±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 736
Total: 736
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Photo Gallery
03: Downloads
04: Home
05: Photo Gallery
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Photo Gallery
11: Community Forums
12: Photo Gallery
13: Community Forums
14: News Archive
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Photo Gallery
20: Community Forums
21: Community Forums
22: Photo Gallery
23: Downloads
24: Your Account
25: Downloads
26: Community Forums
27: CPGlang
28: Community Forums
29: Home
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Member Screenshots
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Community Forums
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: Downloads
44: Community Forums
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Photo Gallery
50: Photo Gallery
51: Community Forums
52: Community Forums
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Community Forums
56: Home
57: Community Forums
58: Community Forums
59: Home
60: Home
61: Community Forums
62: Community Forums
63: Community Forums
64: Photo Gallery
65: Community Forums
66: Photo Gallery
67: Community Forums
68: Home
69: Community Forums
70: Community Forums
71: Photo Gallery
72: Home
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Photo Gallery
77: Community Forums
78: Photo Gallery
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Photo Gallery
84: CPGlang
85: Your Account
86: Your Account
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Community Forums
90: Community Forums
91: Photo Gallery
92: Community Forums
93: Photo Gallery
94: Community Forums
95: Community Forums
96: Community Forums
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: Member Screenshots
102: Photo Gallery
103: Home
104: Home
105: Photo Gallery
106: Community Forums
107: CPGlang
108: Home
109: Community Forums
110: Photo Gallery
111: Photo Gallery
112: Home
113: Community Forums
114: Home
115: Photo Gallery
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Community Forums
123: Photo Gallery
124: Downloads
125: Statistics
126: Community Forums
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Home
133: Community Forums
134: Photo Gallery
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Community Forums
139: Community Forums
140: Member Screenshots
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Home
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Home
147: Community Forums
148: Photo Gallery
149: Photo Gallery
150: Community Forums
151: CPGlang
152: Community Forums
153: Photo Gallery
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Community Forums
157: Community Forums
158: Community Forums
159: Community Forums
160: Home
161: Community Forums
162: Photo Gallery
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Photo Gallery
168: Downloads
169: Home
170: Member Screenshots
171: Home
172: Photo Gallery
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Photo Gallery
176: News Archive
177: Community Forums
178: Photo Gallery
179: Member Screenshots
180: Photo Gallery
181: Community Forums
182: Downloads
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Photo Gallery
186: Downloads
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Photo Gallery
191: Photo Gallery
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: News Archive
197: Community Forums
198: Photo Gallery
199: Photo Gallery
200: Photo Gallery
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: CPGlang
204: Photo Gallery
205: Home
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Community Forums
209: CPGlang
210: Photo Gallery
211: Photo Gallery
212: Community Forums
213: Community Forums
214: Home
215: Photo Gallery
216: Community Forums
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Photo Gallery
221: Community Forums
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: CPGlang
227: Community Forums
228: Member Screenshots
229: Downloads
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Home
236: Photo Gallery
237: Community Forums
238: Photo Gallery
239: Home
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Community Forums
243: Photo Gallery
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Photo Gallery
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Photo Gallery
253: Community Forums
254: Photo Gallery
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: CPGlang
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Photo Gallery
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Home
265: Community Forums
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Photo Gallery
269: Photo Gallery
270: Home
271: Home
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Downloads
275: CPGlang
276: Community Forums
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: Home
283: Community Forums
284: Home
285: Photo Gallery
286: Community Forums
287: Home
288: Downloads
289: Community Forums
290: Photo Gallery
291: Community Forums
292: Community Forums
293: Photo Gallery
294: Community Forums
295: Photo Gallery
296: Community Forums
297: Home
298: Community Forums
299: Home
300: Community Forums
301: Community Forums
302: Home
303: Community Forums
304: Community Forums
305: Photo Gallery
306: Community Forums
307: Downloads
308: CPGlang
309: Photo Gallery
310: Your Account
311: Community Forums
312: Downloads
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Your Account
316: Community Forums
317: Community Forums
318: Photo Gallery
319: Member Screenshots
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Community Forums
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Community Forums
329: Community Forums
330: Community Forums
331: Community Forums
332: Home
333: Community Forums
334: Photo Gallery
335: Home
336: Community Forums
337: Photo Gallery
338: Community Forums
339: Community Forums
340: Photo Gallery
341: Community Forums
342: Photo Gallery
343: Community Forums
344: Photo Gallery
345: Home
346: Community Forums
347: Photo Gallery
348: Community Forums
349: Community Forums
350: Community Forums
351: Community Forums
352: Home
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Community Forums
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Photo Gallery
365: Community Forums
366: Community Forums
367: Home
368: Community Forums
369: Home
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Statistics
374: Photo Gallery
375: Community Forums
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: Photo Gallery
379: Community Forums
380: Home
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Home
388: Community Forums
389: Community Forums
