- Buq-BuqDon:
That tube and the stuff it is attached to at the front of the cupola is the laser rangefinder. That makes this an M551A1. If I remember correctly (I never served on or with Sheridans), the batteries for the LRF were stored in the rear tub of the TC Crow’s Nest, and that tube held all the necessary electrical couplings, etc. The LRF was really only a half-baked add-on to the M551A1. I believe that the LRF wasn’t even connected into the fire control system; it only gave a read-out of the range to the target, and the TC had to tell the gunner, who made a manual adjustment in the sighting reticle.
A quick peek in Hunnicutt’s Sheridan reveals the LRF as an AN/VVG-1, but he doesn’t mention the connection (or lack thereof) to the fire control system. Perhaps someone else can fill in more information on that aspect. Hunnicutt also mentions that only 505 LRFs were procured for the Sheridan fleet. I would think that would have left a substantial number of the Sheridan fleet as standard M551 “A0s” after the upgrade was over, even if you account for the losses in Vietnam (I think there were just over 1800 built in all).
It looks like the gun on this one is about to fall out of its mount.
Mark
Edit: But of course — the Eaglehorse Web Site tells the story:
www.eaglehorse.org/4_f...ridan6.htm
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