WTH, Found a tank today.

[prodro1]

I would never advocate midnight requisitioning of government property. However, a fine example of American iron, just sitting there, gives a potential for a display in a small piece of land. Somebody owns the land but they don’t seem to care what’s done with it. Someone owns the tank but they don’t seem to care what it looks like. So, possibly, you have an opportunity to beautify an eyesore, create a tribute to Veterans and a nice place to sit back and watch the squirrels play. Just a thought...
I wonder what the serial number for the tank is?

where would one find the serial number?

 

[jeffhuey1n]

where would one find the serial number?

Usually it is stenciled on both sides and on the back end. Usually the letters are 3 inch tall and are placed on the fender(?) that overlaps the tracks. Also, the tank belonged to 1-108 Mississippi National Guard. Try contacting the Mississippi National Guard headquarters. I’d recon they’ll have some kind of records of previous assigned equipment.

 

[jeffhuey1n]

Here’s an interesting tidbit you might find interesting. The below excerpt from a book shows everything armored in or near Ruston LA. I’ll try to figure out how the book is laid out and I’ll see what else is to be gleaned from it. The serial number is important in finally figuring out the conundrum.

 

[Robo McDuff]

Don't tell me there is a tank sitting there already 12 years since the first post and some years before that and until now nobody is sure who the heck it belongs to and what's the story on it????

Still shows up on google maps as well.



Who is the land owner?

 

[Mullaney]

Don't tell me there is a tank sitting there already 12 years since the first post and some years before that and until now nobody is sure who the heck it belongs to and what's the story on it????

Still shows up on google maps as well.



Who is the land owner?

I would be happy to clean it and paint it and crank it up a couple of times a day...

 

[5tonpuller]

When the commander knows about it, it will get recovered OR knock you self out. Some way you will find out the owner.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Is it ,"If you smooth the lot", "plant grass," "tidy up a little",, "And you can do what you like with the ""CAR""?!!

Sighhhhhhh,

 

[Guyfang]

The hull and turret should be stamped with ser. #'s. I will write someone in TACOM and ask where. Looks like a M60A3. But not a M60A3 RISE.

 

[msgjd]

I realize this is a very old post, but people still stumble across it.. I want to point out there is one quick and easy key spotting feature (among other differences) between M48A5 and the "straight" M60 from the 1959-61 production run. They share the same style 105mm gun tube with mid-span bore evacuator and have very similar bubble turrets. The pictures show the nose of the hull to be square-angled. It is not rounded like on M48's. Plus it has the big "eyebrow" headlight guards (okay, I added another quick spotting feature). Another spotting feature is the M48-series has 5 idler wheels supporting the upper track, although I have seen a later mod where two of them are cut off, which mimics the M60-series. There are a few other slight external differences on the cupola and turret but no need to get into that here since the squared nose and bubble (rounded) turret are clear in the pics.

The tank pictured here with its M48-style bubble turret is a straight M60. It is not an A1, not an A2, not an A3).

Take it from a long-time Armor BN vet. We were trained and tested in spotting features between the M48A3, A5, M60, M60A1, A2 and A3, as well as soviet-bloc armor and vehicles of that time. I was around all of these variations of the "Patton" back in the era when you could watch or participate in dragging the occasional M103 heavy tank and M59 apc's downrange for targets. By the 1980's the M88's were dragging long strings of M114's downrange. Many of us were angered that none of the 114's were going to the DRMO, so we at least wanted the engines from them. But nope. Boom! Didn't take long for them to look like torn and shattered beer cans full of holes. The M103's obviously held up much better and for longer, but were not immune to 105 rounds

 

[Mullaney]

I realize this is a very old post, but people still stumble across it.. I want to point out there is one quick and easy key spotting feature (among other differences) between M48-series and the "straight" M60 from the 1959-61 production run. They share the same style 105mm gun tube with mid-span bore evacuator and have very similar bubble turrets. The pictures show the nose of the hull to be square-angled. It is not rounded like on M48's. Plus it has the big "eyebrow" light guards (okay, I added another quick spotting feature). Another spotting feature is the M48-series has 5 idler wheels along the top of the track, although I have seen a later mod where two of them are cut off, which mimics the M60-series. There are a few other slight external differences on the cupola and turret but no need to get into that here since the squared nose and bubble (rounded) turret are clear in the pics.

The tank pictured here with its M48-style bubble turret is a straight M60. It is not an A1, not an A2, not an A3).

Take it from a long-time Armor BN vet. We were trained and tested in spotting features between the M48A3, A5, M60, M60A1, A2 and A3, as well as soviet-bloc armor and vehicles of that time. I was around all of these variations of the "Patton" back in the era when you could watch or participate in dragging the occasional M103 heavy tank and M59 apc's downrange for targets. By the 1980's the M88's were dragging long strings of M114's downrange. Many of us were angered that none of the 114's were going to the DRMO, so we at least wanted the engines from them. But nope. Boom! Didn't take long for them to look like torn and shattered beer cans full of holes. The M103's obviously held up much better and for longer, but were not immune to 105 rounds

I know we needed targets, but it really is/was sad to see that all that armor going to waste...

THANKS msgjd for the information and spotting guides. Sure would be even more fun to have a cute little M60 to play with. Heck, even one to sit in and make engine noises would be fun to have!

-

 

[11Echo]

The hull and turret should be stamped with ser. #'s. I will write someone in TACOM and ask where. Looks like a M60A3. But not a M60A3 RISE.

