Noise Levels
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2025 6:16 pmToday, our neighbor was out with his NOISEY gas powered leaf blower on an otherwise beautiful, quiet, fall day. This noise got me researching what the dB levels were and how this noise compared to what we went through in Nam.
Here’s what I found.
1. Gas powered leaf blower - 100 dB
2. M-16 - 160-171 dB
3. 81mm mortar - (for mortar crew) - 175-187 bB
4. 106mm Recoilless Rifle - 188 dB
5. M60 Machine Gon - 155-160 dB
6. 50 Cal Machine Gun - 180 dB
If you go for a C&P Hearing test, you may want to mention these noise levels to the examiner. What we went through in Nam did a lot to destroy our hearing. I was on the 106 when I first arrived in country, then moved to mortars. The muzzle blast from a M-16 during the Battle of An Bao did a lot to damage my hearing.
Stay strong, and Play the Game.
Here’s what I found.
1. Gas powered leaf blower - 100 dB
2. M-16 - 160-171 dB
3. 81mm mortar - (for mortar crew) - 175-187 bB
4. 106mm Recoilless Rifle - 188 dB
5. M60 Machine Gon - 155-160 dB
6. 50 Cal Machine Gun - 180 dB
If you go for a C&P Hearing test, you may want to mention these noise levels to the examiner. What we went through in Nam did a lot to destroy our hearing. I was on the 106 when I first arrived in country, then moved to mortars. The muzzle blast from a M-16 during the Battle of An Bao did a lot to damage my hearing.
Stay strong, and Play the Game.