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JimWeb

- Doug_Kibbey

And the turret/hull relationship differs from the M60A2 on those in what way, Jim?

Jeez Doug even my wife spotted that one - the ladder on the front was only fitted to the M60A1E1 (based on M60 Hull) It was removed for the M60A1E1 APE and the M60A1E2 (based on M60A1 hull).

Information gleaned from Hunnicutt..

Cool

armyjunk2 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Sep 22, 2006 Posts: 1416

thank you all

Doug_Kibbey

- armyjunk2

what are those balls that look like trailer hitches??

Hi AJ...
BTW, there should be a set of those hitch balls on this assembly as well, but they're missing. This is the stowage rack for the searchlight when not mounted. You'll see a similar assembly variously on M48's, M60's & M60A1's on and around the turret bustle when the searchlight isn't mounted over the main gun. It wasn't over the main gun on the M60A2 because that would interfere with the missile transmitter/receiver unit (that's what was in that box over the gun).

Doug_Kibbey

- JimWeb

- CaptCav

Doug_Kibbey...... here's a better pic of the hull/turret fit.

www.odkrywca.pl/forum_...agh_05.jpg

As I remember, it's one of the first M-60A2s. Geezzzzz..... is that a REMF tank or what??!! It has a little ladder on the front slope.

No its the M60A1E1...

And the turret/hull relationship differs from the M60A2 on those in what way, Jim?

- Armyjunk

what are those balls that look like trailer hitches??

The searchlight ball thing was answered on page three, AJ...and there's a good picture of one mounted there as well. The disinctive turret shape is less apparent when the light is mounted. The searchlight was mounted on a separate shaft that exited on the turret left that was slaved to the gun trunnion. You can see the assembly without the light very clearly in this view:

Joe_D

Hi everyone,

To bad non of the Franken-Tank pictures got posted this weekend when I was home. I cannot view them right now.

This is gonna be a little long,

Right now I still believe this tank is just a cobbled up creation, not a purpose built special/rare tank. I believe this because it is on an M48/48A1 "Gasoline" powered hull. Probably the last thing you would use to sell/test this "XM48A4E1" vehicle Jim mentions. M60A2 turret production started in May of 1966, by then Diesels were the in thing and M48's were being converted to A3's by the hundreds. Only about 300 were made with Generation 3 hulls before work was halted due to Major problems with the turret. It wasn't until 1973 that the first retrofitted tank was delivered. All remaining M60A2's made were equipped with Generation 4 hulls (That's what was being made by then). Another thing to consider is even if they mounted the A2 turret on a 48 hull, you would need to extend the rear hull for the Closed Breech Scavange System. I guess you could put an electric air compressor in the turret to avoid this like the Sheridens had but where would you put it? You'd also would have to cut the turret platform to fit the hull since the turret platform, although having the same ring diameter, hangs lower than the M48's. The A2 turret is completely different than the A1/A3 where you just can't lop off the bottom and raise it without seriously changing many of the internal components to fit. This raises the question, why? Especially since you already have M60 hulls purpose built for the A2 turret. There never was any complaints on the Hull, all the problems were turret related. I can understand the ROC using the A2 turret for shore defense, the range of the missle being very deadly against ships and landing craft. I'm with Doug, not saying it don't exist, stranger things have turned up, I'd just love to see a picture or documentation of this tank.

About the program to equip old M60 turrets on M48's, yes, it was a very serious consideration at one time. The plan was to start producing M60A2's with converted M60 hulls. My reseach so far leads me to conclude that the Army planned to build 600 new M60A2's and then produce later tanks using the old M60 hulls. Serial numbers 4426 to 5025 were designated for these new A2's. This was back in the 60's before the whole project ran into all it's problems. By the time the system got back on track in '73 the project was no longer viable, since they didn't plan on making more than 600, that was later reduced to 540. The new stop gap solution was the M48A5. BTW, the US M48A4 (M48A3 hull with M60 turret) used the M19 Cupola, a very obvious ID feature.

Jim, I would not doubt some CM-11's have old M60A2 hulls. IIRC they puchased complete hulls from us and there would be no reason not to have some A2 hulls that were upgraded for AVLB's not used to be included in that lot. Look for the very obvious CBSS bulge, lower grill overhang and Square tailight gaurds.

