I had the experience in 1970 at ft Knox of firing the conventional round with this. Since it’s only 14 tons, they had big wooden chock blocks behind the rear tracts to keep the vehicle from jumping backwards too much. When you fired it you held on for deal life inside. I remembered that for one shot the coax mg flew apart inside the turret.
Sir, It's more like 17 tons. I was in D-1-1 Sheridan School 1971. I was a "platoon leader" in the 4-week school after 2-week pre-train at NCO Academy at Knox for that job (in the old WWII wooden barracks, where at least I had the private room at front). I've seen the 3rd roadwheel lift from the track under recoil. We didn't use the wooden blocks, but we did have to pull the vehicle forward as much as a meter on the firing range! Went to G/2/11th ACR in Vietnam after first campaign.
Great video, I could happily watch something 5 or 10 times as long to get a more in-depth look; would love to know more details and anecdotes about equipment!
I made an Airfix plastic kit of this as a boy. It looked great. Not sure that a 152mm cannon is best fit for recon. The bushmaster was maybe a better solution!
When I visited the TSF, the "lecturer" was misinformed about purpose of the receiver/transmitter box over gun. He called it LASER guidance. It wasn't, it was IR-guidance. The Hughes LASER Rangefinder was not on any pilot vehicles at all, production vehicles WELL after I tested it at the Armor Board in 1972. It's a separate device built onto the TC cupola sometime in late '70's, usually with the TTS. I was on M551's at NCO Academy AND M551 Sheridan School (D-1-1) in '71, Vietnam 2/11th ACR '72 & the Armor Board 72-73, also on M60A2 IPT using same system in '73. Everything about the M551 FCS sucked, including fatalities it caused. The XM409 HEAT round had a nasty rep for pre-mature (read: in-tube) detonations. And cases that combusted when it wasn't supposed to.
I have (declassified) materials from the Combat Dev. Cmd-Armor School that outlines previously un-communicated dangerous aspects of the M551. Including a recommendation from CDC that the fatality risks from "catastrphic failures" of the M81 gun be communicated to the Ass't Army COS as a requirement for standardizaton. The desired incidence was less than 1:1,000,000. In Europe, they were to expect 1:400:000. In Vietnam, 1:175,000 (NOT due to enemy action). Personally, I never trusted the combustible cases...and with good reason. See my other comment on the pre-mature (in-tube!) detonations of the XM409 round. I was more than "qualified" on the M551.
Well this is certainly a diamond in the rough as far as cool old mill hardware but these guys are in desperate need of some power point ranger skills. where the chieftain when ya need him???
We never "swam" the thing at the Armor Board in '72-73 with more than a driver and TC for exactly that reason. I became an Army (non-combat) SCUBA diver at the Board for the purpose of safety and salvage for FORDEX & SWIMEX operations there in Tobacco Leaf Lake at Knox. "Amphibious" is a Navy/USMC criteria that requires seaworthiness in 8' swells. As you know, that does not describe the M551.
Geez! That gloss coat looks awful! Guess it's a base, as the driver periscopes and lights are covered with it too. Can you do the Cold War version, with the searchlight, Laser rangefinder, and chicken coop on the TC's hatch?
I tested the Hughes LRF at the Armor Board in '72. Same system as M60A2, which I was also on the Initial Prod Test for in '73. The only thing that worked on the Shillelagh Gun/Launcher system was the LRF. Everything else tried to kill you. I'd guess that this pilot vehicle sat outside for a long time, needed a new surface treatment.
...it was NEVER meant to be an MBT and the gun/launcher had serious problems...the PT-76 and more success in its role with the NVA and VC...what a shame...
I had the experience in 1970 at ft Knox of firing the conventional round with this. Since it’s only 14 tons, they had big wooden chock blocks behind the rear tracts to keep the vehicle from jumping backwards too much. When you fired it you held on for deal life inside. I remembered that for one shot the coax mg flew apart inside the turret.
