Watching YouTube videos, I have noticed that some artillery gunners will plug their ears with their fingers when the M777 howitzer is being fired, but others standing by are just fine with not putting their fingers into their ears at all. (Granted, that may be because they unavoidably have to use their hands to operate the machinery, but the ears are still ears.) Are they all wearing ear plugs and the ones who plugged their fingers into the ears just did so for additional protection?
Will you get hearing damage from having open and exposed ears?
I would guess, they all wear ear plugs and some guys try to supplement that by holding the plugs tight with fingers.
I have NO artillery experience, but tons of experience with hearing protection. Lotsa guys don’t wear earplug inserted correctly/fully.
So I guess a bit of pressure helps seal them up.
Not right on-topic, but awhile back I read something saying how some crazy high percentage of military experience significant hearing loss. Yet, while a soldier can wear glasses, hearing aids are not allowed. And sufficient ear protection may make communication difficult. Also significant for veterans’ disability benefits for hearing loss/tinnitus.
My father was an an Artillery officer. He says that he always wore it and strictly enforced it to those under his command, but others might not have . He also said that people often skipped when firing at a low rate of fire (one shot half an hour or so) people might not bother with protection.
He has always said that you feel an Artillery piece being fired more than hearing it. Yes he has hearing loss.