[MV] Thrown Tracks
David C. Decker (campdeck@infomagic.com)
Fri, 16 Jan 1998 21:51:10 -0800
It's the 'thrown-track week here at MV page.' Since no one has complained about the
subject being a little 'off track,' might as well throw in.
I am sending Armor Magazine some shots of M48A3 in various positions or else I would put
them up on the screen. One is of a tank with the left track thrown, next to a water
filled bomb crater and stuck so deep so that it looks like the turret is just sitting on
the ground. I know, I drove it there after my brand new in-country 2 Lt. told my brand
new Shake and Bake Buck Sargent TC to "Check out that treeline on the other side of that
field." Since I was a lowly Spec/4 driver, off I went. I had just hit second gear when
I felt a 'slowing effect' grab the tank. It was the belly hitting the ground. Thinking
it may have just been local, I floored it and tryed to steer around numerous bomb
craters. Seeing them all full with water about 4 inches below surface level made me
realize that we would not make it. At about that time the left track parted and we
literally sank into the bog. We had to dig for awhile to hook up 4 cable chokers hooked
to to M-88s to get us out. We left the track there, it was wore out anyway. If Armor
Mag. does not print the pic, I will scan it and send it out by request.
Believe it or not, I loved being in Vietnam in tanks. I enlisted for it.
The crew could carry whatever they wanted as far as beer, cots, personal stuff and a lot
of guns. At one point, we had a 50 Cal mounted on top of the TC cupola, one in front of
the loader's hatch and another on a welded tripod/travel lock on the back deck. This is
besides the M-60, various rifles and shotguns, grenade launcher, pistols, subs, well you
get the idea. At one time we mounted a mini-gun in front of the loader's hatch, but for
some reason they took that away. Probably because it was stolen off of a down Cobra that
we had to 'guard' overnight. An infantry guy had to carry everything on his back,
which is why we helped them out every chance we could. I have nothing but admiration for
anyone with a CIB.
Another time when escorting a supply convoy, our tank which was lead, turned around
in an ambush and went to the side of the road to return to the kill zone. Ammo laden
flatbeds were flying forward down the road and we were going full speed (30mph) the
other way. We missed a 90 degree turn and ended up going THROUGH at least three hooches
and over a French Citroen before we got back to help. When we hit the road again, still
going full out with hooch roofs over us, the driver turned on the road and threw a
track. A tank with a thrown track is nothing more then a sub-standard arty piece. By the
time we stopped, we were in the far ditch at a helluva angle and couldn't even swing the
turret because the gun tube was stuck in the mud. We had at least a dozen RPGs fired at
us without even one hitting. I am one lucky SOB.
Woa. Sorry guys, flashback time on the keyboard. I gotta go take a break. I can
still close me eyes and see them damn rockets.
Dave
===
To unsubscribe from the mil-veh mailing list, send the single word
UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of a message to <mil-veh-request@skylee.com>.