Spotting in America

[Steel Penguin]

possibly its one of the early 105mm gun versions, which ( I think) weren't fully upgradeable to the 120mm gun, enhanced armour system and all the newer bells and whistles, (I cant make out enough of the gun barrel in the front side photos to be certain on the calibre ) to give a definitive on the gun

[rickshaw]

Just spotted this.  No M60s served in Vietnam.   

[Old Wombat]

ex-wikipedia:

Yom Kippur War
Iran–Iraq War
Beirut, Lebanon
Invasion of Grenada
Persian Gulf War
Restore Hope, Somalia
Western Sahara War
Houthi insurgency in Yemen
Turkey–PKK conflict
Sinai insurgency
Yemeni civil war (2015) - Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen
Syrian civil war

[sandiego89]

I have to say that I'm surprised to see an Abrams in that sort of display - especially as they're still the premier front-line tank and are planned to be so for the next few decades, plus they're not being made anymore...  and particularly as the documentary I saw made a big thing of those points as they were showing you the line where they are sent to be rebuilt and zero-timed... huh... 

Actually there are quite a few M-1 Abrams on display in the USA, most are early versions- and they are still being made, and yes there are lines to zero time the hulls.  The Army has suggested stopping tank production more than once, even requested that the line be stopped a few years ago saying they had enough tanks, but congress overruled and keeps putting them on the budget. Not the only weapons systems that keeps getting added to the budget.... congress members bringing home the bacon, even when the service says it does not want them or have the money to keep them going, man them.....C-130, F-16, DDG, etc.  Often it is touted as keeping the industrial base going in case they need to ramp up, which has some truth to it, but it really is more about jobs in certain congressional districts. 

[reddfoxx]

Great info on the M-1 and M-60, folks, thanks.  I think I've seen an M-1 at Ft. Knox, a decade or so ago.  I assumed the 60 was used in Vietnam, just from the timing; always good to learn new things.

I've tried uploading a front view of the M-1 to Flickr again, at several different resolutions, but it never displays any larger.  Harumph.  If you tell me what to look for on the muzzle, I can try to zoom in and see what gun is on it.

[reddfoxx]

Spotted yesterday at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio: Twin Beech used as part of a "rugged airstrip in Africa" display.  Real registration, interesting display.

[Rick Lowe]

Interesting info on the M-1, thanks - learn sumpin' every day.
Not surprising about the production lines... more jobs are better, right? And there has to be a way to make all the stuff they sell as surplus...

The Beech diorama is a pretty cool idea - someone was thinking outside the box, nice to see there is a bit of imagination out there.

[NARSES2]

Daft question that's just occurred to me, my brain just went "I wonder why......?" as it often does 

Was there any specific reason why the U.S. Army decided to start numbering their tanks from M.1 again ? Or was it "just one of those things ?"

[Old Wombat]

No idea, really, but possibly the change to gas turbine engines?

[Nick]

Just spotted this.  No M60s served in Vietnam.   

Certainly that tank didn't unless it was converted back from an AVLB (Armoured Vehicle Launch Bridge) or an M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle, which were the only M60 variants sent to Vietnam.



The M-1 tank numbering dates back to the early 1970s. That's when they skipped from the B-70 to the B-1 bomber, from F-111 to F-14/F-15/F-16 and from the M1911 Pistol to the M9 Beretta.
This was done to help the Senators and Congressmen (see also McNamara ) understand what part of the pork barrel they were funding in their states. Too many big numbers confuse the politicians... 

[NARSES2]

I can understand why they combined the USAF and USN type numbering systems, but if your'e going to change a general type numbering system why not go up to 99 and start again ? Not important as I said, just a "wonder why" moment.

I think the M1911 pistol was Model 1911 with 1911 being the year of adoption, rather then a sequential number ? A good system as long as you don't change things that often and you can also show the politician's how frugal you've been if it's still in service 50 years latter 

[Old Wombat]

I think the M1911 pistol was Model 1911 with 1911 being the year of adoption, rather then a sequential number ? A good system as long as you don't change things that often and you can also show the politician's how frugal you've been if it's still in service 50 years latter 

(Colt) Model of 1911, .45 ACP from its adoption by the US Army in 1911 (adopted by the USMC & USN in 1913)
Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 (for the original 1911 design) from 1940
Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 (for the only official military general issue variant, adopted in 1924) from 1940
Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1 from the Vietnam period

The 1911A1 variant was developed from lessons learned during combat experiences in WW1.

All-in-all I'd say it's probably as close as you'll ever get to the perfect combat handgun.

[Captain Canada]

Down to WV and PA to work for a week

Bowling Green, OH



Pickerington, OH



Baltimore, OH

[reddfoxx]

You were in my neck of the woods.  Nice shots.  Been to all those.  Let me know next time you're in central Ohio!

[Captain Canada]

Old birds at Buckhannon, WV



Irwin, PA







Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum