2 of the (many) things I'm working on at pres are the Dragon Hummel and Tamiya Wespe. Thinking ahead to a diorama I was wondering...during a fire mission, what does the driver do? I doubt he just sits their picking his nose; but does he load ammo, does he man the radio, does he have some other job? Pix haven't supplied any answers and I've never served myself so I really aren't sure.

Is the engine running? Are they expecting counter-battery fire and need to displace quickly?

If the engine is running the driver stays in his position. If countet-battery fire us expected , the engine would be running. If he is picking his nose while monitoring the engine is up to him.

I'm working on engine off and counter fire not expected.

Maintenance and humping ammo. Tracks always need looking at. And when you're satisfied with that, everyone humps ammo. The vehicle stored rounds go by quickly so that means carrying and unpacking rounds from resupply.

I'm thinking the muzzle blast would make the driver's seat a mighty uncomfortable place to be during a fire mission. Chances are he helps out with ammo etc until the vehicle needs to move, at which point he jumps back in...

I live fired a Revolutionary War cannon and the safest place to stand was right behind the barrel. That's where the gunners stood as the barrel blast goes away from you and out.

Tank drivers stay in their hole with the gun firing. You just close the hatch. Most of the blast effects miss you because you're in a masked area of the blast envelope. So the safest place for our driver, especially if the engine is running is in his position. Armored vehicle drivers aren't supposed to leave a running engine unattended.

On modern US M109 howitzers, the driver stays in position with the hatch closed when firing. His job is to fill out the DA Form 4504 Record of Fire. This form records shell/fuze combo, firing data (azimuth, quadrant, charge, etc.) and is used to keep track of what has been fired and for other uses.

Thanks Stephen, that was pretty much what I'd assumed apart from the track maintenance though.