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

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Calling Joe D. & other interested parties...
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.
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Mon Aug 17, 2020 6:33 pm
Post subject: Calling Joe D. & other interested parties...

We've had a partial discussion on this before, but can Joe give us a short summary on when full, partial or other bustle racks intended to store the AN/PSS searchlights when not mounted?

What years affected, what lights (including Crouse-Hinds), when was the "partial" rack installed and when were vis lights/mounts discontinued?

This is the "sectionable" bustle rack with stowage mount on an M60A1 in 72-73.
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Joe_D
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 2066
Location: Razorback Country
PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 4:56 am
Post subject: Re: Calling Joe D. & other interested parties...

Doug,

The first US tank purpose built to accept searchlights was the M60 series. From the factory they already had installed the mounting brackets, power receptacles, and relay boxes and switches for the 18" Crouse-Hinds. These tanks were not equipped with IR sights, M60 SN 1 thru 2209 (All), and M60A1 up to SN 3459. Later models were then equipped with IR sights for the TC and Gunner along with the AN/VSS-1 searchlight, IR Binoculars, and Metascope for the Rangefinder. February 1965 a Modification Work Order (MWO) was issued to equip M60's SN 185 to 2209 and M60A1's 2210 to 2459 with the IR kits and lights. When the M48A3 came out, it also was similarly equipped as the M60 for the Crouse-Hinds Searchlight, and then later, the same night sight kit as the M60/60A1.

With the M60A1, they had to make the bustle rack with a detachable section in order to mount the searchlight in the stowed position, which your picture shows removed. Interesting that it does not have the 2" mounting balls installed on the brackets. The reason why there was a stowage position for the searchlights was doctrine at the time. Tank Gunnery Manual FM-17-12 dated April 1961, stated that searchlights will be stowed unless needed for night time operations to reduce the chance of damage. Previous editions did not mention searchlight equipped tanks. The procedures for installing in the stowed position were still in the last M60A1 AOS operators manual published in 1980. FM 17-12-2 with Change 1, dated NOV 1988 for the M48A5/M60 series, specifically mentions that the AN/VSS-1 should be stowed when not in use, yet also mentions there is no place to stow it on the M48A5. It does not for the AN/VSS-3A, which was made for the M60A1 RISE and RISE/Passives. That is because those tanks were not equipped with the stowage brackets in the rear. They were deleted by then. The detachable bustle rack section remained though until M60A3 and A1 production ran concurrently. These tanks had the one piece racks. M60A1's that were upgraded to RISE standards would have the brackets removed during this process, but still used the An/VSS-1 searchlight in it's modified form. The IR lens was replaced with the "Pink" lens to work with the Passive sights.

As to why they deleted the requirement to stow the light on the RISE tanks and later. I believe it was planned that all RISE Tanks would eventually get Passive sights for the gunner and TC. Since this sight did not need active IR illumination to work, loosing the searchlight would only decrease the viewing range, not disable the night fighting capability.

Just for fun, check out this unique FT Knox mod for the bustle rack.


_________________
Joe_D
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 11:34 pm
Post subject: Re: Calling Joe D. & other interested parties...

- Joe_D

Just for fun, check out this unique FT Knox mod for the bustle rack.



I see that's 194th Bde, so probably Ft. Knox? Dat you? Fancy bit of fabrication there.

The reason the mounting balls are missing in my picture above is because that's the "Hot Pants" skirted M60A1 test mule and had been freshly painted. There was no requirement for the light being issued for this project. Projects like this used the post Rent-A-Tank supply, since the Armor Board didn't have any tanks permanently assigned.

Interesting summary of the progression. I'm sure it depended on what vehicles units were fielding, but is there a year where we can say that active searchlights, white or pink, left the inventory?
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Scott_Taylor
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 80
Location: London, Ontario
PostPosted: Wed Aug 26, 2020 1:57 pm
Post subject: Re: Calling Joe D. & other interested parties...

That's great information. I'm working on a model of a 7th Army tank in MASSTER camouflage from the early 1970s. What I was wondering is, what was done with the section of the stowage basket that was removed so that the searchlight could be stowed? Was this stowed elsewhere on the vehicle, or left at base?

Cheers and thanks,

Scott
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Joe_D
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 2066
Location: Razorback Country
PostPosted: Wed Aug 26, 2020 8:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Calling Joe D. & other interested parties...

Doug,

Not me, way before my time, that tank has the early M4 Gun Fire Simulator used before the Hoffman Device was fielded. You can see the O2/Propane cylinder stowage box below the drivers hatch. When I was at Fort Riley on M60A1's, the official word came down that all searchlights were to be turned into the BN Commo shop. This was early 1987. The lights were no longer supported and were being withdrawn from service. The same message put out that the external phone boxes would no longer be supported either so if yours broke you could not order parts anymore. Some crews removed theirs, we kept ours since it worked fine and was great for bore sighting (our cord actually reached that far) and bleeding the brakes. At that time the only Active Army Divisions that were still using the M60A1 was us in 1st ID and the 5th ID at Fort Polk. I know we still were using M60A1 AOS with AVDS-17902D RISE engines along with a few M60A1 RISE and RISE/Passives with a rare M60A1 AOS 1790-2A here and there. Only place that I knew that still used the searchlights was at NTC with the OPFOR M551's T72 VISMODS, and those were AN/VSS-3's and 3A's. We had them when I was there from 87-89.

Scott,
IAW doctrine/SOP, the rack section would be secured by organizational maintenance, and they were supposed to assist in the removal/installation, although crews did this on their own. By the time I served on A1's all the stowage mount points welded to the turret ventilator lip were removed, so we couldn't stow them if we wanted to.

_________________
Joe_D
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 6 Hours



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