From: timothy.smith1@att.net
Date: Tue Mar 21 2006 - 11:03:37 PST
Their purpose was to keep the front of the vehicle from becoming embedded in or hung up on a grade whose presence exceeded the entry angle of the vehicle by allowing (in theory) the front of the vehicle to "roll" up the grade until the front wheels could return to contact with the ground.
>From the Scout Car TM: "The roller mounted on the front end of the frame is provided for aid in maneuvering through ditches and holes. Two compressions springs, mounted on the roller support, act as shock absorbers."
In theory, this is a sound idea. In practice, I'm sure it wasn't long before they found that in many cases the roller (because of its relatively small size) was just as likely to embed itself in or get hung up on the grade if the ground was soft or consisted of rocky ledges, creating as many, if not more problems in extrication. I imagine is why they went the way of the Dodo but hey, I wasn't even around then.
TJ
> And now for a completely MV oriented question....
>
> You know the roller that is on the front of the scout cars and I think
> the Half Tracks? I
> alwas assumed that they were for getting out of bomb craters, but when I
> was at the MVPA
> site today and was looking at one, it seemed that it was much too high
> to work for that
> purpose. Does anyone know why they put them on and why they discontinued
> them?
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