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Photo Gallery
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Downloads
396: Photo Gallery
397: Community Forums
398: Community Forums
399: Home
400: Photo Gallery
401: Community Forums
402: Member Screenshots
403: Community Forums
404: Photo Gallery
405: Community Forums
406: Community Forums
407: Home
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Home
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Community Forums
414: Home
415: Community Forums
416: Community Forums
417: Community Forums
418: Community Forums
419: Your Account
420: Community Forums
421: Member Screenshots
422: Community Forums
423: Community Forums
424: Community Forums
425: Community Forums
426: Community Forums
427: Photo Gallery
428: News
429: Photo Gallery
430: Home
431: Statistics
432: Home
433: Community Forums
434: Community Forums
435: Community Forums
436: Your Account
437: Photo Gallery
438: Community Forums
439: Community Forums
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Home
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Community Forums
448: Photo Gallery
449: Community Forums
450: Photo Gallery
451: Community Forums
452: Community Forums
453: Photo Gallery
454: Photo Gallery
455: Community Forums
456: Community Forums
457: CPGlang
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Community Forums
466: Photo Gallery
467: Downloads
468: Photo Gallery
469: Community Forums
470: Downloads
471: Community Forums
472: Home
473: Community Forums
474: Photo Gallery
475: Community Forums
476: Home
477: Community Forums
478: Photo Gallery
479: Community Forums
480: Community Forums
481: Downloads
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Community Forums
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Community Forums
489: Downloads
490: Community Forums
491: Photo Gallery
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: Community Forums
495: Your Account
496: Community Forums
497: Community Forums
498: Home
499: Community Forums
500: Community Forums
501: Community Forums
502: Photo Gallery
503: Home
504: Community Forums
505: Photo Gallery
506: Community Forums
507: Home
508: Community Forums
509: Community Forums
510: Community Forums
511: Downloads
512: Home
513: Photo Gallery
514: Community Forums
515: Photo Gallery
516: Community Forums
517: Community Forums
518: Member Screenshots
519: Member Screenshots
520: Home
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Community Forums
524: Home
525: Community Forums
526: Community Forums
527: Home
528: Photo Gallery
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Photo Gallery
532: Photo Gallery
533: Home
534: Community Forums
535: Downloads
536: Community Forums
537: Photo Gallery
538: Photo Gallery
539: Photo Gallery
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Home
544: Community Forums
545: Community Forums
546: Community Forums
547: Home
548: Community Forums
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: Community Forums
552: CPGlang
553: Community Forums
554: Community Forums
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Photo Gallery
558: Home
559: Downloads
560: Member Screenshots
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Photo Gallery
564: Community Forums
565: Community Forums
566: Statistics
567: Photo Gallery
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Home
571: Community Forums
572: Community Forums
573: Home
574: Your Account
575: Home
576: Statistics
577: Community Forums
578: Downloads
579: Community Forums
580: Photo Gallery
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Photo Gallery
584: Community Forums
585: Community Forums
586: Home
587: Community Forums
588: Home
589: Community Forums
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Photo Gallery
594: Community Forums
595: Community Forums
596: Community Forums
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Community Forums
600: Photo Gallery
601: Community Forums
602: Home
603: Community Forums
604: Community Forums
605: News Archive
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Community Forums
609: Community Forums
610: Community Forums
611: Photo Gallery
612: Downloads
613: Community Forums
614: Community Forums
615: Photo Gallery
616: Community Forums
617: Downloads
618: Community Forums
619: Community Forums
620: Home
621: Member Screenshots
622: Photo Gallery
623: Home
624: Your Account
625: Photo Gallery
626: Community Forums
627: Home
628: Community Forums
629: Community Forums
630: Community Forums
631: Community Forums
632: Community Forums
633: Community Forums
634: Community Forums
635: Community Forums
636: Community Forums
637: Photo Gallery
638: Photo Gallery
639: Community Forums
640: Community Forums
641: Home
642: Community Forums
643: Home
644: Community Forums
645: LinkToUs
646: Community Forums
647: Photo Gallery
648: Home
649: Community Forums
650: Community Forums
651: Home
652: Photo Gallery
653: CPGlang
654: Community Forums
655: Community Forums
656: Community Forums
657: Community Forums
658: Downloads
659: Community Forums
660: CPGlang
661: Community Forums
662: Member Screenshots
663: Community Forums
664: Your Account
665: Photo Gallery
666: Community Forums
667: Community Forums
668: Photo Gallery
669: Community Forums
670: Your Account
671: Your Account
672: Community Forums
673: Community Forums
674: Community Forums
675: Community Forums
676: Photo Gallery
677: Community Forums
678: Community Forums
679: Downloads
680: Community Forums
681: Community Forums
682: Home
683: Community Forums
684: Community Forums
685: Community Forums
686: Photo Gallery
687: CPGlang
688: Photo Gallery
689: Community Forums
690: Community Forums
691: Your Account
692: Community Forums
693: Community Forums
694: Community Forums
695: Community Forums
696: Community Forums
697: Community Forums
698: Community Forums
699: Community Forums
700: Community Forums
701: Community Forums
702: Community Forums
703: Photo Gallery
704: Community Forums
705: Member Screenshots
706: Photo Gallery
707: Photo Gallery
708: Community Forums
709: Photo Gallery
710: Photo Gallery
711: Your Account
712: Community Forums
713: Community Forums
714: Statistics
715: Community Forums
716: Home
717: Downloads
718: Community Forums
719: Community Forums
720: Community Forums
721: Photo Gallery
722: Downloads
723: Community Forums
724: Member Screenshots
725: Community Forums
726: Community Forums
727: Photo Gallery
728: Community Forums
729: Community Forums
730: Community Forums
731: Photo Gallery
732: Community Forums
733: Community Forums
734: Community Forums
735: Community Forums
736: Photo Gallery

