Abrams M1A2s in my neck of the woods..

March 23, 2022, 01:59 PM

David Lee

America baby! Just had around 15 pass by me on the rail. All tan and beefy with that awsome smooth bore. I nailed 3 pictures. Wish I could post one cause mbinky would like that. Any how, going south so maybe another Member might get a peek.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: David Lee,

March 23, 2022, 02:03 PM

mrapteam666

As much as I like the Bradley's there is something about an M1 Abrams ((or any tank really.))

I was in the process of transferring to an Armored Cav unit of the TN national Guard to be a 19K when Uncle Sam stepped in and promoted me.. (Which squashed the transfer)

March 23, 2022, 02:41 PM

kz1000

I used to see them go by my office about 35 miles north of where you saw them. They were usually stripped out, assumed they were going to Lima for rebuild.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yidn, shreibt un fershreibt"

"The Nazis entered this war under the rather childish delusion that they were going to bomb everyone else, and nobody was going to bomb them. At Rotterdam, London, Warsaw and half a hundred other places, they put their rather naive theory into operation. They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind."
-Bomber Harris

March 23, 2022, 02:46 PM

flashguy

I would pay $1000 for a chance to witness live tank practice. (Or big artillery, for that matter.)

flashguy

March 23, 2022, 02:48 PM

MikeinNC

I can hear both here in Temple, Flashguy. I live just east of Lake Belton and Ft. Hood.

March 23, 2022, 02:50 PM

Syngin1066

quote:
Originally posted by flashguy:
I would pay $1000 for a chance to witness live tank practice. (Or big artillery, for that matter.)

flashguy

Sounds like you need to take a trip to that drive tanks place. From what I read, it’s pricy but you can shoot the main gun and a MG. I tried to convince my boss that it would be a great team building exercise, but he didn’t buy it.

March 23, 2022, 02:58 PM

Perception

quote:
Originally posted by flashguy:
I would pay $1000 for a chance to witness live tank practice. (Or big artillery, for that matter.)

flashguy

https://www.drivetanks.com/

They have quite a few packages available. You can actually fire some artillery for less than your $1,000 price target. They also have driving and firing packages for quite a few different tanks.

"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people."
"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did," said Ford, "it is."
"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards."
"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in."

March 23, 2022, 04:57 PM

Redleg06

(Or big artillery, for that matter.)

Check Fort Sill's Fires Center of Excellence to see when (if they still) have firepower demonstrations ( https://sill-www.army.mil/ ). They used to have them regularly and you got a great up-close bleacher seat. You will need ear protection though!

March 23, 2022, 05:02 PM

Skins2881

quote:
Originally posted by Perception:
quote:
Originally posted by flashguy:
I would pay $1000 for a chance to witness live tank practice. (Or big artillery, for that matter.)

flashguy

https://www.drivetanks.com/

They have quite a few packages available. You can actually fire some artillery for less than your $1,000 price target. They also have driving and firing packages for quite a few different tanks.

New bucket list item.

March 23, 2022, 05:14 PM

Skins2881

Thank you for the pic David, awesome to see!

Now everyone else can see it. I cropped it a bit for better details, hope you don't mind me changing it.

March 23, 2022, 05:23 PM

David Lee

Looks good by golly. Only my cell camera. Thats some bad boys right there..

March 23, 2022, 08:10 PM

tatortodd

quote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
quote:
Originally posted by Perception:
quote:
Originally posted by flashguy:
I would pay $1000 for a chance to witness live tank practice. (Or big artillery, for that matter.)

flashguy

https://www.drivetanks.com/

They have quite a few packages available. You can actually fire some artillery for less than your $1,000 price target. They also have driving and firing packages for quite a few different tanks.

New bucket list item.

I have a milestone birthday coming up and this just made it to the short list

March 23, 2022, 08:38 PM

BBMW

Got to climb down into the driver's compartment of one. That was fun.

March 23, 2022, 09:38 PM

sorenson

That's cool. I get to see F-35's every day, but tanks are seen seldom.
s/

March 23, 2022, 10:15 PM

CD228

quote:
Originally posted by flashguy:
I would pay $1000 for a chance to witness live tank practice. (Or big artillery, for that matter.)

flashguy

try going to the FT Hood website and sending an email to the Post PAO and ask if they are going to do any displays now that the COVID restrictions are being eased.

There are two Museums on Post 1CD and 3CR that have some US and Russian tanks on display. i believe you can get a post pass at the visitor center. call before you drive down though, i'd hate to have you turned around at the gate.

March 24, 2022, 11:51 AM

StarTraveler

Cool photo and the DriveTanks info looks neat, too.

In late 1987 or early 1988, I was given the assignment of designing an M1A1 engine test stand foundation for the armor center at Fort Knox. I wanted to go up and get a good look at it, but they weren't willing to pay for the long drive or a plane ticket, so I designed it off of the test stand schematics and the info they supplied about the engine. I was concerned about vibration effects, but my design supposedly worked fine and they never let me go up to see it in action. To this day, I've still never seen an M1 Abrams (of any variety) in person but I'm hoping to build a model of one sometime after I finish the M4 Shermans I'm working on now.

March 24, 2022, 12:44 PM

AllenInAR

I would think at FT Hood, if you can get on post, you can drive Range Road (or whatever they call it now) to North Fort Hood and see Bradleys and Abrams shooting, depending on the time of year.

March 24, 2022, 12:56 PM

David Lee

quote:
Originally posted by StarTraveler:
Cool photo and the DriveTanks info looks neat, too.

In late 1987 or early 1988, I was given the assignment of designing an M1A1 engine test stand foundation for the armor center at Fort Knox. I wanted to go up and get a good look at it, but they weren't willing to pay for the long drive or a plane ticket, so I designed it off of the test stand schematics and the info they supplied about the engine. I was concerned about vibration effects, but my design supposedly worked fine and they never let me go up to see it in action. To this day, I've still never seen an M1 Abrams (of any variety) in person but I'm hoping to build a model of one sometime after I finish the M4 Shermans I'm working on now.

This is just the 2nd time Ive seen them on the rail. At a car show and swap meet, back in NY State, Norwich,NY, Dan Wesson country, there was a MiA1 with rounds sitting out for observation. It is quite a monster. I never did hear it start up when they loaded it upon a equipment trailer.