I have Tamiya’s M1A1 w/mine plow and i was wondering if any in Iraq are or were ever equipped with the mine plow?
if so, what modifications would I need to make to this kit to be accurate as an OIF tank?
i think so jimmy, the olny mods are the rear apu and the thermal ids but i will ask a friend who got back from there he should know
Yes, there were M1A1’s which were equipped with mine plows.
Echelon’s decal sheet T35014 “US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division Operation Iraqi Freedom M1A1HA (Heavy Common) Abrams (Part 2)” provides markings for one such vehicle, “Answer to This” (A Company, 1-64 Armor ) which was so equipped.
To clarify, the rear hull APU included with the Tamiya kit should not be used. The rear hull APU was discontinued prior to OIF.
In addition, the Tamiya M1A1 kit pre-dates the introduction of the bustle rack APU and it is not included in the kit. Depending on the specific vehicle, the bustle rack APU may or may not have been installed, but the “plumbing” (ie the APU connector and wiring conduits) associated with it would be present.
As already mentioned, you will have to add CIP’s and, again, depending on the specific vehicle, perhaps a bustle rack extension.
The Tamiya kit with mine plow represents an Operation Desert Storm (ODS, '90-'91) tank. To bring it up to an M1A1HC in OIF 2003 standards will take some changes and updating.
At a minimum, you need to change the track to the square-block T-158 “Bigfoot” tracks, available from AFV Club. Also, as mentioned above, leave off the rear, hull mounted APU. You would also need to add the CIPs (Combat Identification Panels) to the front slopes, sides, and rear of the turret.
Depending on the tank you are modeling, it may or may not have had the bustle rack APU. Same on the BRE, which was only in 2nd BDE, 3ID (1-64 AR and 4-64 AR).
You could also swap out the Gunner’s Primary Sight cover (GPS Doghouse). It is the older style with angled rear. Newer ones have a flat rear panel. Some of the older ones are still around as well though.
Here are a few other pieces to add.
EPLRS antenna mount, minus antenna, capped post to the side of regular antenna. Also shows new, thinner steel antennas for radios too.
APU Power Junction box. New electrical conduit is the angle-iron piece running along the left side of the blow-out panel.
Power connection box next to the man-hole cover. There are two screw caps to connect to located on the front of the connector, toward the front of the tank.
PLGR antenna is mounted somewhere on the turret roof. Below it is in front of the crosswind sensor. I have also seen it to the front right of the TC’s cupola as well. The location for it varies.
Deep fording kit exhaust flange.
Check here at Tanx Haven for more pics (over 750+) of M1A1HCs and M1A1 AIMs:
http://tanxheaven.com/m1a1/m1a1rob.htm
http://tanxheaven.com/m1a1aim/m1a1aim1.htm
Check out my M1 Variants Article as well for more info and pics.
In fairness, a lot of those add-ons like the extended bustle rack and EPLRS were not mounted on a lot of tanks over there. (Actually, I’d wager the majority were still in the 1990s configuration for all intents and purposes)
NTM
From the Mini Color Series published by Concord entitled Thunder Run (The US 3rd Infantry Division’s Drive to Baghdad, there were two photos of M1’s with mine plow. I also read that a company have at least an M1 with mineplow attached.
Depends on how updated you want it to be. From what I saw, most had the various upgrades I listed.
Also, as I stated, “Depending on the tank you are modeling, it may or may not have had the…BRE, which was only in 2nd BDE, 3ID (1-64 AR and 4-64 AR).”
You would need to change what I list as the minimum changes though.
Good luck.
On the subject of the BRE, would it be completely incorrect to do a 1-64 vehicle without one? I have the decal set mentioned in my post above and several of the old Dragon kits to build, none of which include the BRE. It’s easy enough to scratch the BRE but getting mesh to line it is somewhat problematic (and expensive) here in Oz…
And… how common are the jerry can racks on the turret side rails?
All of the 1-64AR M1A1HCs were drawn from PrePo stocks out of Kuwait with the BRE on them. For the mesh, you could use bridal veil material, called tule. It works quite nicely and is cheap. You can find it at any fabric store. I use it often, for example, I used it for the lower turret basket mesh on my USMC M1A1HC.
Jerry can racks are not usually mounted on the siderails. The mount is designed to be bolted to a flat surface, either from the bottom or the rear plate. Also, it is easier to put the jerrycan in the bustle rack. There are two mounts as part of the rack, the two flat rectangles on the outside toward the forward part of the rack.
Thanks for the tip re the veil material, I’ll see what I can find. [:)]
I was curious about the jerry can rack because there is a photo on the decal instruction leaflet which shows a 3-can rack mounted on the side rails, but if they’re not common, I’ll skip it.
Thanks again.
Now I got you. I thought you meant a standard 1 can holder. The 3-can rack was also on the PrePo draw tanks and Bradleys of 2nd BDE, 3ID. They went along with the BREs. Most started out with one rack on each side, some were lost during the fighting though. The Echelon sheets are pretty much right on the money with details and added items.
Thanks Gino.
Not sure when I’m going to get to this one, just doing my homework in advance. [:)]
Cheers
Yes, there are mineplows in Iraq, but the majority of them are laid out in the motor pools segregating the parking spots for different elements. During last year (OIF 3) 3ID brought their mineplows, but arranged them out in the motorpool (Central Baghdad - Prosperity). During the invasion of 2003 the plow companies had some of them fixed in place and used them for breaching obstacles a couple of times (July 14th circle as an example). Keep in mind that each BN may have had different experiences with their designated plow companies, so a web search would be good.
It is recommended that you pick a “year” and a unit for modeling an OIF M1. When we replaced the 1st CAV in January 2005 they rolled back to Kuwait with their finicky M1A2 SEP’s. We had refurbished M1A1’s that were picked up in Kuwait from rebuilt Desert Storm stagings. Even though the vehicles were quite old, the refurbishment left most of them in tip top condition -the sub turrets were bone dry and very clean!
As some have mentioned the rear mounted APU is gone. You will most likely need a bustle rack extention if you do a 3ID tank. Also, the Tamiya tracks have to be replaced and the positioning of the road wheels needs researching if you want to be correct in dimension. Most M1A1s in Central Baghdad last year were kept “naked” up top. The heat shield, tow bar, a couple rolls of concertina wire, cooler, boxed H2O, and a rack extension full of .50 cal and 240 ammo was carried. Rucksacks, pus pads, fart sacks, and duffel bags stayed on the FOB. If you spotted nylon gear on top of the turret it was normally the loaders K-pot and LBV wrapped around the base of the cross wind sensor, of nestled in a road wheel bolted horizontally like a ‘bucket’ in front of the loader hatch.
I think all the tanks were usually similarly lightly loaded no matter where they were. Here’s a couple from Mosul.
Of course, we did have one or two exceptions:
Though these photos were taken on the HETs, we did a little ‘Thunder Run’ upon our arrival through Mosul with everything we owned on the back of the tank before going to the FOB.
Exception to the rule, though.
NTM
At least one of these looks like a 185 AR vehicle. Good guess or no?
JW