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
MarkHolloway
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:51 pm
Post subject: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79


Members of the 11th Armored Cavalry deploy around an M551 Sheridan light tank while guarding the border between East and West Germany. An observation tower is in the background. (Released to Public)
Large Version: www.dodmedia.osd.mil/A...06118.JPEG

Members of the 11th Armored Cavalry deploy from an M113A1 armored personnel carrier during an exercise at the border between East and West Germany. On the right is an M551 Sheridan light tank and in the background is an observation post. (Released to Public)
Large Version: www.dodmedia.osd.mil/A...06119.JPEG

Members of the 11th Armored Cavalry deploy around an M551 Sheridan light tank while guarding the border between East and West Germany. (Released to Public)
Large Version: www.dodmedia.osd.mil/A...06120.JPEG

_________________
"TUMBLEWEED"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:16 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

OK,

now that we've seen the hams, bring on the lima beans... Mr. Green

Gawd, that's the most unnatural posing I've seen in a looooong time, the vehicles actually look more animated and natural. Laughing

Thanks for sharing those, I only had them in low-res before.

Back to top
View user's profile
MarkHolloway
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:33 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

A closer look reveals this is G Troop so maybe not OP Alpha? The 'infantry' climbing out of the carrier are climbing out of a mortar track. I'm afraid of the guy with the .45 Wink

_________________
"TUMBLEWEED"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:51 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

Looking at the picture where the guy with the 45 is leaving the track I was reminded of 'Green Army Men (GAM)' It almost looks like someone positioned the GAM they pulled out of the package around the vehicles. The only one we're missing is the one crawling on the ground Laughing

_________________
Bob Smart (bsmart@xecu.net)
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:27 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

- bsmart
Looking at the picture where the guy with the 45 is leaving the track I was reminded of 'Green Army Men (GAM)' It almost looks like someone positioned the GAM they pulled out of the package around the vehicles. The only one we're missing is the one crawling on the ground Laughing


Don't forget the 'Hand Grenade throwing' GAM as well.

Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:18 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

forgot about him. Always had trouble getting him to stand up.

_________________
Bob Smart (bsmart@xecu.net)
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Buq-Buq
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 04, 2006
Posts: 86

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:54 am
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

Mark:

These are a very interesting series of photos of Blackhorse troopers & equipment. I've seen the first picture before; R. P. Hunnicutt used it in Sheridan (page 252) and also indicates a photo date of May 1979. For the longest time I thought that I knew one of the guys in the picture from my time in the Blackhorse, but the higher quality of the shot in your link disabused me of that notion.

