: MOspace

4/6/2021 A Quieter Cannon | MIZZOU Magazinehttps://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2012/11/a-quieter-cannon/index.html 1/5University of Missouri“LMizzou’s “Little Joe.” Photo byRachel Coward.A Quieter CannonAmmunition shortage leaves ‘Little Joe’transitioning to softer sound.Story by Brian RansomReprinted with permission from the Columbia Missourian. Published Nov. 16, 2012ittle Joe,” the MU ArmyROTC cannon thatpunctuates Missouriscores during home footballgames, is losing some of itspunch.The cannon tradition became a part of Missourifootball culture after a home game againstNebraska in 1895, when ROTC cadets firedcannons for every point scored. MU’s ROTCThe Magazine of the Mizzou Alumni AssociationMIZZOU4/6/2021 A Quieter Cannon | MIZZOU Magazinehttps://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2012/11/a-quieter-cannon/index.html 2/5program introduced Little Joe in 1954, and thecannon’s fiery outbursts, driven by 75 mmblanks, have some fans in the habit of coveringtheir ears every time Missouri scores.But the U.S. Army plans to stop manufacturingLittle Joe’s standard charges, and the supply ofbig blanks had dwindled to less than eight beforethe homecoming game against Kentucky —probably not enough to last the season.Cadets started using smaller 10-gauge blanks fornonconference games this year, reserving thelarger shells for games against SEC opponents.Master Sgt. John Bissen, a noncommissionedofficer in charge of the ROTC recruits whooperates Little Joe, says the cannon crew willeventually have to start using the 10-gaugeblanks, typically reserved for events such as golftournaments and 5K runs, at all home footballgames.Master Sgt. Steven Rogers, cadre for the cannoncrew, says the 10-gauge blanks are still loud, butthe sound isn’t the same as the 75 mm blanks.4/6/2021 A Quieter Cannon | MIZZOU Magazinehttps://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2012/11/a-quieter-cannon/index.html 3/5“It’s kind of like the difference between Big MOand a snare drum,” Rogers says. “It’s just adifferent resonance to the tone.”Rogers says the explosion from a 75 mm blank issomething you don’t just hear — you feel it, too,because it displaces more air.Although the larger blanks are still inproduction, the Army has been scaling back thenumber it makes every year. Bissen says heanticipates the Army will stop manufacturing the75 mm blanks in a year or two.The Army’s primary reason for abandoning the75 mm blanks is expense: One blank costsbetween $75 and $80 to make, Bissen says,compared to $2 for the 10-gauge blanks.Demand for the 75 mm rounds has beendecreasing over the years, but not at the samerate as the decrease in production, making theremaining blanks a precious commodity.For the Army’s 2013 fiscal year, which beganOct. 1, Bissen says he requested 75 of the 75 mm4/6/2021 A Quieter Cannon | MIZZOU Magazinehttps://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2012/11/a-quieter-cannon/index.html 4/5blanks. MU’s ROTC program received only nineof the standard cannon rounds.Bissen says he doesn’t have control over theshortage of 75 mm rounds, but he continues tosearch for other Army ROTC programsthroughout the region that might have extrablanks.Rogers expresses a similar sentiment.“I mean, we like having the loud explosion thatcomes with the 75-millimeter,” Rogers says, “butwe’re here to support the team, and if we have tosupport it with 10-gauge, we’ll do that.”After the first home football game of the season,against nonconference team SoutheasternLouisiana, fans commented that the cannondidn’t seem as loud, Rogers said.“Before the Georgia game, people were asking if itwas going to be loud or not,” Rogers says. “It’snoticeable to fans.”4/6/2021 A Quieter Cannon | MIZZOU Magazinehttps://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2012/11/a-quieter-cannon/index.html 5/5Published by MIZZOU magazine, 109 Reynolds Alumni Center, Columbia, MO 65211 |Phone: 573-882-5916 | Email: mizzou@missouri.eduOpinions expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the official position of MUor the Mizzou Alumni Association.© 2019 — Curators of the University of Missouri. All rights reserved. DMCA andother copyright information.  An equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer.Topics: News, Sports, Web ExclusivesTags: Football

A Quieter Cannon

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A Quieter Cannon

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