I was there early 1970. Went to Nam from there. Served with 1/11th Atroop thru 1970, then went to 3/5th Cav 1971.
Sir, It's more like 17 tons. I was in D-1-1 Sheridan School 1971. I was a "platoon leader" in the 4-week school after 2-week pre-train at NCO Academy at Knox for that job (in the old WWII wooden barracks, where at least I had the private room at front). I've seen the 3rd roadwheel lift from the track under recoil. We didn't use the wooden blocks, but we did have to pull the vehicle forward as much as a meter on the firing range! Went to G/2/11th ACR in Vietnam after first campaign.
I was on G18 2/11 Jan 21, 1969 untio Mar 31, 1971 ETS out of VN
@@jg300ascout1
Great video, I could happily watch something 5 or 10 times as long to get a more in-depth look; would love to know more details and anecdotes about equipment!
That paint job makes it look like a giant plastic model kit that looks like it was assembled straight from the box in its molded plastic color
I made an Airfix plastic kit of this as a boy. It looked great. Not sure that a 152mm cannon is best fit for recon. The bushmaster was maybe a better solution!
When I visited the TSF, the "lecturer" was misinformed about purpose of the receiver/transmitter box over gun. He called it LASER guidance. It wasn't, it was IR-guidance. The Hughes LASER Rangefinder was not on any pilot vehicles at all, production vehicles WELL after I tested it at the Armor Board in 1972. It's a separate device built onto the TC cupola sometime in late '70's, usually with the TTS. I was on M551's at NCO Academy AND M551 Sheridan School (D-1-1) in '71, Vietnam 2/11th ACR '72 & the Armor Board 72-73, also on M60A2 IPT using same system in '73. Everything about the M551 FCS sucked, including fatalities it caused. The XM409 HEAT round had a nasty rep for pre-mature (read: in-tube) detonations. And cases that combusted when it wasn't supposed to.
I have (declassified) materials from the Combat Dev. Cmd-Armor School that outlines previously un-communicated dangerous aspects of the M551. Including a recommendation from CDC that the fatality risks from "catastrphic failures" of the M81 gun be communicated to the Ass't Army COS as a requirement for standardizaton. The desired incidence was less than 1:1,000,000. In Europe, they were to expect 1:400:000. In Vietnam, 1:175,000 (NOT due to enemy action). Personally, I never trusted the combustible cases...and with good reason. See my other comment on the pre-mature (in-tube!) detonations of the XM409 round. I was more than "qualified" on the M551.
Wow, I have just subscribed and I am loving the content. When COVID has settled and we can travel your museum is on my bucket list, cheers
Can't hear it!
Where is this?
Still operating?
Well this is certainly a diamond in the rough as far as cool old mill hardware but these guys are in desperate need of some power point ranger skills. where the chieftain when ya need him???
sheridan is amphibious? but why i drowned at WarThunder?
We never "swam" the thing at the Armor Board in '72-73 with more than a driver and TC for exactly that reason. I became an Army (non-combat) SCUBA diver at the Board for the purpose of safety and salvage for FORDEX & SWIMEX operations there in Tobacco Leaf Lake at Knox. "Amphibious" is a Navy/USMC criteria that requires seaworthiness in 8' swells. As you know, that does not describe the M551.
Sarden
Geez! That gloss coat looks awful! Guess it's a base, as the driver periscopes and lights are covered with it too. Can you do the Cold War version, with the searchlight, Laser rangefinder, and chicken coop on the TC's hatch?
I tested the Hughes LRF at the Armor Board in '72. Same system as M60A2, which I was also on the Initial Prod Test for in '73. The only thing that worked on the Shillelagh Gun/Launcher system was the LRF. Everything else tried to kill you. I'd guess that this pilot vehicle sat outside for a long time, needed a new surface treatment.
...it was NEVER meant to be an MBT and the gun/launcher had serious problems...the PT-76 and more success in its role with the NVA and VC...what a shame...
Deathtrap
your kitchen stove with tracks....