I'm going to go out on a bit of a limb, and put forth that these pictures were most likely not taken in May of 1979. When I got to the 2/11 ACR, the squadron had already been without Sheridans for a number of months (I remember someone telling me that the Sheridans went with the Cav berets — or was it the other way 'round?). The Sheridans in all the cavalry troops of 11 ACR were replaced by M60A1 RISE/PASSIVE models sometime in mid- to late-1978.

Other interesting features in these photos:

The Sheridan TC sports the old-style CVC helmet — I think someone posted shots from an American Tankers' Helmet museum here a while back, but I can't find it just now, so I'm not sure of the exact nomenclature. By the time I arrived in Bad Kissingen, every CVC I saw was the later type, with the cut-out for the separate ear phones & pads.

The camo scheme is the gaudy 7th Army pattern, pre-MERDC. Lots of Sand used in this scheme; in fact it looks like the entire base coat was Sand, with the other colors painted over that. Notice that the camo scheme is continued on the inside of the troop door on the ramp of the M106A1, as well as onto the roadwheels of the M551. We called this latter feature "clown-wheels", since they looked pretty silly when the vehicle was in motion. I think that there were still some M113A1s in the 7th Army-style scheme when I got to the squadron, but the M60A1s, being new vehicles, were all in MERDC-esque patterns.

The bumper numbers on the M106A1 are still painted in white, and are in the 7th Army format: "7A 11CAV" "G 39". At some point prior to February of 1979, Regiment had changed the bumper numbers to black, and the left-hand set (as viewed) had been changed to "V-2/11CAV" to indicate the troops were corps-level assets of V Corps. It is interesting that the M551 uses the black star; I rarely saw them when I was there.

Finally, I was surprised to see that the Sheridan appears to be a straight M551, not the later M551A1 with the laser rangefinder mounted on the commander's cupola. Although I never saw and 11th ACR Sheridans first-hand, I would have thought that all post-Vietnam Sheridans were equipped with the laser rangefinder. Unfortunately, the great 2nd ACR Sheridan pictures by Russell Vaughn in the Hunnicutt book (pages 253-254) don't show enough of the forward part of the cupola to tell if the LRF is there.

Great pictures — great border pictures. You can see the East German border fences, as well as the minefield. And in the background of the first picture is the concert observation tower ("Beobachtungs-turm aus Beton"). Thanks for sharing these.


Mark Neukom
Back to top
View user's profile
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:09 am
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

Hi Mark (the Buq-Buq)! Hi Folks!

- Buq-Buq

Finally, I was surprised to see that the Sheridan appears to be a straight M551, not the later M551A1 with the laser rangefinder mounted on the commander's cupola. Although I never saw and 11th ACR Sheridans first-hand, I would have thought that all post-Vietnam Sheridans were equipped with the laser rangefinder.


While the laser rangefinder is post-Vietnam, it was some time after that they became available.
When I was at Schweinfurt (1974-1978), I don't remember seeing them on 3/7th Cav's vehicles. I even did a border camp tour with one of the troops during 1977 (I think) and I am sure them didn't have them then.

I maybe wrong, but it seams like the laser started being mounted on the Sheridan about the same time the fielding of the M60A3 started.

The first time I saw lasers on a Sheridan was when I arrived at Ft. Bliss in mid 1978.

Sgt, Scouts Out!

P.S. Update/correction.
OK, looks like I am just not remember them. But one thing I am sure of is the first time I remember seeing LRFs on Sheridans was when I got to Ft. Bliss. Maybe it is a case of not noticing them prior to that. Sad

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.


Last edited by Roy_A_Lingle on Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:18 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
MarkHolloway
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:14 am
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

Good point. By 1976 they would have all had lasers in the 11th Cav. And, as you say, that camo scheme was long gone.

_________________
"TUMBLEWEED"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
Geoff_walden
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 26, 2006
Posts: 133

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:46 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

That does look like OP Alpha, especially the first pic. That looks like down by the area where there was later a memorial to civilians killed in that area (a rough wooden cross - it's still there).