Joe D

JimWeb

- CaptCav

Doug_Kibbey...... here's a better pic of the hull/turret fit.

www.odkrywca.pl/forum_...agh_05.jpg

As I remember, it's one of the first M-60A2s. Geezzzzz..... is that a REMF tank or what??!! It has a little ladder on the front slope.

No its the M60A1E1...

Anyone remember the Tamiya model?

Cool

CaptCav · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Aug 20, 2007 Posts: 12

Doug_Kibbey...... here's a better pic of the hull/turret fit.

www.odkrywca.pl/forum_...agh_05.jpg

As I remember, it's one of the first M-60A2s. Geezzzzz..... is that a REMF tank or what??!! It has a little ladder on the front slope. Laughing

bsmart

- CaptCav

Nahhhh..... that's just a "Plain Jane" M-48A1 travel lock.

BTW - looking at that exhaust/muffler on the rear deck brings back fond memories. In 1956, I was riding in the bustle rack on my dad's M-48A1 at Graf. The -A1 had a weird quirk (which I didn't know about). If you allowed the tank to coast down hill and then stomped on the accelerator - there was a stupendous roar and a huge sheet of flame would leap out of the exhaust (after all, these were GAS burners, lol). I happened to look down, just as that flame roared out. Needless to say, ole Hankie needed to change his drawers at that point!!! Ahhhh....... the good old daze!!!

Oh yes Dragontails. they would also occur if the tank didn't start right away and raw gas flooded through the engine and exhaust. I know I have bored this group with the story about an M-48A1 that was parked with it's rear near the maintenance tent when a dragontail split the dusk and caught the side f the tent Rolling Eyes

Oh I just got home and checked Hunnicutt M48 & M60 had 85" Turret Rings. The M47 had a 73" ring and the M4, M26, & M46 had 69" rings. Those are all inside diameters

CaptCav · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Aug 20, 2007 Posts: 12

Nahhhh..... that's just a "Plain Jane" M-48A1 travel lock.

BTW - looking at that exhaust/muffler on the rear deck brings back fond memories. In 1956, I was riding in the bustle rack on my dad's M-48A1 at Graf. The -A1 had a weird quirk (which I didn't know about). If you allowed the tank to coast down hill and then stomped on the accelerator - there was a stupendous roar and a huge sheet of flame would leap out of the exhaust (after all, these were GAS burners, lol). I happened to look down, just as that flame roared out. Shocked

Needless to say, ole Hankie needed to change his drawers at that point!!! Ahhhh....... the good old daze!!!

ArmyJunk2...... those were the mounting points for the Xenon searchlight. However, when I was a young tank platoon leader; my platoon sergeant was known to tell gullible FNGs (straight outta AIT) those were the tank's male reproductive organs. Razz

armyjunk2 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Sep 22, 2006 Posts: 1416

what are those balls that look like trailer hitches??

Doug_Kibbey

- JimWeb

- bsmart

I wonder if the travel lock on the rear deck will work with the 152mm?

I was just looking at the travel lock - then went through my available images to check it against what I had but haven't got a clear enough image to check - hasn't it got an extra link in it?

M60a2's did not come equipped with an external travel lock. I doubt the one on the M48 would fit the barrel anyway.

JimWeb

- bsmart

I wonder if the travel lock on the rear deck will work with the 152mm?

I was just looking at the travel lock - then went through my available images to check it against what I had but haven't got a clear enough image to check - hasn't it got an extra link in it?

Cool

MarkHolloway

Could the box on the front have been a hydraulic hookup for a blade or mine roller/plow?

Doug_Kibbey · Last edited by Doug_Kibbey on Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:27 pm; edited 1 time in total

- bsmart

Picture 31 'What are these for?' Searchlight mounts

I think the Left Side Registration number may be real. Funnything is the Right Side one is the same except for thelast digit but appears to be a different application.

Notice the Right rear Fender marking "M48A5'?
I think I see the remains of Left rear Fender marking that have been painted over but I'm not sure

I wonder if the travel lock on the rear deck will work with the 152mm?

Yes, Bob...that's the searchlight mount on the vehicle left side, slaved to the main gun trunnion. (you can see it mounted in the pic I posted)

bsmart

Picture 31 'What are these for?' Searchlight mounts

I think the Left Side Registration number may be real. Funnything is the Right Side one is the same except for thelast digit but appears to be a different application.

Notice the Right rear Fender marking "M48A5'?
I think I see the remains of Left rear Fender marking that have been painted over but I'm not sure

I wonder if the travel lock on the rear deck will work with the 152mm?

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