The nomenclature plate should be in the left front corner of the hull forward and above the drivers position.
I identified this as an M60. in post #7.

 

[SgtMajHarper]

I realize this is a very old post, but people still stumble across it.. I want to point out there is one quick and easy key spotting feature (among other differences) between M48-series and the "straight" M60 from the 1959-61 production run. They share the same style 105mm gun tube with mid-span bore evacuator and have very similar bubble turrets. The pictures show the nose of the hull to be square-angled. It is not rounded like on M48's. Plus it has the big "eyebrow" light guards (okay, I added another quick spotting feature). Another spotting feature is the M48-series has 5 idler wheels along the top of the track, although I have seen a later mod where two of them are cut off, which mimics the M60-series. There are a few other slight external differences on the cupola and turret but no need to get into that here since the squared nose and bubble (rounded) turret are clear in the pics.

The tank pictured here with its M48-style bubble turret is a straight M60. It is not an A1, not an A2, not an A3).

Take it from a long-time Armor BN vet. We were trained and tested in spotting features between the M48A3, A5, M60, M60A1, A2 and A3, as well as soviet-bloc armor and vehicles of that time. I was around all of these variations of the "Patton" back in the era when you could watch or participate in dragging the occasional M103 heavy tank and M59 apc's downrange for targets. By the 1980's the M88's were dragging long strings of M114's downrange. Many of us were angered that none of the 114's were going to the DRMO, so we at least wanted the engines from them. But nope. Boom! Didn't take long for them to look like torn and shattered beer cans full of holes. The M103's obviously held up much better and for longer, but were not immune to 105 rounds

Many many moons ago I was at 29 Palms and remember when the Marine Corps picked up their first 2 M60's, 2 of them came in on flatbed rail cars just before the weekend so they sat on a spur with a guard detail around them all weekend so nobody would crawl all over them. As far as targets ago, another shame I was privy to was many moons ago when the state guard units were transitioning from M151's to Hummers. They were all turned in up at Golden where the main maint. (MATES?) was located. I knew a couple guys that worked on stuff full time for the guard and asked them what the plan was. They told me that they had a boatload of parts and were to rebuild all of the Jeeps and get them all 100% again. After a couple of years with their new tops, windshields, gauges, etc. and M416 trailers , they were taken out and used for gunnery practice.

 

[MrMikey4026]

If the front edge is curved, it is an M48.
If it is straight it is an M60.
What the heck? This post is from 2009?

 

[Guyfang]

I talked to three old Tread Heads. One told me the ser # is stamped on the hull above the right side tail light. Another told me the ser # is stamped on the hull near the drivers hatch, to the right, and on the hull, rear right side just before the engine bay door.

 

[68t]

The 155th Ms guard, did reforger in 1983 to germany then in to Holland, We got m60A3 from a pompka site. This picture was made in Holland. 1985 Ms guard, got 150 M1 Abrams, We were the roundout for the first cav, The old tanks; we give to vfw, towns and city, some were dump in the sea my mos was 19E and 19Q. I am the small guy in the picture.

 

[Robo McDuff]

The 155th Ms guard, did reforger in 1983 to germany then in to Holland, We got m60A3 from a pompka site. This picture was made in Holland. 1985 Ms guard, got 150 M1 Abrams, We were the roundout for the first cav, The old tanks; we give to vfw, towns and city, some were dump in the sea my mos was 19E and 19Q. I am the small guy in the picture.

68t, do you have some more info on the Dutch part of the Reforger, especially on the actual action of going to the depot and getting your equipment etc? Which depot you got the equipment from?

Brunssum, Coevorden, Eygelshoven, Vriezenveen, or Ter Apel?

Any pics of that would be appreciated as well. I have the official pics and stories but am missing some personal experiece how it worked in reality.

 

[kubotaman]

Usually it is stenciled on both sides and on the back end. Usually the letters are 3 inch tall and are placed on the fender(?) that overlaps the tracks. Also, the tank belonged to 1-108 Mississippi National Guard. Try contacting the Mississippi National Guard headquarters. I’d recon they’ll have some kind of records of previous assigned equipment.

That is not the Serial Number. That is the registration number which is not tracked. The SN is. That is found stamped near the engine deck

 

[msgjd]

I identified this as an M60. in post #7.

sorry 11Echo, missed your post #7, wow there is now 318 ! I will search for your #7 and give it a like

 

[msgjd]

I know we needed targets, but it really is/was sad to see that all that armor going to waste...
-

at some point in the late 70's at FLW we were reacquainted with the M72 LAW during a field exercise.. one of the guys from BN maint
drove one of the (don't remember the nomen) big IH-Hough (Dresser?) articulated bucket loaders past us and then downrange.. It had like-new MERDC paint and like-new tires all the way around. I figured he was going down there to push up some berms or something with it , but soon enough the operator walked back up to us and then the first shirt told us to fire it up. Literally

 

[68t]

Our battilon flew to Dusseldore germay. Then to krefeld germany, The site was near there. We got all our tanks and support vehicles there and went in to Holland. We stayed all night , where the hundred first airborne jump in ww2. near budle Holland. Then back in to Germany Ever town we went through hundred of people line the streets, it was like a big parade. I will find some pictures to post The 155th seen hell in Iraq. I got out of tanks went to hueys and blackhawks, The flew all over Korea