But I agree - this certainly looks earlier than 1979. Wasn't the OP Alpha tower more elaborate than that in 1979? And when I did a border tour with 3/11ACR at OPs India and Romeo in the 1979-80 timeframe, it was a HUGE no-no to point weapons toward the border and/or the DDR border troops. This would have meant a highly-undesireable border incident. We used to park a tank at Romeo-Fwd, right at the end of the old Autobahn where the bridge had been blown in 1945, but we had to park it with the gun tube over the back deck in travel lock.

But I was only there for a couple months and we weren't Cav - just pulling their duty when they went to Graf one time. Maybe this prohibition wasn't universal along the border?

Geoff Walden
Back to top
View user's profile
MarkHolloway
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:57 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

Geoff, I was at OP Alpha for the same reason. We relieved an 11th Cav unit while they were at gunnery in Graf. I'll never forget that one day I went up into the tower and everyone was laughing. I looked across at the East German tower and everyone in their tower had binoculars and was looking right at us. I asked what was going on and someone said to look at the front of our tower. Someone had hung up a Playboy foldout!

_________________
"TUMBLEWEED"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:10 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

In 1988 or 89, My Battalion (4/32 Ar, 3rd AD) Assumed the duty of border ops to allow 11th ACR to conduct their Graf rotation.

A Co was manning OP Alpha. One of the Plt Sgt's (An E-7 who shall remain nameless..) was heading the shift change, assuming the NCOIC of the tower 'crew'.

As the change over was inprogress, the E.Germans began massive unannounced activities adjacient to the OP Alpha tower. This caused the US personnel to scramble to immediate alert status. Tensions rose to an unusual heightened state. Both sides maintained a ready status, until word came down that the East Zone Alert had been caused when the TOW launcher in OP Alpha was observed being loaded by the tower crew.

The Tower personnel immediately denied such an activity.

The Plt Sgt/ NCOIC (on secure communications) firmly stated that this was an impossibility since the missile tube couldn't have been mounted.

His reasoning was since he had personally placed his large green coffee thermos in the TOW launcher Shocked , he knew the missle could never have been loaded.

Mr. Green

I belive this is the same time frame that the 11th ACR had the 'friendly fire' incident at Range 301. This is when a tank while on long delay, mistakenly engaged two Bradley's ( firing 3 main gun rounds in 15 seconds) hitting one Bradley once, and the second twice.

Quite an ugly time at Graf during that rotation.

Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
tanker2010
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Aug 20, 2006
Posts: 264
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:55 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

- Roy_A_Lingle


While the laser rangefinder is post-Vietnam, it was some time after that they became available.
When I was at Schweinfurt (1974-1978), I don't remember seeing them on 3/7th Cav's vehicles. I even did a border camp tour with one of the troops during 1977 (I think) and I am sure them didn't have them then.

I maybe wrong, but it seams like the laser started being mounted on the Sheridan about the same time the fielding of the M60A3 started.



Roy,
I was in HHB 2/39FA and we shared our Motor Hole with 3/7CAV. They were A1's with the laser. I spent a lot of time climbing on them, checking them out. I read an article on some 11ACR web page, that I can't find now, that they started fielding the A1 around `74. As a side note, the summer of `78 3/7CAV converted to M60A1's. We were in our Line shack one day when a 105MM gun barrel came crashing thru the wall. We ran out side to find a couple black beanies looking a little ashamed. Their excuse, "Whoa, dude, forgot it had a longer tube.". Our reply,"Smoke another bowl, Cav boys.".
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
MarkHolloway
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:22 pm
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

In 3/12th Cav I think we got our M551A1's in 1976. By then all the border Cav already had them because they were a higher priority. Seems like we had some of the LRF's installed at a maintenance facility in Hanau (Fliegerhorst?).

_________________
"TUMBLEWEED"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
crustytanker
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 31, 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Bowie, MD, USA
PostPosted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:11 am
Post subject: Re: 11th ACR (OP Alpha?) 01MAY79

Buq-Buq wrote:
Unfortunately, the 2nd ACR Sheridan pictures by Russell Vaughn in the Hunnicutt book (pages 253-254) don't show enough of the forward part of the cupola to tell if the LRF is there.


Mark - I am flattered that you found my old pics. I served in the Second Squadron, Second ACR in Bamberg, FRG from 1974 to 1977. Our Sheridans did not receive LRFs until 1976 or early 1977. They were installed by contact teams right in our motor pool.
Regards, Russ Vaughan
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 3
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum